Advice on Eclipse I-CTM

[Hemani_co]

I've been looking for a worthy single cut/Les Paul type guitar for quite some time now and after a recommendation from a friend, I've looked into ESPs for the first time - specifically the Eclipse I-CTM either in glossy black or white.
I'm having problems on getting information on the guitar and found it strange to see it not listed in the ESP website although the Eclipse II model was.
That aside, with the information I do have on the guitar, I'm fairly impressed by the guitar. Japanese made with 'custom shop qualities' I hear from some people. Ebony fretboard, three piece neck, sperzel tuners, traditional four pot panel layout etc. seems to be appealing. Just seems like a nice breath of fresh air from other mainstream guitars.
My only concern with the spec. are the EMGs. Never been an EMG user before, I am worried with it's response. I'm more jazz and blues orientated player (although I do cross over to rock occasionally) I don't know if the EMGs clean sound would be suitable. I'm looking for a nice high-mid, airy and rounded/warm tone without too highs or too lows with massive tone - very much a PRS signature sound.
My initial choices at the moment are the new PRS SC 245, Gibson Les Paul Standard, and possibly the ESP.
If any Eclipse users could post detailed pictures of their guitar that'd be great.

[ESPVIPERCAMO]

the eclipse comes with the 81/60 combo , very versitle and the 60 really can pull great jazz/clean tones , the 81 can as well but def not at full volume. If ur gonna shell out he doe for a eclipse ctm make sure you get a very very good amp to go along with it. You basically can get any tone, you also could load the clipse with emg 89's which produce a humbucker or single coil. Or just throw one in the neck for str8 hendrix style coil tap

[seek and destroy]

I've got a CTM BMF in Snow White. What angles would you want?

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e324/torres_guitars/Guitars/IMG_0879.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e324/torres_guitars/Guitars/IMG_0882.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e324/torres_guitars/Guitars/IMG_0888.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e324/torres_guitars/Guitars/IMG_0877.jpg

[FloydNL]

the eclipse comes with the 81/60 combo , very versitle and the 60 really can pull great jazz/clean tones , the 81 can as well but def not at full volume. If ur gonna shell out he doe for a eclipse ctm make sure you get a very very good amp to go along with it. You basically can get any tone, you also could load the clipse with emg 89's which produce a humbucker or single coil. Or just throw one in the neck for str8 hendrix style coil tap

I don't agree. First off, I don't like the cleans of the EMG 60. They sound to sterile. A nice clean tone in my opinion is a warm clear tone. The 60 is just a way too bright sounding pickup. And you can get basically every tone? Hell no! No matter how many amps you try, no matter ho many effects you try, you can't get any sound out of an EMG. EMG's are the perfect metal pickups. If you want brutal metal sounds, you should get EMG's, but if you want a nice clean tone, a jazzy/bluesy tone, you shouldn't get EMG's. A EMG SA could do the job for jazz, but since the TS wants to buy an Eclipse CTM, he won't get a SA, and therefor, wont be able to get some nice clean tones out of his stock pickups.

[Thrashman]

I don't agree. First off, I don't like the cleans of the EMG 60. They sound to sterile. A nice clean tone in my opinion is a warm clear tone. The 60 is just a way too bright sounding pickup. And you can get basically every tone? Hell no! No matter how many amps you try, no matter ho many effects you try, you can't get any sound out of an EMG. EMG's are the perfect metal pickups. If you want brutal metal sounds, you should get EMG's, but if you want a nice clean tone, a jazzy/bluesy tone, you shouldn't get EMG's. A EMG SA could do the job for jazz, but since the TS wants to buy an Eclipse CTM, he won't get a SA, and therefor, wont be able to get some nice clean tones out of his stock pickups.

Dude, roll down the volume knob, its a gain control until you go down to like..1 or 2 on the thing, that's when the volume part of the knob comes in.

He won't, but can thow an EMG 89 in there, and he gets one if he coil taps it. The 60 produces excellent clean tones, so dont come and say he won't get any. That's what the 60 is known for. Good cleans. an 85 could very well produce a good warmer clean tone aswell, but since it has more gain? it can be....w/e.

[PT ESP]

Dude, roll down the volume knob, its a gain control until you go down to like..1 or 2 on the thing, that's when the volume part of the knob comes in.

He won't, but can thow an EMG 89 in there, and he gets one if he coil taps it. The 60 produces excellent clean tones, so dont come and say he won't get any. That's what the 60 is known for. Good cleans. an 85 could very well produce a good warmer clean tone aswell, but since it has more gain? it can be....w/e.

The 60 can produce great crisp cleans, but not the best for strumming so much.Totally agree that you can change the tone heaps using the volume control on the guitar.
I'm about to finally check out an 89 with the coil tap... looking forward to it. I do agree that EMGs tend to suit a metal guitar sound, but I totally disagree that you can't get any other type of sound out of them - I have 4 fiddles loaded with the 60/81 combo, and each and every one sounds a little different as far as the 81 goes, and a lot different as far as the 60 goes.

:)

[Hemani_co]

I have finally tried some active EMG equipped guitars and my initial impressions are lacking in clean tone. The highs are clarifies fine but the depth is somehow lacking and 'bland', although it would be fairly suitable for almost anything, I definitely would not opt it for a jazz jam on a friday night. There's no defined mid range, neither is the overall sound balanced. Even at more than audible volumes, picking individual strings do not cut through properly at all. The depth of tone is definitely disappointing with the EMGs bare. With distortion it's fine and all, but the disappointing clean performance is just niggling in my mind. I'm sure EMG do what they do best - modern rock/heavier rock. But for anything else, well...let's say I wouldn't rush to replace my PAFs just yet.
I'm not sure if the examples I've played are the same EMG pups on the Eclipse but let's just say my hopes aren't high enough at the moment.
I won't write it off just yet. Wait 'til the day I hopefully get to play it.
But my bets are with Gibson and PRS for now.

[FloydNL]

I have finally tried some active EMG equipped guitars and my initial impressions are lacking in clean tone. The highs are clarifies fine but the depth is somehow lacking and 'bland', although it would be fairly suitable for almost anything, I definitely would not opt it for a jazz jam on a friday night. There's no defined mid range, neither is the overall sound balanced. Even at more than audible volumes, picking individual strings do not cut through properly at all. The depth of tone is definitely disappointing with the EMGs bare. With distortion it's fine and all, but the disappointing clean performance is just niggling in my mind. I'm sure EMG do what they do best - modern rock/heavier rock. But for anything else, well...let's say I wouldn't rush to replace my PAFs just yet.
I'm not sure if the examples I've played are the same EMG pups on the Eclipse but let's just say my hopes aren't high enough at the moment.
I won't write it off just yet. Wait 'til the day I hopefully get to play it.
But my bets are with Gibson and PRS for now.

1. Thats what I meant. Sure, you can play clean stuff on a guitar with EMG's, but it will never sound as nice as many other guitars. And sure, some people will like the bright sound of the EMG 60, but I don't.

2. Why? There are many ESP guitars without EMG's!

Btw, a time ago I found this video on YouTube, clean sounds with a SA (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzJzz0bpnWU), you should deffinetly check it out, some nice jazzy tone!

[jaylaw90]

My Eclipse-I CTM FT Vintage Black. Its also for sale

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc225/jaylaw90/DSC02271.jpg
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc225/jaylaw90/DSC02268.jpg
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http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc225/jaylaw90/DSC02266.jpg
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc225/jaylaw90/DSC02265.jpg
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc225/jaylaw90/DSC02261.jpg

[Gfunk]

Its also for sale


What a coincidence.



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v503/Gfunkhb175/spam.gif

[Hemani_co]

1. Thats what I meant. Sure, you can play clean stuff on a guitar with EMG's, but it will never sound as nice as many other guitars. And sure, some people will like the bright sound of the EMG 60, but I don't.

2. Why? There are many ESP guitars without EMG's!

Btw, a time ago I found this video on YouTube, clean sounds with a SA (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzJzz0bpnWU), you should deffinetly check it out, some nice jazzy tone!

The only ESP guitar that I'm interested at all is the Eclipse I-CTM. I've seen some Eclipse II with Seymour Duncan pickups but only has a 3 pot panel layout instead of the traditional 4. I need individual volume and tone controls for each pickup - it's a necessity for me.

[K1N5L4Y3R]

these 4 control eclipses have SD's

http://www.espguitars.co.jp/oversea/standard_gt/ecli_2fmsd.html

http://www.espguitars.co.jp/oversea/standard_gt/ecli_1_bk.html