ESP KH-2 NTB "Custom Shop" and "Signature Series" stamps on headstock

[Allistah]

Hello all --

I'm looking at buying an ESP KH-2 NTB guitar and the one in the shop locally to me as "Signature Series" stamp on the headstock instead of "Custom Shop". Can someone tell me the difference? I was guessing that the older versions of this guitar all had the Custom Shop stamp and then the current ones all have Signature Series on them.

I've seen a number of KH-2 guitars on Ebay and all of them say "Custom Shop" so I'm wondering if this was just something they did in the past on all of them..

Can someone confirm this for me that really knows the difference?

Thanks,

-Allistah

[Justinschut]

They dont build the KH2 in the custom shop any more, so the Custom Shop ones are built in the CS and the other ones arent

[Gfunk]

They dont build the KH2 in the custom shop any more, so the Custom Shop ones are built in the CS and the other ones arent


Ummm......




Whah?






http://www.sevenstring.org/forum/images/smilies/oolong.gif

[chevy Z 302]

Custom Shop stamp means it was built in the custom shop

Sig Series stamp means it was built elsewhere, i think in the same shop as the standard series esp's.

If you can swing it i'd say stay away from sig series and go for the custom shop version.

[Gfunk]

Custom Shop stamp means it was built in the custom shop

Sig Series stamp means it was built elsewhere, i think in the same shop as the standard series esp's.


Just because a guitar has the "Signature Series" logo does not necessarily mean it was not custom shop produced. It is best to discern by the serial number. If it begins with "SS", it was signature series line manufactured. If it begins with a single letter (K, T, S, etc.) I am led to believe, it was custom shop manufactured. But then again, who knows for sure. Probably only ESP Japan.




:\

[strngthbyndstrngth]

Just because a guitar has the "Signature Series" logo does not necessarily mean it was not custom shop produced. It is best to discern by the serial number. If it begins with "SS", it was signature series line manufactured. If it begins with a single letter (K, T, S, etc.) I am led to believe, it was custom shop manufactured. But then again, who knows for sure. Probably only ESP Japan.




:\

Don't forget the custom shop produced ones are about $3300.00 and the sig. series is about $2300.00

[Gfunk]

Don't forget the custom shop produced ones are about $3300.00 and the sig. series is about $2300.00

Not necessarily. I paid less than $2,300, but I specifically asked about the serial number before I purchased the guitar.

[HateEvent]

They dont build the KH2 in the custom shop any more, so the Custom Shop ones are built in the CS and the other ones arent

If you don't know what you are talking about, best not talk at all ;)

The 'Signature Series' models are slightly lesser quality than the Custom Shop models. I've extensively played both (I own a Custom Shop one).

The Custom Shop ones (in the UK anyway) are an 8 month wait time and cost £2600 whereas the Signature Series are currently in stock and readily available and are priced at £2000.

[Justinschut]

I dunno, I read somewhere they always made them in the Custom Shop but not anymore (besides the Relic I think it said).. well unless you order one obviously

[KH Guitar Freak]

They still make them in the Custom Shop, just got to pay more and wait longer...

The myth that the Vintage is the only KH sig made in the Custom Shop is a myth, probably started when ESP decided to make Signature Series, to make them more available and affordable...

[HateEvent]

I dunno, I read somewhere they always made them in the Custom Shop but not anymore (besides the Relic I think it said).. well unless you order one obviously

Yeah you can still order a custom shop one, but it'll take longer and cost more as I said above :)

[chevy Z 302]

yea and what gfunk said about the serials.:) I definitly left out that part. :o


Although when luna was around he mentioned some things that i didnt like.

For instance, he was talking about the S-0920323 numbers. Saying that some/all?:confused: where mistakes and should have said SS-099334 because they were SigSeries guitars.?.

I dont know if all thats true but i have noticed somethings about a few guitars that have the S serial with Sig Series logo, for instance a non recessed trem spring plate on the rear. Thats usually an indication of the SS whereas the CS recesses it.

I dont know if thats true or not, thats just some observations that i made, nothing more.

[wherever-i-roam]

my KH-2 which is spose to be a custom shop just has a "custom guitars" stamp on the back of the headstock and the serial number on the neck plate with no S-**** or anything, just the numbers, its about 7 years old.

[Sephiroth]

my KH-2 which is spose to be a custom shop just has a "custom guitars" stamp on the back of the headstock and the serial number on the neck plate with no S-**** or anything, just the numbers, its about 7 years old.

Same here. a 2001 model that was supposed to be custom ordered just has numbers and has "custom Guitars" stamp on the back. I got a pic of it in the signature thread.

[CyVy_84]

i'm going to buy a kh-2 next year :hat i wanted to order a ntb "signature series stamp" model, because the cs-order costs a lot more. can anybody tell me 'bout the quality? some said the cs are better quality. but the signature series quality is still good right?

[MasterOfPuppies]

i bought ( better it arrived me ) mine one year ago circa.
at the time kh2 sigs were all CS produced if i well remember..
as i am left handed i had to make it build apart the availability on the ESP shops so the CS was involved for sure.then to have it i waited like 9 months.
so mine is a KH-2 Neck-Thru CS in left handed version.

http://img527.imageshack.us/img527/9439/s1051469fj1.th.jpg (http://img527.imageshack.us/my.php?image=s1051469fj1.jpg)

i don't have the esp certiphicate though.
do i have to ask for it?

[Gfunk]

i bought ( better it arrived me ) mine one year ago circa.
at the time kh2 sigs were all CS produced if i well remember..


The one you pictured is a 2005 model.

[MasterOfPuppies]

wow!! i've got it for 2 years so!!! ;)

[ryan1112]

My custom shop guitar from 2001 just says custom guitars on the back of the headstock so I'm betting they all do from 2001.

[Gfunk]

My custom shop guitar from 2001 just says custom guitars on the back of the headstock so I'm betting they all do from 2001.

For the US market the "Custom Guitars" logo was used from the early 90s until 2002.