ESP LTD M-200DX NT PB

Got it because I already own a multitude of LTDs, including a M-1001, so this one was supposed to be its little brother in different color.

Aforementioned color is almost non-existing. You need to get to a yellow light for it to look purple, otherwise it's black/gray. Forget the dark stage - it will never pop out.

Tuners don't turn properly, and don't hold the tuning... probably because of the criminally badly cut nut. Action is 2 km high and even with that the guitar manages to have string buzz. I'm scared of trying to set up the intonation and string height as I'm most certainly sure that there are dead frets all over. Side dots are crooked and there are toolmarks all over the frets. The neck was crooked, so I had to realign it by loosening the neck screws and readjusting it in its pocket. No more warranty I guess.

The LH-150 pickups are notoriously bad and muddy, not different from any other low-end LTD I ever had, but the switch requires ungodly amount of force to move and clicks like a weapon. Push/pull pot is a totally unnecessary option as no split humbucker ever sounds good.

This guitar would be okay if it was half the price as you could invest into hardware, pickups and electronics to make it decent. But if I was to do so on this guitar, I should've gotten something that is 800-900 euros and plays good straight out of the box. I just wanted the color and that LTD QC that is usually on god level, but this thing came out horrid.

If you like to mod, get a Jackson, Ibanez, Solar or even better - a Hagstrom or a HB that would require almost no modifications and be happy, unlike me.

I am a p**head and buy guitars based on intuition , and the shape and color of the guitar. I buy guitars to keep my mental health and stay happy. I knew i needed a purple guitar. I like when you can see the woodgrain. So i went for this one.
So...it arrived and the guitar is beautiful.
Poplar burl: great. In purple: yes, awesome.
It sounds good unplugged. I find it very resonant acoustically which is super important to me. I believe the roasted neck contributes to this. I actually prefer other woods than mahogany.
Plugged in: i find the pickups suprisingly good actually. I dont even know why one would swap them. I did anyway: for your health and the time/ space continuum.
The fretwork is very decent. I do however never expect a guitar to come out perfect out of the box, because perfect is subjective and wood is a living material, thats the whole point. ( how can some people expect a guitar to arrive in tune, it would be unnatural)
It had a buzz on fret 28, but i polished it down and now its good.
Over the years i came to the conclusion: straight neck as possible and not absurdly low action is the formula.
I use it mainly for death metal and sad , therapeutical ballads that i play in my bedroom, or in my band rehearsal space. It works for both.
I dont find it lightweight , it feels quite sturdy. It has a very musical response and i think that it the main point. And, its purple

Ich hatte vorher eine günstige Jackson Dinky und nach einem halben Jahr wurde es bereits Zeit für was besseres. Ich bin zu Thomann gefahren und wurde bestens beraten. Nachdem ich diese Gitarre angespielt habe, fühlte ich mich sehr wohl mit ihr. Zuhause dann fiel mir auf, dass die tiefe E und A Saite schnarren. Trotz Halseinstellung und allem drum und dran, konnte ich sie nicht gut einstellen. Mein Gitarrenbauer hat sie dann vermessen und untersucht. Ergebnis: Sattel fehlerhaft und zu tief gefeilt, Bundstäbchen unterschiedlich hoch. Schade. Gitarre hat einen sehr schönen, druckvollen und runden Sound, aber so kann man eine Gitarre nicht spielen. Ging zurück.