Ibanez Artist
ESP versus LTD guitars?
I’ve noticed that most of the guitars that ESP has available in the $800 – $1300 price range are LTD’s, which I believe is ESP’s “budget” brand, just like “Squire” (Fender) and “Epiphone” (Gibson).
I currently play Jackson guitars, and they have three general tiers of quality, however they all bear the Jackson name. The artist models, soloists, and ??1 models are highest quality, followed by the “Pro” series, and the JS series as the lowest.
What I want to know is where in the “quality spectrum” is the line between ESP’s and LTD’s, compared to where other manufacturers draw their separation? Judging by the price, I’d assume that ESP seems to offer more of their products as LTD’s, reserving the ESP name for the highest quality instruments – just as if, for example, Ibanez only put their name on the prestige series guitars.
Is this about right? Is ESP just more picky about how high quality an instrument should be before it’s labelled ESP?
I guess that’s about right, although I’m only making an assumption the same as you.
Some of the artist models on the ESP website are actually LTD, which makes me think that they kind of overlap a bit.
I’ve actually got an LTD EC-1000 which I won in a competition and it’s hands down the best guitar I own, far nicer than both of my Jacksons – there is an ESP version of it too, but where mine was about £800 the ESP model is about £1800. I’d love to actually play one and see what the difference is. My guitar is made with a mahogany body, ebony fretboard and EMG pickups so there’s no difference in the quality of materials, I guess it’s just where they’re made.
…actually, I’ve not been a lot of help, have I?
1980 Ibanez Artist
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IBANEZ ARTIST ELECTRIC GUITAR AX220-QM(OUT OF PRODUCTION PIECE $369.99 |
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Ibanez 1981 Vintage MIJ Japan Artist AS-50 Sunburst w/OHSC $1,149.00 |
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Ibanez 1981 AR50 Artist Electric Guitar Black $549.99 |
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Genuine New Ibanez Sure Grip III Vintage Control Knob For Artist Les Paul $9.99 |
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1987 JOHN SCOFIELD IBANEZ ARTIST GUITAR PRINT AD $7.99 |
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1978 IBANEZ ICEMAN IC 400 ICEMAN / ARTIST TUNER $89.00 |
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STEVE LUKATHER – Ibanez Artist – 1980s Magazine Advertisment Poster $7.11 |
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Vintage Original Ibanez Artist As 80 Guitar Tuning Pegs $175.00 |
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RARE FLYING FINGERS Ibanez Artist 2618 $1,100.00 |
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Original Ibanez Gibraltar I Bridge Artist Musician GOLD AR300RECS PS10 LTD $155.00 |
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Original Ibanez Artist Musician Iceman Bridge Studs Gold $32.00 |
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1981 VINTAGE AD Ibanez AR300 Guitars Ferocious! TIGER $9.99 |
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1979 IBANEZ STEVE MILLER ARTIST EQ 2622 GUITAR PRINT AD $4.99 |
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Set Of 4 Genuine Ibanez Artist/Musician Sure Grip III Vintage Knobs Black $21.50 |
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Pickguard fits Ibanez Artist law suit brown tortoise $43.00 |
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Pickguard fits Ibanez Artist law suit guitar B/W/B/W/B $39.95 |
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The Ibanez ICEMAN 2 made in Feb 1982 Orig. named the Artist Series 6 string RH $1,200.00 |
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1997 Score Artist Proof Raul Ibanez PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES $3.99 |
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4 pcs Ibanez Sure Grip III Artist Vintage 70’s Style Knobs MIJ New $39.99 |
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2010 IBANEZ ART100BK BLACK ELECTRIC GUITAR ARTIST SERIES ART100 NEW W/ HRD CASE $419.99 |
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2011 IBANEZ ARZ400BK BLACK ELECTRIC GUITAR ARTIST SERIES ARZ400 NEW W/ HRD CASE $549.99 |
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New Ibanez Art 300 Artist Electric Guitar & Hardcase W/Warranty $295.00 |
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Original Ibanez Artist Musician Gibraltar Sustain Block PS10 Chrome $45.00 |
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Ibanez Guitars – Artist Series 1977 Print Ad $9.99 |
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Ibanez ART100GD Artist Les Paul Gold Top style $220.00 |
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1979 IBANEZ ICEMAN / ARTIST TUNER $69.00 |
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Genuine Ibanez Sure Grip III Vintage Control Knob Black For Artist Les Paul $7.99 |
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Ibanez embossed script pickup cover for 70’s pre- Artist $58.00 |
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Ibanez Chrome Velve Tune tuner, for 70’s Artist $19.00 |
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Vintage Ibanez Artist Catalog Pamphlet ~RARE~ 1977 1978 1979 $50.00 |
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IBANEZ ARZ800 ARTIST SERIES DEEP BLUE ELECTRIC GUITAR SHIPS FREE $749.99 |
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IBANEZ ARZ800 ARTIST SERIES DEEP RED ELECTRIC GUITAR SHIPS FREE ARZ 800 $749.99 |
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Ibanez AR100C Guitar Case for Artist Series Electrics $89.99 |
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TOTO STEVE LUKATHER 1983 IBANEZ ARTIST GUITAR AD 8X11 FRAMEABLE ADVERTISMENT $3.60 |
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Ibanez cloud for Artist (new, in bag) $45.00 |
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1983 Ibanez Artist AR150 $695.00 |
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Set Of 4 Genuine Ibanez Artist/Musician Sure Grip III Vintage Knobs Black $34.99 |
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NEW Ibanez Artist ART420 Electric Guitar Honey Amber Burst $559.99 |
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Ibanez AR5000 RE Never Played !!! $4,199.00 |
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Ibanez ART100 Artist Series Brown Sunburst Electric Guitar – New $299.99 |
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1978 IBANEZ ARTIST TRUSS ROD COVER $99.00 |
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IBANEZ ART90 ART90TRF ARTIST SERIES TRANSPARENT RED FLAT ELECTRIC GUITAR $299.99 |
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IBANEZ ART90 ART90TF ARTIST SERIES TOBACCO FLAT ELECTRIC GUITAR $299.99 |
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Ibanez Artist Arz400 Electric Guitar $469.00 |
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Ibanez ARZ400 Artist Series Electric Guitar | White | ARZ400WH | Old Stock Item! $299.99 |
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Ibanez ARZ400 Artist Series Electric Guitar | Black | ARZ400BK | Old Stock Item! $299.99 |
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SPLIT BLOCKS MOP Ibanez Artist GUITAR Decal Inlays $19.95 |
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VINTAGE IBANEZ 1983 ARTIST AR-30 MIJ W/ SUPER 70′S COIL SPLIT PUP’S W/ GIG BAG $659.00 |
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NEW – IBANEZ ART100GD ART100 ARTIST SERIES GOLD GUITAR $299.00 |
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Ibanez ART100BK Artist Series Black Electric Guitar – New $299.99 |
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1990 IBANEZ USA CUSTOM JS1WH 430S AR200 ARTIST PAUL GILBERT GUITAR PRINT AD $7.99 |
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Ibanez ARX320 Artist Electric Guitar Transparent Black Sunburst 889406670433 $359.99 |
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$185 WORLDWIDE SHIPPING ~Vintage 1983 IBANEZ ARTIST flame top ANVIL flight case $1,989.00 |
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4 pcs Ibanez Sure Grip III Artist Vintage Knobs MIJ New $39.99 |
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1978 ROCKER STEVE MILLER IN AN IBANEZ ARTIST SERIES GUITAR AD $9.99 |
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1pcs Ibanez Sure Grip III Artist Vintage 70’s Style Knobs MIJ New Guitar Knob $10.99 |
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Vintage Gold Ibanez Japan Short Stop Wraparound Bridge-Artist Electric Guitar $69.99 |
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Set 4 Vintage early 80’s Ibanez Sure-Grip Electric Guitar Knobs Iceman,Artist $69.99 |
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1 pcs Ibanez Sure Grip III Artist Vintage Knobs MIJ New $10.99 |
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VINTAGE 1982 IBANEZ ARTIST AM-50 AM50 AM 50 ELECTRIC GUITAR $1,350.00 |
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THE 1981 IBANEZ ARTIST SERIES AR300 TIGER MAPLE TOP GUITAR AD 8X11 AVERTISEMENT $3.60 |
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* VINTAGE 1978 – 1984 ORIGINAL IBANEZ ARTIST SURE GRIP KNOBS $299.99 |
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Ibanez Artist Series Guitars – Tiger – Rock and Roll Animal 1985 Print Ad $9.99 |
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Ibanez Artist ART300 BLS Blue $419.99 |
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1976 IBANEZ ARTIST 2618 GUITAR PRINT AD $7.99 |
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Ibanez Artist 2617 2617BS 1978 RARE Vintage OHSC Excellent! MIJ $1,750.00 |
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1977 IBANEZ ARTIST 2618 WITH SUPER 80 FLYING FINGERS PICKUPS $999.99 |
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IBANEZ ARTIST GUITAR PINUP AD Tiger Maple Finish AR300 $9.99 |
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1979 IBANEZ STUDIO ST-50 & ARTIST AR-50 GUITAR PRINT AD $6.99 |
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Ibanez ART100GD Artist – Art Series Electric Guitar Goldtop $279.99 |
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1984 Artist-Ibanez $1,249.00 |
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1982 IBANEZ ARTIST SERIES AR100 AR105 GUITAR PRINT AD $6.99 |
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Ibanez Artist Series ART600 Electric Guitar – New! $599.99 |
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LEE RITENOUR IBANEZ SA ARTIST SEMI-ACOUSTIC GUITARS AD 8X11 ADVERTISEMENT $3.60 |
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1980 Lee Ritenour Ibanez Artist Semi-Acoustic Guitar Ad $12.99 |
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IBANEZ ARZ400**ARTIST SERIES**EMG PICKUPS**SUPER LIGHT WEIGHT ROCK MACHINE $359.00 |
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1981 IBANEZ ARTIST AR-100 AR-300 GUITAR TIGER PRINT AD $6.99 |
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Ibanez CN200 Artist Electric Guitar Super 80 pickups Made in Japan $895.00 |
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VINTAGE ’80s IBANEZ ARTIST AR 100 GUITAR ARTICLE $7.99 |
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1981 IBANEZ ARTIST AR300 GUITAR TIGER MAPLE PRINT AD $6.99 |
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Ibanez ART100 Artist Electric Guitar NEW IN BOX $299.99 |
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NEW Ibanez Artist Series guitar Tuners/machines gold $36.00 |
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NEW Ibanez Artist Series guitar Tuners/machines Chrome $36.00 |
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Ibanez ART600 Artist Transparent Black Unplayed Condtion ART 600 Electric Guitar $599.00 |
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Ibanez ART600 Artist Transparent Night Blue Unplayed ART 600 NIB Elec Guitar $639.00 |
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Ibanez Guitars – Artist Endorsement 1982 Print Ad $9.99 |
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retro magazine advert 1983 IBANEZ ARTIST steve lukather $7.88 |
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1978 Artist EQ Ibanez guitar Steve Miller vintage ad $8.49 |
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Vintage 1970s Ibanez Guitar Artist Pick Guard Single Gold Bracket Only $12.00 |
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Ibanez ART100 Artist Electric Guiar Black finish new !! $249.00 |
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Raul Ibanez 2003 Topps Gallery Artist’s Proof #135 KC $1.50 |
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Set Genuine Ibanez Hollowbody Pearl Fret Inlays New Fit Artcore Artist $17.99 |
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One Piece Ibanez Sure Grip III Artist Vintage Knobs MIJ Black New $7.99 |
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4 Piece Ibanez Sure Grip III Artist Vintage Knobs MIJ Black New $29.99 |
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1977 Ibanez Artist Bass Guitar 2620b Made in Japan Rare As $750.00 |
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Ibanez Artist ARZ400 Electric Guitar| White | Ibanez ARZ Series | Artist Series $499.99 |
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Ibanez Artist/Musician Sure Grip III Speed Vintage Knobs Gold New Version $9.99 |
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Ibanez Maxon V-2 Vintage Hot Humbucker Roadstar Artist Destroyer Made in Japan $148.00 |
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Ibanez Art 100 Artist SERIES L@@K $200.00 |
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1981 IBANEZ ARTIST GIBRALTAR QUICK CHANGE TAIL PIECE / JAPAN $89.00 |
