ESP E-II Eclipse QM RDB

ESP E-II Eclipse QM RDB review

The ESP E-II Eclipse QM RDB is a Japanese-made, single-cut electric guitar built around a familiar high-gain recipe: a mahogany body, a quilted maple top, and a pair of EMG humbuckers. Its Reindeer Blue finish can appear more violet than blue, according to one owner, so the color may look different in person than its name suggests. At a listed price of 2,859, it sits firmly in the premium range, where setup, finish quality, and practical playability matter as much as the specification sheet.

Player reports describe an instrument that arrived exceptionally well set up, with low action and accurate intonation. Several owners praised the finish work and overall construction, with one experienced player finding no flaws despite being particular about expensive guitars. That consistency is a meaningful part of the appeal. At this price, buyers should still inspect their own instrument and confirm that the factory setup suits their preferred string gauge and playing style.

Construction and playing feel

The body is mahogany, specifically Khaya Ivorensis, topped with quilted maple. The glued-in mahogany neck has a Thin U profile and joins an ebony fingerboard with 22 X-Jumbo frets. The fingerboard radius is 305 mm, or 12.01 inches, and the nut measures 42 mm, or 1.65 inches. Its 629 mm, or 24.75-inch, scale length gives the guitar the shorter scale associated with this format.

Players describe the neck as fast and comfortable, particularly for moving across the fingerboard. One review also notes that the satin-feeling neck surface does not seem to slow the fretting hand. The cutaway and shaped body-to-neck area received praise for access to higher frets. That can matter for lead work, where smooth movement into the upper register is a regular part of the job.

The body shape has a tradeoff. A player accustomed to a contoured PRS found the Eclipse less immediately comfortable, especially at first, and described the substantial body as part of its heavy-duty feel. Another player who hangs a guitar relatively low found the Eclipse's sloped upper body edge more accommodating than a Les Paul's. Comfort will depend on strap height, posture, and familiarity with single-cut designs, so trying one on is sensible if ergonomics are a priority.

EMG sound and controls

The pickup set consists of an EMG 81 at the bridge and an EMG 60 at the neck, both in Brushed Black Chrome. Controls are deliberately straightforward: two volume knobs, one tone knob, and a three-way selector. There are no coil-splitting or push-pull options listed. A Gotoh TOM bridge and tailpiece anchor the strings, while Gotoh locking tuners handle tuning. The hardware is black, and the guitar ships with Elixir Nanoweb Light strings in.010-.046 gauge.

Owners describe the sound as forceful, tight, and clearly defined, especially with high-gain tones. One player moving from a PRS fitted with a different pickup combination said the EMG 81 delivered a much denser wall of sound. That same player characterized the response as compressed and less organic, with reduced variation in the signal's dynamics. This is a useful distinction: the Eclipse's active pickups favor a controlled, even attack over a highly touch-sensitive response.

For precise alternate picking, tremolo picking, and sweeping, player feedback highlights a firm, clean response that keeps notes distinct when technique is disciplined. The pickups can also make uneven picking or imprecise fretting more obvious rather than disguising it. These impressions point toward a guitar suited to players who want a defined modern metal sound and can make use of its direct, compressed character. It is not an especially flexible platform for players seeking many pickup voices from one instrument.

Practical details and verdict

The package includes a fitted case, but no gig bag. The model has been available since June 2022, carries item number 515438, and is sold as one instrument. Its lack of a tremolo keeps the hardware setup simple, while the locking tuners offer convenient string changes. One owner also praised the string-retention arrangement and the supplied case.

The ESP E-II Eclipse QM RDB makes the strongest case for itself as a focused, high-gain guitar with excellent reported setup and finish quality. Its neck feel, upper-fret access, and assertive EMG voice drew particularly enthusiastic feedback. The main cautions are its premium price, substantial single-cut body, and pickup character, which may feel too compressed for players who value a broad dynamic range. Experienced metal guitarists who want a clear, heavy sound and a no-frills control layout are the best match. For anyone unsure about the body shape or active pickup response, an in-person test is worth the effort.