ESP E-II Horizon 3 FM FR STBLKSB

ESP E-II Horizon 3 FM FR STBLKSB review

The ESP E-II Horizon 3 FM FR STBLKSB is a Japanese-built electric guitar aimed squarely at players who want a fixed-feeling foundation for heavy music with the pitch range of a locking tremolo. Its specification combines a mahogany body, a flamed maple top, a three-piece maple neck that runs through the body, and an ebony fingerboard. The result is a premium, performance-focused instrument with familiar high-output hardware and a distinctive See Thru Black Sunburst finish.

The supplied field report describes a cleanly assembled guitar with smoothly polished frets and a neck that feels comfortable under the hand. The player also reports a weight of 3.6 kg, which they found manageable for extended playing. That is a single owner's observation rather than a published weight specification, but it gives a useful sense of how this particular instrument felt in use.

Construction and playing feel

The three-piece maple neck has a Thin U profile and a 648 mm scale. ESP pairs it with a 305 mm fingerboard radius, a 42 mm nut width, and 24 extra-jumbo frets. Those dimensions point to a relatively slim neck and a broad, consistent playing surface. The owner's account supports that impression, describing the guitar as comfortable to hold and easy to move around on. Frets polished smooth can make bends and position changes feel more fluid, and the reported fretwork was a clear positive.

The neck runs through the body rather than attaching at the heel. This construction can provide uninterrupted access to the upper frets, a practical advantage on a 24-fret guitar. The owner also notes long sustain. That listening impression is consistent with the instrument's construction, although sustain depends on setup, strings, amplification, and playing technique as well as the neck joint.

The ebony fingerboard is described in the field report as uniformly black, without the lighter streaks the reviewer had seen on some less expensive guitars. The flamed maple top is visible through the black sunburst finish, giving the dark look some depth. Black hardware keeps the visual details restrained, while the included case is a useful part of the package. A gig bag is not included.

Pickups and controls

ESP equips the guitar with a Seymour Duncan Custom 5 humbucker at the bridge and a Seymour Duncan Jazz humbucker at the neck. The bridge pickup is the more obvious choice for heavy rhythm tones and assertive lead parts. The neck pickup offers a contrasting position for smoother passages. The owner characterizes the sound as powerful, with substantial low end, and considers the guitar well suited to heavy styles. That is a favorable report, not a guarantee that the pickup balance will suit every amplifier or playing style.

The control layout stays straightforward: one volume control, one tone control with a push-pull function, and a three-way pickup selector. The push-pull tone control adds a switching option without crowding the front of the guitar with extra knobs. The supplied specifications do not identify exactly how that function changes the circuit, so players should check the instrument's documentation if the specific switching behavior matters to them.

Floyd Rose setup

The original Floyd Rose tremolo is paired with a locking nut, Gotoh tuning machines, and Elixir Nanoweb Super Light strings in.009 to.042. This setup is built for players who use the bar for expressive pitch changes and want the strings secured at the nut. A locking tremolo requires more attention during string changes and setup than a conventional fixed bridge. The owner says the locking tuning machines make string changes faster, but those machines do not remove the extra adjustment work associated with balancing a floating Floyd Rose system.

Buyers should also consider whether they want a guitar whose tuning and bridge setup are optimized around a particular string gauge. Moving away from the supplied gauge can require setup changes. For frequent alternate tunings, a fixed bridge may be more convenient.

Verdict

The ESP E-II Horizon 3 FM FR STBLKSB brings together Japanese construction, an ebony fingerboard, a through-body maple neck, Seymour Duncan humbuckers, and an original Floyd Rose system. The field report praises its finish, fretwork, feel, sustain, and heavy-leaning voice. Its main practical tradeoff is the maintenance and setup commitment of a locking tremolo. At a listed price of 2,859, it is a substantial purchase, but the owner considered the price fair for the build quality and materials. Players seeking a premium guitar for heavy music, with upper-fret access and expressive tremolo use, have a well-defined option here.