ESP E-II Horizon FR II Andromeda

ESP E-II Horizon FR II Andromeda review

The ESP E-II Horizon FR II Andromeda is a Japanese-made electric guitar with a neck-through-body maple neck, mahogany body, two active EMG humbuckers, and an original Floyd Rose tremolo. Its listed price is $3,399. The specifications point to a guitar built around a stable neck joint, a locking tremolo system, and a relatively direct control layout. No customer reviews are available for this product, so this assessment is based only on the published specifications. It does not claim to describe playing feel, sound, or reliability from hands-on use.

Construction and materials

The body is mahogany, topped with maple, while the maple neck runs through the body. This neck-through construction differs from a bolt-on neck, where the neck is attached to the body with screws. It gives the instrument a continuous central neck structure, although the specifications alone cannot establish how that affects sustain or access in practice. The Andromeda matte finish and black hardware give the guitar a coordinated appearance, but the available information does not specify finish thickness or other cosmetic details.

The fingerboard is ebony and carries 24 extra-jumbo stainless-steel frets. Stainless steel is generally more resistant to fret wear than conventional nickel-silver fret wire, though fret life also depends on playing style and setup. The extra-jumbo size is a useful detail for players who prefer taller, wider frets. ESP lists a 12.01-inch fingerboard radius, a 42 mm nut width, and a Thin U neck profile. Those measurements provide a clearer picture of the neck than the profile label alone, but they do not substitute for trying the neck in person.

Its 648 mm scale length is 25.5 inches, a common full-scale length for electric guitars. The specifications do not state the factory string gauge or setup, so buyers should not assume a particular string tension or action. The instrument is listed with 24 frets, giving access to two full octaves on each string before considering the tremolo and tuning setup.

Pickups and controls

The pickup set consists of an EMG 81 BBC humbucker at the bridge and an EMG 89R BBC humbucker at the neck. Both are active pickups. The model names identify the installed units, but the supplied information does not include output measurements, frequency response, or a switching chart. A specific tonal verdict would therefore go beyond the evidence available here.

The control layout is simple on paper: one volume control with a push-pull function, one tone control, and a three-way toggle switch. The push-pull control adds a selectable function, but the provided specifications do not say precisely what it activates. Buyers who need to know how it changes the pickup configuration should confirm that detail with ESP or a retailer before purchase. The three-way switch provides pickup selection, though no additional switching options are listed.

Floyd Rose tremolo and hardware

An original Floyd Rose tremolo is the central hardware feature. A double-locking tremolo can secure the strings at the bridge and nut, a design intended to help retain tuning during substantial tremolo use. It also makes restringing, tuning changes, and adjustments more involved than on a fixed bridge. The listing does not specify the exact bridge setup or whether the guitar ships with the tremolo floating, so those details should be checked with the seller.

Gotoh locking tuning machines are included, along with black hardware. Locking tuners clamp the strings at the tuning posts, which can simplify string installation. On a guitar with a locking nut and Floyd Rose bridge, they do not replace the locking hardware at the nut. The specification sheet names the tremolo but does not separately describe the nut, so its precise details are not confirmed here.

What the specifications establish

• Construction: Mahogany body, maple top, and a maple neck-through-body design.
• Neck and fingerboard: Thin U profile, ebony fingerboard, 12.01-inch radius, and 42 mm nut width.
• Frets and scale: 24 extra-jumbo stainless-steel frets on a 25.5-inch scale.
• Electronics: EMG 81 BBC bridge and EMG 89R BBC neck humbuckers, with a push-pull volume control, tone control, and three-way switch.
• Hardware and finish: Original Floyd Rose tremolo, Gotoh locking tuners, black hardware, and Andromeda matte finish.

Verdict

The ESP E-II Horizon FR II Andromeda is specified as a premium, tremolo-equipped electric guitar with a detailed material and hardware package. Its strongest documented points are the neck-through maple construction, stainless-steel frets, named EMG pickup models, original Floyd Rose tremolo, and included case. The listing also states that it does not include a gig bag, which is consistent with the case being supplied separately as the included carrying option.

At $3,399, the price makes it important to verify the practical details that the specification list leaves open, especially the push-pull function, tremolo setup, and exact locking-nut arrangement. There are no customer reviews available, and no playing impressions can be supported by the supplied data. Buyers can judge the stated build and components, but should try the neck and confirm the setup before committing to a purchase.