ESP E-II M-II HT Mercury Blue Bst

ESP E-II M-II HT Mercury Blue Bst review

The ESP E-II M-II HT Mercury Blue Bst is a six-string electric guitar built around a fixed bridge, a set-thru neck, and a pair of Bare Knuckle Aftermath pickups. Its listed price is 3699, with no currency stated in the supplied specifications. The model has been available since May 2023, and its item number is 565393. This assessment is based on those specifications alone. No customer reviews or firsthand playing impressions are available, so claims about sound, comfort, or workmanship beyond the listed construction would be speculative.

Body, neck, and finish

The body is alder, topped with burled maple. ESP lists the finish as Mercury Blue Burst, while the product name uses Mercury Blue Bst. The blue burst finish and figured maple top give the guitar a distinctive visual direction, though the degree of figuring and the appearance of an individual instrument can vary. No weight is provided, so the balance and overall carrying comfort cannot be assessed from the available data.

The neck is made from three-piece maple and uses set-thru construction. This design joins the neck to the body with an extended joint, but the specifications do not describe the joint dimensions or make a claim about access at the highest frets. The neck profile is Thin U, a shape designation rather than a precise description of how the instrument will feel in every player's hands. Neck thickness measurements are not listed.

An ebony fingerboard carries 24 extra-jumbo stainless-steel frets. Stainless steel is the specified fret material; the listing does not provide fret dimensions or a setup report. The fingerboard radius is 305 mm, equivalent to 12 inches. Nut width is 42 mm, and the nut is bone. The 648 mm scale length is the standard 25.5-inch format. Taken together, these figures establish the main dimensions, but they cannot substitute for trying the neck and assessing the factory setup.

Pickups and controls

Both pickups are Bare Knuckle Aftermath models, listed as direct-mount units with a battle-worn black finish. The pickup layout is humbucking at the neck and bridge. ESP specifies a single volume control, a single tone control, and a three-way pickup selector. The available information does not include coil-splitting, alternate wiring, or additional switching options, so none should be assumed.

The pickup names and control layout identify the hardware, not its exact response in a particular amplifier or recording setup. No output measurements, magnet details, wiring diagram, or audio samples are supplied. Players considering this model for a specific tuning or style should verify those details with ESP or a dealer, rather than relying on the pickup name alone to predict tone.

Bridge and hardware

The guitar has no tremolo. Its Hipshot bridge uses a string-through-body design, and the machine heads are Gotoh locking tuners. The hardware finish is black. This is a fixed-bridge specification, with no vibrato arm or floating tremolo system listed. A fixed bridge may suit players who do not need a tremolo, but the specifications do not establish tuning performance, intonation accuracy, or how easily the instrument can be adjusted.

Elixir Nanoweb Super Light strings are listed as standard equipment, with the string reference given as item 152173. The gauge is not included in the supplied data, so the exact set cannot be confirmed here. Players who change string gauge or tuning may need a setup adjustment, although the listing does not say whether the guitar receives any particular setup before shipping.

Included case and practical details

The package includes an MH guitar form-fit case. It does not include a gig bag. That distinction is useful when comparing the package with other instruments, since the case is the specified included protection rather than an optional accessory. No additional accessories, such as a strap, cable, or adjustment tools, are listed.

At a listed price of 3699, the specification sheet describes a guitar with a figured maple top, a three-piece maple neck, an ebony fingerboard, stainless-steel frets, two named aftermarket pickups, locking tuners, and a fitted case. The data does not identify the sales currency, country of manufacture, warranty terms, or production location. Those points should be checked with the seller before purchase.

Assessment

The ESP E-II M-II HT Mercury Blue Bst is defined by its fixed Hipshot bridge, set-thru construction, 25.5-inch scale, and dual Bare Knuckle Aftermath pickups. Its materials and hardware are clearly specified, but the listing leaves important buying questions unanswered, including weight, setup measurements, pickup wiring details, and currency. There are no customer reviews available for this product, and this review does not imply otherwise. Buyers can use the listed dimensions and components to judge whether the configuration fits their needs, then confirm the missing details and, if possible, inspect or play the instrument before committing.