ESP Edwards E-AL-166 BLACKY

ESP Edwards E-AL-166 BLACKY review

The ESP Edwards E-AL-166 BLACKY is an Alexi Laiho signature guitar built around a distinctive V-style body and a direct, performance-minded set of electronics. Its listed price is 2,222, and it has been available since April 2025. Made in Japan, it combines an alder body, a maple neck-through construction, an ebony fingerboard, an active bridge humbucker, and a Floyd Rose-style tremolo. The design is specific, rather than a general-purpose take on the V shape.

There is also a useful point of reference in the available playing feedback: a player accustomed to a Jackson King V found that the BLACKY's different V shape took some adjustment, but reported that it felt and sounded great. That experience gives a fair sense of the instrument's main consideration. Players moving from another V-shaped guitar should expect the outline and playing position to feel distinct, even if they already know the format.

Construction and playing feel

The alder body is finished in matte metallic black, with black high-gloss pinstripes. There is no separate top. The visual contrast is restrained in color but deliberately graphic, matching the guitar's sharp V profile. ESP uses a maple neck-through-body construction and an ebony fingerboard, a combination that keeps the central neck structure continuous through the body. The instrument has 24 frets and a 648 mm (25.51-inch) scale length.

The neck has a thin U profile. Its 42 mm (1.65-inch) nut width is paired with an R2 locking nut, and frets 20 through 24 are scalloped. That scalloping is a notable detail at the upper end of the fingerboard, where it changes the feel under the fretting hand. The black pearloid saw-tooth inlays carry the signature look onto the fingerboard without adding a bright color accent.

Those measurements describe a focused layout, but they do not establish how the guitar will fit every player. The supplied feedback is positive on the overall feel, while also noting that the body shape took time to get used to. Anyone choosing a V-style instrument should consider how its shape works with their preferred seated and standing positions. The included gig bag helps with transport, though a hard case is not included.

Pickup, controls, and tremolo

The sole pickup is an EMG FH2 active humbucker at the bridge. Controls are deliberately spare: one volume control and an MM-04 on/off switch. There is no listed pickup selector or tone control. This arrangement keeps the control area simple and places the active pickup at the center of the guitar's sound. The supplied player report describes the sound as great and specifically calls the preamp a fantastic bonus. That is useful firsthand feedback, though it does not provide measured output figures or describe particular amplifier settings.

The MM-04 switch is part of the onboard electronics, while the active pickup and preamp are the defining features of the signal path. Players who want a broad control set on the guitar itself may find the layout limited. Players who prefer a straightforward control scheme can treat the volume and switch as a clean, uncluttered setup.

For pitch effects, the E-AL-166 BLACKY uses a Floyd Rose FRT-2000 tremolo and a locking nut. GOTOH SG360-07 tuning machines and nickel hardware complete the listed hardware package. The tremolo gives the guitar a clear connection to the performance-oriented design, although the supplied information does not include setup details, tuning tests, or a specific account of how the system behaves under heavy use.

Verdict

The ESP Edwards E-AL-166 BLACKY makes its priorities clear: Alexi Laiho's V-style design, a maple neck-through build, an ebony board, and an active bridge humbucker with a built-in preamp. Its thin U neck, scalloped upper frets, locking nut, and Floyd Rose-style tremolo add further definition. The controls are minimal, and the body shape may require an adjustment period, even for a player familiar with a King V.

The field feedback backs up the instrument's strongest practical points, describing a comfortable feel and strong sound after that initial adjustment. At a listed price of 2,222, the BLACKY is best considered by players who specifically want its signature design and focused electronics, rather than a flexible all-purpose control layout. It arrives with a gig bag, is made in Japan, and has a feature set that stays closely tied to the artist model's identity.