ESP LTD ALR-II QM STP Andy Laroque

ESP LTD ALR-II QM STP Andy Laroque review

The ESP LTD ALR-II QM STP Andy Laroque is a signature electric guitar built around a mahogany body, a quilted maple top, and a Floyd Rose 1000 tremolo. Listed at $2,099, it has a neck-through-body maple neck, an ebony fingerboard, 24 stainless steel frets, and a Seymour Duncan pickup combination. The model is associated with Andy Laroque of King Diamond and has been available since June 2025.

This assessment is based strictly on the listed specifications. No customer reviews are available, so there is no basis for claims about play feel, tuning performance, build consistency, or how the instrument sounds in use. The details do, however, show what the design prioritizes and what buyers should check before choosing it.

Body, neck, and fretboard

The body is mahogany with a quilted maple top, finished in See Thru Purple. ESP specifies a three-piece maple neck that runs through the body, rather than a bolt-on neck. The fingerboard is ebony, and the neck profile is described as Thin U. These are concrete construction details, but they do not establish the guitar's weight, balance, or neck feel. Those points require an in-person trial or reliable measurements that are not provided here.

The fingerboard has a compound radius of 300 to 400 mm, equivalent to approximately 11.8 to 15.7 inches. A compound radius changes gradually along the neck, from a more curved surface toward a flatter one. That geometry can suit players who want different fingerboard curvature in lower and higher positions, but the spec alone cannot confirm how comfortable it will feel for a particular hand or playing style.

The 629 mm scale is approximately 24.75 inches. The nut width is 42 mm, and the locking nut works with the Floyd Rose 1000 tremolo. The instrument has 24 extra-jumbo stainless steel frets. Stainless steel describes the fret material; extra-jumbo describes the fret size category. No fret height measurements or setup specifications are listed, so precise conclusions about bending effort or action would be speculative.

Pickups and controls

The pickup layout pairs a Seymour Duncan STK-S6 single-coil pickup at the neck with a Seymour Duncan TB-4 humbucker at the bridge. This is an HS configuration, meaning one single-coil-style pickup and one humbucker. It gives the guitar two different pickup formats, but the supplied information does not include output measurements, wiring diagrams, or a description of their tonal response. Sound judgments would need direct testing through an amplifier.

Controls consist of one volume knob with a push-pull function and a three-way toggle switch. The specific function assigned to the push-pull control is not stated. It would be unsafe to assume that it splits the bridge humbucker or changes a particular pickup configuration. Buyers who need a specific switching option should confirm it with ESP or a retailer before purchase.

Bridge, hardware, and included items

The Floyd Rose 1000 is a locking tremolo system, paired with LTD locking machine heads and a locking nut. The listed hardware is black. This combination is designed around a fully locking setup, but the specification sheet does not describe setup requirements, adjustment range, or maintenance intervals. Players unfamiliar with locking tremolos may want to factor in the extra setup considerations when comparing it with a fixed-bridge guitar.

D'Addario XL120 strings are listed as the factory string set. A case is included; a bag is not. The sales unit is one guitar. The product's item number is 608702, which can help distinguish this particular version when checking availability or confirming included accessories.

Who should consider it?

The listed specification points to a signature ST-style guitar with a short 24.75-inch scale, a locking tremolo, a locking nut, and a mixed single-coil and humbucker pickup layout. Those features may be relevant to players who specifically want that combination. The 24-fret ebony fingerboard, Thin U neck profile, and compound radius also provide useful details to compare against a player's preferred dimensions.

At $2,099, the buyer should verify the exact push-pull function, the included case, current availability, and the instrument's setup before ordering. The specifications provide a clear outline of the materials and hardware, but they cannot substitute for trying the neck, assessing the weight, or hearing the pickups. With no customer feedback available, this remains a technical evaluation of the published details, not a report of hands-on performance.