ESP LTD Arrow Black Metal II

ESP LTD Arrow Black Metal II review

The ESP LTD Arrow Black Metal II is a V-style electric guitar built around a mahogany body, a three-piece maple neck that runs through the body, and a single active humbucker at the bridge. Its specification is focused rather than broad: one pickup, one master volume control, one voice-selection switch, and a Floyd Rose 1000SE bridge. That layout keeps the control set straightforward while placing much of the instrument's tonal range in the pickup's three-voice system.

There are no customer reviews available for this product, so this assessment is based only on the supplied specifications. Those details describe the materials, hardware, and controls, but do not establish how the guitar sounds, feels, or performs in a player's hands. The listed price is 1622, with no currency specified in the product information.

Construction and materials

The mahogany body and maple neck-through construction are the main structural features. The neck is made from three pieces of maple and continues through the body, rather than attaching to it with a bolt-on joint. That construction is a concrete point of difference in the design, but the specification alone cannot establish any effect on sustain, resonance, or stability.

The fingerboard is Macassar ebony, with a 350 mm radius and 24 extra-jumbo stainless steel frets. Stainless steel is the specified fret material; the product information does not give fret height or width, so details of playing feel cannot be assessed from the listing. A 42 mm nut width, locking nut, and 648 mm scale length complete the neck measurements. The scale is also listed as 25.5 inches.

The neck profile is described as Extra Thin U. That name signals the maker's intended profile category, but without a measurement or comparison to another neck, it does not establish how slim the neck will feel to a particular player. The 24-fret layout provides two octaves per string before considering bends or pitch changes, while the actual upper-fret access should be judged in person.

Pickup and controls

The guitar has one Seymour Duncan Mortal Coil three-voice active humbucker in the bridge position. A master volume control adjusts the overall output, and a separate toggle switch selects among the pickup's voices. This is a compact control scheme, with no neck pickup or dedicated tone control listed. The voice switch gives the player more than one pickup setting, although the supplied information does not identify the individual voices or describe their frequency balance and output.

Because the pickup is active, the instrument requires a power source for its electronics. The specification does not state battery type, battery access, or battery life, so those practical details should be confirmed with the seller or manufacturer. The listing also does not provide a full wiring diagram or explain whether the voice selector operates in the same way in every setting.

Bridge, tuning hardware, and finish

A Floyd Rose 1000SE bridge is paired with the locking nut. This is a double-locking tremolo-style system, with the strings secured at both ends of the vibrating length. It is a specific hardware choice for players who want a locking tremolo setup, but the listing does not include setup instructions, adjustment range, or details about the bridge's factory configuration. Grover machine heads are also specified, alongside black hardware.

The listed finish is Black Redburst Satin. The general color field separately says Nero/Rosso, which appears to describe a black-and-red color combination. No top wood is specified, and the body is listed as mahogany. The guitar ships without a case or gig bag, so buyers should account for protection and transport separately.

Who the specifications may suit

The Arrow Black Metal II's V-style body, single bridge humbucker, active electronics, and locking tremolo point to a deliberately specialized configuration. A player looking for a traditional two-pickup setup, a dedicated tone knob, or a fixed bridge will not find those features in the supplied specification. The 648 mm scale, 24 frets, and locking hardware give clear reference points for assessing whether its layout matches a player's preferred instrument setup.

Before buying, confirm the currency and current price, check whether the active pickup's battery is included, and verify the exact finish with the retailer. Since no case or bag is included, budget for one if needed. The available information supports a clear technical description of the guitar, but it does not support claims about tone, comfort, tuning reliability, or build quality in actual use.