ESP LTD EC-1000 Evertune BB BLKS

ESP LTD EC-1000 Evertune BB BLKS review

The ESP LTD EC-1000 Evertune BB BLKS is a single-cut electric guitar built around a glued-in mahogany neck, a mahogany body, and a maple top. Its satin black finish gives it a restrained look, while the Evertune bridge sets it apart from a conventional fixed bridge. The listed price is $1,399. It has been available since April 2021.

Player feedback describes a guitar that arrives with a good setup and feels ready to play. One owner reported low string action without troublesome fret buzz, neatly rounded fret ends, and a smooth, fast neck. Another praised the balance and finish, though noted that the instrument is not especially light. One reported example weighed 4.1 kg, but that figure should not be treated as a guaranteed weight for every guitar.

Construction and playing feel

The body and glued-in neck are mahogany, with a maple top and an ebony fingerboard. The neck has a Thin U profile, a 42 mm nut, and a 629 mm scale, equivalent to 24.75 inches. The fingerboard radius is 350 mm, or 13.78 inches. Twenty-four stainless steel extra-jumbo frets provide a durable fret surface and a broad playing area for bends and upper-register work.

The reported playing impressions are consistently positive. The slim neck feels comfortable for both fast passages and chord work, and the factory action was described as low and clean. The ebony fingerboard also drew praise for its dark appearance. Taken together, these details make the EC-1000 a practical option for players who want a substantial single-cut design without a bulky neck profile.

Pickups and controls

ESP equips this model with an EMG 81 humbucker at the bridge and an EMG 60TW-R humbucker at the neck, both in brushed chrome. The controls comprise two volume knobs, a tone control with a push-pull function, and a three-way pickup selector. That configuration gives the player separate level control for each pickup, plus additional switching from the push-pull tone control.

Owners describe the sound as powerful and versatile, suitable for studio work and playing on the road. Those are subjective impressions rather than a substitute for hearing the guitar through your own amplifier and effects. The active EMG pickup setup is a key part of the instrument's character, so players seeking a more traditional, lower-output single-coil sound should look elsewhere.

What the Evertune bridge changes

The Evertune F-Model bridge is the defining feature here. A player reported that the guitar stayed reliably in tune after weeks of storage and through temperature changes. That stability can be useful for recording sessions, rehearsals, and travel, particularly when consistent tuning matters between takes or sets.

There is a learning curve. One owner found the supplied instructions unhelpful and needed video guides to understand the setup. The bridge also requires more familiarity than a standard fixed bridge. String changes or a change in string gauge may call for adjustment, and owners should take time to learn how the system is configured. Once set correctly, the reviewer found that bends worked normally and the tuning stability was excellent. The Evertune is not a tremolo, and this guitar has no tremolo system.

A reported switch concern

One owner raised a specific concern about the electronics: despite the EMG pickups having solderless connections, the guitar's connections were reportedly soldered, and the selector and control parts did not appear to be EMG components. That guitar developed an intermittent selector problem. Checking the connections and cleaning the contacts resolved it, but the owner considered this disappointing on an instrument in this price range.

This is one user's account, not evidence that every EC-1000 Evertune has the same issue. Still, it is worth checking the selector and controls when trying the guitar, and confirming that the switching is clean before a return period expires.

Verdict

The ESP LTD EC-1000 Evertune BB BLKS combines a comfortable Thin U neck, stainless steel frets, EMG humbuckers, and a bridge designed to maintain tuning stability. Field reports praise its setup, finish, playability, and dependable tuning once the Evertune is understood. The main caveats are the bridge's setup learning curve, the reported selector fault, and the instrument's considerable weight. It is supplied without a case or gig bag, so factor that into the purchase. For players who value tuning consistency and a powerful humbucker sound, it makes a compelling, well-equipped single-cut guitar.