ESP LTD EXL Black Metal II

ESP LTD EXL Black Metal II: specification-based review

The ESP LTD EXL Black Metal II is an EX-style electric guitar listed at a price of 1522. The available information describes a mahogany body, a three-piece set maple neck, a Macassar ebony fingerboard, and a single active bridge humbucker. It also lists a fixed Tune-o-matic-style bridge with a stop tailpiece and locking tuners. No customer reviews are available, so this assessment is limited to the published specifications. It cannot establish how the guitar feels or sounds in actual use.

Construction and neck dimensions

The body is mahogany, with no separate top listed. Its finish is described as Black Redburst Satin, while the color field also gives Nero/Rosso. The hardware is black. Those details identify the stated appearance, but the specifications do not provide finish thickness, body weight, or measurements of the body itself.

The neck is made from three pieces of maple and joins the body with a set-neck construction. ESP lists a Thin U neck profile, a 42 mm nut width, and a 350 mm fingerboard radius. These dimensions give buyers concrete points for comparison with other instruments. They do not, by themselves, predict whether the neck will suit a particular player's hand or preferred setup.

The Macassar ebony fingerboard carries 24 extra-jumbo stainless-steel frets. Stainless steel is specified for the fret material, and the fret size is identified as extra-jumbo. The available data does not include fret measurements, fingerboard inlays, or a description of fret finishing. Those details would need confirmation from the seller or an in-person inspection.

Scale, strings, and tuning hardware

The scale length is 629 mm, also given as 24.75 inches. This is the measurement from the nut to the bridge design's scale reference, and it is useful when comparing the guitar with instruments of different scale lengths. The supplied strings are listed as D'Addario XL110 in.010 to.046 gauges. The data does not state the factory tuning or setup, so neither should be assumed from the string set alone.

For the bridge, ESP specifies a TonePros locking Tune-o-matic bridge with a stop tailpiece. LTD locking tuners are also listed. The specifications identify the hardware type but do not describe adjustment range, installation details, or tuning stability under particular playing conditions. There is no tremolo system listed. That makes this a fixed-bridge configuration on paper, rather than a guitar specified with a movable vibrato bridge.

Pickup and controls

The sole pickup is a Seymour Duncan Mortal Coil three-voice active bridge humbucker. The control layout consists of one master volume control and one voice-selection toggle switch. This is a notably compact control set in the published specification, with no separate tone control or neck pickup listed.

The three-voice description indicates that the pickup offers three selectable voices, but the supplied data does not explain their exact voicings, output levels, switching behavior, or wiring. It also does not state the battery type, battery access method, or expected battery life. Buyers who need those details should consult ESP or Seymour Duncan documentation rather than infer them from the pickup name.

What the specifications establish

• Body and neck: Mahogany body with a three-piece maple set neck.
• Fingerboard and frets: Macassar ebony, 350 mm radius, and 24 extra-jumbo stainless-steel frets.
• Pickup: One active Seymour Duncan Mortal Coil three-voice bridge humbucker.
• Bridge and tuners: TonePros locking Tune-o-matic bridge, stop tailpiece, and LTD locking tuners.
• Included protection: No case or gig bag is listed as included.

Buying considerations

The EXL Black Metal II's listed configuration is specific: an EX-style body, fixed bridge, single active bridge pickup, and a control layout centered on volume and voice selection. Its 629 mm scale length, 42 mm nut width, Thin U profile, and 24-fret layout are the most useful measurements for comparing it with a player's existing instruments. The product data does not list weight, overall dimensions, country of manufacture, or a factory setup, leaving those practical points unanswered.

At the listed price of 1522, the buyer should verify current pricing and confirm what is included. The supplied information explicitly says that neither a case nor a bag is included. It also lists one piece per sales unit and identifies the item number as 652450. As there are no customer reviews available, there is no basis here for claims about comfort, workmanship, reliability, or tone in practice. The specifications provide a clear account of the components and layout, but an instrument inspection or additional manufacturer documentation is needed to answer questions that the data does not cover.