ESP LTD M-200DX NT PB

ESP LTD M-200DX NT PB review

The ESP LTD M-200DX NT PB is an electric guitar with a purple burst finish, a poplar body, and a poplar burl top. Its specifications point toward a familiar heavy-music setup: two humbuckers, 24 frets, and a 25.5-inch scale. The listed price is $475, and the model has been available since September 2024.

Owner feedback is sharply divided on quality control. One player describes a resonant, comfortable instrument with surprisingly good pickups and fretwork. Others report setup problems, including string buzz, a poorly cut nut, uneven frets, and tuning issues. That spread matters at this price. The guitar may be a strong fit, but an in-person inspection or a careful return policy is prudent.

Construction and feel

The body and top are both poplar, with the burl veneer providing the visible grain beneath the Purple Burst finish. One owner bought it specifically for that combination and found the guitar beautiful. Another says the color can look nearly black or gray outside yellowish lighting, so the finish may not appear consistently purple under stage lights. If the color is a major reason for buying, check it in the lighting where you expect to use it.

The bolt-on neck is roasted maple, shaped to a Thin U profile, and paired with a rosewood fingerboard. The fingerboard radius is 350 mm, or 13.78 inches. The neck width at the nut is 42 mm, and the scale length is 648 mm, or 25.5 inches. That is a standard full scale for electric guitar, while the relatively flat fingerboard radius and slim neck profile suit players who prefer a fast-feeling layout.

There are 24 extra-jumbo frets. One reviewer found the fretwork decent, though they needed to address a buzz at a high fret. Another reported uneven fret heights and visible tool marks. These accounts do not establish that every guitar has the same issues, but they do make a basic fret and setup check worthwhile when the instrument arrives.

Pickups and controls

The M-200DX NT PB uses an LTD LH-150B humbucker at the bridge and an LTD LH-150N humbucker at the neck. A three-way switch selects the pickup combinations. Separate volume and tone controls include a push-pull function that splits the coils. This gives the player access to a thinner single-coil-style voice as well as the fuller humbucker sounds.

One owner was pleased with the pickups and found little reason to replace them, even though they eventually did. Another described the pickups as muddy. Those different impressions suggest that the stock set deserves an audition before budgeting for upgrades. The available reports do not support a single verdict on their tone, and pickup preference depends heavily on amplifier settings and playing style.

The same owner who liked the guitar acoustically found it resonant unplugged and used it for both death metal and quieter, reflective playing. That is a useful indication of its range, though the plugged-in result will depend on the rest of the rig. The fixed Tune-O-Matic bridge routes strings through the body. There is no tremolo system.

Setup and ownership

Setup is the main concern in the feedback. Reports include buzzing on the low E and A strings, a nut cut too low, high action, a crooked neck, and tuning machines that did not hold pitch. Another player corrected a high-fret buzz by polishing the fret. These are individual experiences, not confirmed defects across the model, but they make a proper inspection important. Check open strings and fretted notes across the neck, test tuning stability, and verify the action and intonation before settling on the guitar.

The hardware is black, with LTD die-cast tuning machines. D'Addario XL110 strings are fitted, in.010 to.046 gauges. No gig bag or case is included, so account for a separate purchase if you need protection for transport or storage.

Verdict

The ESP LTD M-200DX NT PB offers an appealing spec sheet for a player after a full-scale, fixed-bridge guitar with dual humbuckers and a coil-split option. Its poplar burl top and purple finish give it a distinct look, although the color may read darker than expected in some conditions. Owner reports praise its resonance, sound, and feel, but the complaints about fretwork and setup are too specific to ignore.

At $475, it makes the most sense for someone who can inspect the instrument or buy from a seller with a straightforward return process. A well-set-up example could be a versatile guitar for heavy riffs and cleaner parts. If you want guaranteed playability straight out of the box, check the frets, nut, tuning, and string buzz before making it your keeper.