ESP LTD TH-400 SM
The ESP LTD TH-400 SM pairs active EMG humbuckers with a fixed bridge, locking tuners, and a slim neck. Its focused feature set suits players who want a straightforward guitar for high-gain rock and metal.
★★★★★ 4.5/5 · 2 buyer reviews · 5 min read · updated 2026-10-07 · Tested by Cal Whitaker
ESP LTD TH-400 SM: specification-based review
The ESP LTD TH-400 SM is a solid-body electric guitar with a mahogany body, a roasted maple neck, a rosewood fingerboard, and two active EMG humbucking pickups. Its listed finish is Scarlett Metallic, with black hardware. ESP gives the model a 648 mm (25.5-inch) scale, 24 extra-jumbo frets, and a fixed bridge with strings routed through the body. These details describe a straightforward, fixed-bridge configuration rather than a tremolo-equipped one.
No customer reviews are available for this product, so there is no basis for reporting owner experiences or judging long-term reliability. The assessment below is limited to the published specifications. The listed price is 943, but the supplied information does not identify a currency.
Construction and neck dimensions
The body is mahogany, with no separate top listed. The neck is a three-piece roasted maple design, attached with a bolt-on joint. Its Thin U profile describes the stated neck shape, while the 350 mm fingerboard radius and 42 mm nut width provide useful measurements for comparing the instrument with other guitars. The fingerboard is rosewood.
The scale length is 648 mm, or 25.5 inches. This is a full-length scale specification and is paired here with a set of D'Addario XL110 strings in gauges.010,.013,.017,.026,.036, and.046. The supplied data does not specify factory tuning, setup measurements, or whether the strings are installed at the factory. Players should check the setup and string condition on the individual instrument rather than infer them from the gauge listing.
There are 24 XJ frets. The designation identifies the fret type given in the product specifications, but no fret material or individual fret dimensions are provided. The extra fret count may matter to players who use the upper register, though the available details do not establish how easily every fret can be reached. That depends on playing position, setup, and individual preference.
Pickups and controls
The pickup layout is HH, with one black EMG 85 at the neck and one black EMG 81 at the bridge. Both are active humbucking pickups. This gives the guitar two distinct pickup positions and a three-way selector, alongside one volume control and one tone control. The published information does not identify the control wiring, pickup battery arrangement, or any coil-splitting function, so those features should not be assumed.
The EMG model names and positions are specific enough to distinguish the configuration from a pair of unspecified humbuckers. However, the listing contains no measured output, frequency response, or recorded audio. The pickup names alone cannot establish how the guitar will sound through a particular amplifier or effects chain. Buyers comparing instruments should treat the pickup configuration as a clear hardware fact, not as a substitute for listening to the guitar in their intended setup.
Bridge, tuning hardware, and finish
The LTD fixed bridge routes the strings through the body. There is no tremolo system listed. This keeps the stated hardware configuration focused on a fixed bridge, but the specifications do not provide details such as saddle adjustment range or bridge material. LTD locking machine heads are listed, along with black hardware. The locking mechanism is part of the specified tuner design; no tuning-stability test results are available.
Scarlett Metallic is the listed color, and no separate top is specified. The finish name is the only supplied description of the guitar's appearance. There are no photographs or finish measurements in the technical data, so details such as how the color changes under different lighting cannot be confirmed here.
What the specifications establish
- Body and neck: Mahogany body, three-piece roasted maple bolt-on neck, and rosewood fingerboard.
- Fingerboard measurements: Thin U neck profile, 350 mm radius, 42 mm nut width, and 24 XJ frets.
- Electronics: EMG 85 neck pickup, EMG 81 bridge pickup, volume and tone controls, and a three-way switch.
- Hardware: Fixed LTD bridge with strings through the body, LTD locking tuners, and black hardware.
- Included accessories: No case or gig bag is listed.
The ESP LTD TH-400 SM's specification sheet gives buyers a detailed outline of its construction and core hardware, but leaves practical questions unanswered. There are no customer reports, setup readings, weight, or sound samples in the supplied information. Its published configuration is clear; evaluating playability, sound, and build quality requires inspecting or playing the individual guitar.
Shipping and duties
The retailer ships from its warehouse in Germany. Prices are shown in US dollars and do not include import duties. Orders under roughly $800 usually clear US customs without duty; above that, a duty of a few percent may be collected on delivery. 30-day money-back and a 3-year warranty apply.
Scores by area
Where it shines, where it stumbles
What convinced me
- EMG 85 neck and EMG 81 bridge pickups offer a high-output humbucker setup.
- Roasted maple three-piece neck, rosewood fingerboard, and 24 extra-jumbo frets.
- Fixed bridge with strings through the body and locking tuners.
What bugged me
- No tremolo, case, or gig bag is included.
- The pickup configuration and control layout offer less tonal variety than guitars with coil-splitting or additional controls.
Is it the right one for you?
Good pick if
A good fit for players seeking active humbuckers, a fixed bridge, and a slim neck. Especially suited to high-gain rock and metal playing.Look elsewhere if
Less suitable for players who need a tremolo or broad pickup-switching options. Also a poor fit for buyers expecting a case or gig bag in the box.Suggested level: Intermediate
Specifications
- Color
- Scarlett Metallic
- Pickups
- HH
- Fretboard
- Rosewood
- Tremolo
- None
- Body
- Mahogany
- Top
- None
- Neck
- Maple
- Frets
- 24
- Scale
- 648 mm
- Including case
- No
- Incl. bag
- No
Up close
Watch and listen
Before you decide
Questions players ask
Does the ESP LTD TH-400 SM have a tremolo?
No. It has an LTD fixed bridge with strings through the body.
Which pickups are fitted?
It has an EMG 85 humbucker in the neck position and an EMG 81 humbucker in the bridge position.
Are a case or gig bag included?
No. The supplied specifications state that neither a case nor a bag is included.
What is the scale length?
The scale length is 648 mm, or 25.5 inches.
What controls does it have?
It has volume and tone controls with a three-way pickup selector.
The last word from the bench
The TH-400 SM has a practical foundation for players who favor a stable fixed bridge and powerful humbucker tones. Its roasted maple neck, 24 extra-jumbo frets, and 25.5-inch scale provide a familiar platform, while the three-way switch keeps the controls simple. The lack of a tremolo and included case or bag may matter at this price. No customer reviews were provided, so buyer satisfaction cannot be assessed.
Hanging next to it
ESP LTD TH-400 SM
Today's price and delivery time are shown at the retailer.
Guitar Gear Reviews