ESP LTD Phoenix-201 BK

ESP LTD Phoenix-201 BK review: what the specifications say

The ESP LTD Phoenix-201 BK is a black, single-pickup electric guitar with a mahogany body, a set-in mahogany neck, and a rosewood fingerboard. Its listed price is 566, with no currency specified in the supplied data. The model has been available since March 2025, and its item number is 608840.

This is a specification-based assessment. No customer reviews are available for the product, so there is no user feedback to summarize or validate. The details below describe the listed construction and hardware, while actual sound, comfort, finish quality, and setup cannot be confirmed from the specifications alone.

Body, neck, and playing dimensions

The body is mahogany, with no separate top listed. The neck is also mahogany and uses a set-in, three-piece construction. ESP specifies a Thin U neck profile, a 350 mm fingerboard radius, and a 42 mm nut width. Those measurements give a useful outline of the neck's shape and dimensions, but they do not establish how it will feel in an individual player's hands.

The scale length is 648 mm, also given as 25.5 inches. This is a full-length scale, and the stated length is a concrete reference when comparing the guitar with instruments of other scale lengths. The rosewood fingerboard completes the listed neck materials. The specifications do not identify the wood grade, finish, or fret material, so those details should not be assumed.

There is an important inconsistency in the supplied fret count. The general specification lists 22 frets, while the more detailed description says 24 XJ frets. Both cannot describe the same instrument as stated. Buyers should confirm the production specification with ESP or the seller before purchasing, particularly if the exact number of frets matters to their playing or comparison with another model.

Pickup and controls

The Phoenix-201 BK has one ESP LH-150B humbucker at the bridge. The pickup is passive, with no active pickup system listed. A single bridge pickup gives the guitar a straightforward signal path, but the specifications do not provide output measurements, magnet type, or a description of its tonal response. Any claim about its sound would go beyond the available information.

The volume control includes a push-pull function for coil splitting. This allows the humbucker's coils to be split through the control, adding a second pickup configuration without adding another pickup. The supplied data does not explain the wiring details or specify the output and tone difference between the full humbucker and split settings. Those aspects are best checked in person or through manufacturer documentation.

Bridge, tuning hardware, and included accessories

A TOM-style bridge and tailpiece provide the listed fixed-bridge arrangement. No tremolo system is included, which means the specifications describe a simpler bridge setup without a vibrato arm. LTD machine heads and black hardware are specified. These details identify the hardware type and finish, but no further information is provided about tuning ratio, bridge materials, or adjustment range.

The guitar is listed with D'Addario XL110 strings. Neither a case nor a gig bag is included according to the supplied information, so players who need protection for transport should account for that separately. The sales unit is one piece.

What to check before buying

The listed feature set is easy to summarize: mahogany body and neck, rosewood fingerboard, one passive bridge humbucker, push-pull coil splitting, and a fixed TOM-style bridge with tailpiece. It provides the core information needed to compare materials, scale length, pickup layout, and included accessories against other guitars in the same category.

The fret-count conflict is the main specification issue to resolve. Confirm whether the instrument has 22 or 24 frets, and check that the seller's listing matches the actual stock. It is also sensible to verify the final price and currency, since the supplied price is simply 566. No case or bag is listed, and no customer reviews are available to shed light on setup, durability, or playability.

On paper, the ESP LTD Phoenix-201 BK offers a focused, fixed-bridge configuration with a coil-split feature and a full-length scale. The specifications support those observations, but they do not establish how the guitar sounds or feels. A hands-on inspection and confirmation of the fret count are the practical next steps for anyone considering a purchase.