After taking it to my buddy, we found out there was a major grounding issue with mine. Not sure of ALL of them are like this but mine was and i immediately bought EMG Zakk Wylde signatures. Until those arrived, we resoldered and removed the tone knob as it was one of the main wiring and grounding issues. We relocated the top strap button to its proper place behind the guitar and it no longer has terrible neck dive and doesnt catch on any clothes. I genuinely love this guitar and think its gonna be one that stays in my collection until the day I die once i get the new pickups and some locking tuners in
glad to hear you like it, i replaced mine with emgs and replaced all the knobs n shit, for the strap i dont really use it so thats not an issue for me, if you wanna take it one step further then you can replace the black nut with a white one.
I bought one of these with a accidentally painted black front of the head stock, but has the same inlays as the EET FUK Guitar. I had to sand the nut down, quite a bit to get the action to drop at the first fret, and then head to level out some pretty obvious overspray on the sides of the neck, I also had to reset some frets, because of high spots, and dressed the frets on the sides and remove some excess. Glue residue off the fretboard along with overspray. Also, they had the three-way switch flipped the opposite direction, and one of the nuts that goes over the tuning post wasn’t put on all the way like they were trying to cross threaded, and then one of the screws on the back of the Tuner was stripped out, so I replaced that. Basically, you are getting a guitar that’s technically a very nice guitar, but the hardware is lacking and the set up was terrible on it. I have a set of the early 2000s EMG Zakk Wylde sets coming next week so I have the actual emgs in it, and I’ll fine tune her as I play it.
I just received mine this week (ordered from the Ebay link you provided). I'm extremely surprised of the quality of this guitar for the $310 (shipped) I paid for it. I would argue this is better quality than some Gibson / Epiphones I have. Pretty awesome guitar. But man....you were NOT kidding about the beefy neck....probably the thickest neck I've ever experienced on a guitar. Needless to say, for $300 this is a great guitar. Glad you had this video for the recommendation.
I pulled the trigger and got one of these from the same seller. I ended up taking it to Guitar Center and had them swap out the shitty fake EMG’s with real ones (81/60) and I gave it a quick set up (when I have time I’ll do a proper set up) and while it doesn’t come close to my real ESP Explorer I gotta say I’m pretty happy with it. But you’re right the body and neck are fucking thick as hell LOL!
Ma bad, i hat two tabs opened, one with 389$ and then this one for just 289$, was looking at the wrong one. But dude, just 289$, this is insane, it sounds realy good!! @@A7Tones
I bought the ken lawrence explorer, blew my away with how it sounds. Little minute thats like you said such as short frets etc, but entirely playable straight out of the box, even came tuned.
@@dragthis2006 just ordered it off ebay like you normally would with anything, i think it was a day or two late at max but never had any issues with customs
I don't know about James' other guitars, but I remember playing the first released signature, and only MX sig that was released (diamond cut black with deer skull inlays) right before the lawsuit, the neck on that was definitely thick like a Les Paul. I think that's just how a lot of James' necks were back then.
Did you play the JH2 made for James? Cause I think that the signatures that you could buy had the diamond plate pattern on the fretboard with the M star on the first fret
Feels like an ebony copy but it’s not horrible, just buy an EMG kit and it will fit in the cavity, your pretty much good from there other than basic setups ECT ECT
Bro! What all are you using to get that sound? Im actually getting one of those guitars and I’m gonna upgrade “Everything” on it.. I’m gone with the 81/60 not the hetset though..
I really wish I could find one of these with the actual banana headstock - that one has the headstock that was used on the next 220s and 250s, but the eet fuk guitar had a fatter headstock
I just got one from the same seller except in black. I'm going to return mine because the fretboard edge was not sanded and is sharp making it really uncomfortable to play. Is yours like that?
How long did it take overall to get it? I have the money now to buy it but it says around early March… just wanted to know if it gave you something similar to that estimated time as well?
i bought one from the same exact seller and it originally said i was going to come by april or march but i got an email today saying it should arrive by feburary 3rd
Hey, can you upload any videos or phoots of the control cavity and/or the truss rod cavity? I know these chinese counterfeit sellers usually state that these guitars are made out of mahogany but mine was made out of paper waste wood and I'm not even joking.
would i have to do anything to replace those fake emgs with real ones like replace the hardware and shit (i dont know if those fake emgs are active or pasive)
I don't think James used that guitar on TBA tour at all. Justice tour, and that's it. Never saw the stage after that. All his guitars on TBA tour, were black. He only used guitars he was getting at that time and nothing older. I don't think he's ever used any of his guitars from before TBA tour ever again onstage. The weathered white V he uses onstage sometimes isn't the original.
@@A7Tones I got one recently and it said Ebony but there is zero grain and it definitely isn’t Ebony but plays decent and sounds great. Just a bit of a thick neck is the only complaint for me, used a different seller but seems like they are all from the same source
I have one of those and played another one. The build is great, but the hardware needs to be replaced: the pickups are the worst pieces of garbage I've ever heard and tuners are not keeping in tune. Also - YMWV with the fret buzz: out of the two I tried one was set up perfectly, the other one needed a few frets sanded. The nut was also a little too high on one. A great instrument for the price overall, but needs setup and major hardware overhaul.
These fake pickups seem to sound A LOT like the real ones! And they sound better than about 100% of any pickups in budget guitars! Thus it would seem practically pointless to change them to the real ones since the tone will probably improve only 10%... but ofc, if one is loaded with money... I would personally just buy these fake EMG's to ALL my guitars, save a shit ton of money, and rule the world!! 🤩😈🤘
I’ll add: I just swapped out the electrical guts and pickups to a early 00’s Zakk Wylde set 81/85, converted the harness to two volumes and 3 way with no tone, and it sounds WAY better!
@@A7Tones no problem man ! That’s just my point, I was also tempted to buy one of these but, no, when I see the fretboard the neck everything it’s just good to look at but, not for me buddy !
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1:45 i loved this tone, perfect.
Love the Megadeth shirt for the showcase of James’ guitar
So excited to get mine dude, thanks a lot.
Love the video, man. Bought it because of this review so thank you for the videos!
Glad to help
Awesome video dude! Not too surprised that the pickups don’t hurt the tones too much, but definitely won’t hurt to get that Het-Set in!
Already got them in last night lmao
@@A7Tones On the eBay listing it says pickups are passive. And I did not see the battery cover in the back either. How did you put the het-set in?
@@GokPlusPlus I fit the battery in the electronics cavity
After taking it to my buddy, we found out there was a major grounding issue with mine. Not sure of ALL of them are like this but mine was and i immediately bought EMG Zakk Wylde signatures. Until those arrived, we resoldered and removed the tone knob as it was one of the main wiring and grounding issues.
We relocated the top strap button to its proper place behind the guitar and it no longer has terrible neck dive and doesnt catch on any clothes. I genuinely love this guitar and think its gonna be one that stays in my collection until the day I die once i get the new pickups and some locking tuners in
glad to hear you like it, i replaced mine with emgs and replaced all the knobs n shit, for the strap i dont really use it so thats not an issue for me, if you wanna take it one step further then you can replace the black nut with a white one.
I bought one of these with a accidentally painted black front of the head stock, but has the same inlays as the EET FUK Guitar.
I had to sand the nut down, quite a bit to get the action to drop at the first fret, and then head to level out some pretty obvious overspray on the sides of the neck, I also had to reset some frets, because of high spots, and dressed the frets on the sides and remove some excess. Glue residue off the fretboard along with overspray.
Also, they had the three-way switch flipped the opposite direction, and one of the nuts that goes over the tuning post wasn’t put on all the way like they were trying to cross threaded, and then one of the screws on the back of the Tuner was stripped out, so I replaced that.
Basically, you are getting a guitar that’s technically a very nice guitar, but the hardware is lacking and the set up was terrible on it.
I have a set of the early 2000s EMG Zakk Wylde sets coming next week so I have the actual emgs in it, and I’ll fine tune her as I play it.
I just received mine this week (ordered from the Ebay link you provided). I'm extremely surprised of the quality of this guitar for the $310 (shipped) I paid for it. I would argue this is better quality than some Gibson / Epiphones I have. Pretty awesome guitar. But man....you were NOT kidding about the beefy neck....probably the thickest neck I've ever experienced on a guitar. Needless to say, for $300 this is a great guitar. Glad you had this video for the recommendation.
I'm so excited to get this thing!! I've been looking for some kinda '84 explorer/eet fuk replica for cheap.
That tone dude is crazy
I pulled the trigger and got one of these from the same seller. I ended up taking it to Guitar Center and had them swap out the shitty fake EMG’s with real ones (81/60) and I gave it a quick set up (when I have time I’ll do a proper set up) and while it doesn’t come close to my real ESP Explorer I gotta say I’m pretty happy with it. But you’re right the body and neck are fucking thick as hell LOL!
BRO YOUR TONEEEE what is this???? It's amazing man!
Just for 400$?? Fcking sick, i'll buy one by next month, you are a legend!!!!
289$, although I am curious, where did you find that number lmao
Ma bad, i hat two tabs opened, one with 389$ and then this one for just 289$, was looking at the wrong one. But dude, just 289$, this is insane, it sounds realy good!! @@A7Tones
@@jasbari yeah right lmao it’s pretty good for the price
used right for 289@@A7Tones
@@A7Tones Sure beats paying $1500 for a guitar you have to end up fixing
Sound awesome!
Love it
I bought the ken lawrence explorer, blew my away with how it sounds. Little minute thats like you said such as short frets etc, but entirely playable straight out of the box, even came tuned.
(from the same ebay seller)
How did u get it through customs
@@dragthis2006 just ordered it off ebay like you normally would with anything, i think it was a day or two late at max but never had any issues with customs
I just bought one from that guy. I hope it looks at least like the one you have. Imma change out all the hardware
I don't know about James' other guitars, but I remember playing the first released signature, and only MX sig that was released (diamond cut black with deer skull inlays) right before the lawsuit, the neck on that was definitely thick like a Les Paul. I think that's just how a lot of James' necks were back then.
Did you play the JH2 made for James? Cause I think that the signatures that you could buy had the diamond plate pattern on the fretboard with the M star on the first fret
@@ogorkiszony_ That's the one I'm talking about, didn't remember what it was called
damn looks really good
Oh yeah it does
ESP will always make better quality guitars than gibson. And unlike gibson, it will tune and stay in tune
This isn’t an esp or a gibson and gibsons stay in tune mine are amazing
@@ethansanchez6120I've had both. No they don't. I'll take an ESP all day over a gibson. Hell i'll even take a Epiphone over a gibson.
@@legion7478dude this isn’t a real ESP
Gibson is the original, the Daddy
Were you even paying attention to the video lmao. This isn't an ESP.
Damn dude you’ve got great tones! What do you use?
Sounds and looks sick af how long was the the delivery time ?
Actually those pickups sound pretty good .
I got a snakebyte like this,. there are like 5 lengtths of round eneded frets, if you look knowing that you will see it.
Sick
Yo w guitar an all but was that audio from the clean tone?
Hey man. Cool guitar. Where did u buy it from?? Thank you
I do not have 2,300$ to spend on a 90s esp explorer I will be buying one of these replicas
Not bad dude! Fretboard looks sick compared to the pics on Ebay. Would you say it's some kind of ebony copy or richelite type?
Feels like an ebony copy but it’s not horrible, just buy an EMG kit and it will fit in the cavity, your pretty much good from there other than basic setups ECT ECT
whats the audio? sound great
Bro! What all are you using to get that sound?
Im actually getting one of those guitars and I’m gonna upgrade “Everything” on it.. I’m gone with the 81/60 not the hetset though..
Hey man, out of curiosity, what was the end cost for it and customs duties? Shipping? Etc…
Do the pickups that are default with it require batteries? Like are they active?
What you using for that tone??? Please share!
Dose the truss rod work
I really wish I could find one of these with the actual banana headstock - that one has the headstock that was used on the next 220s and 250s, but the eet fuk guitar had a fatter headstock
It's impossible to find one unless you buy a real one 😂
Yeah, I saw one that had a perfect headstock but it was deleted from the site :(
Looks like you made out ok!
Gotta do a bit more work on it still sadly
I love mine, Got the frets levelled and put real EMGs and its great. What do you use for amps to get that sound!!
Same here! Mine needed a major nut adjustment too!
I just got one from the same seller except in black. I'm going to return mine because the fretboard edge was not sanded and is sharp making it really uncomfortable to play. Is yours like that?
Wait… so even if it’s a replica, the guitar still functions? My friend told me that replica guitars don’t work
What amp did you use that tone sounded soooo Metallica
How long did it take overall to get it? I have the money now to buy it but it says around early March… just wanted to know if it gave you something similar to that estimated time as well?
i bought one from the same exact seller and it originally said i was going to come by april or march but i got an email today saying it should arrive by feburary 3rd
The logo on those emg's is legit
It's just the old logo they used
The back of it indicated that it was a fake
Of course they're fake but they reproduced the old logo from the 80's till the 2010's (if I'm not wrong).
I didn't say they were legit pickups
What amp are you using?
How do u get it without it being taken àt the airport
How come the photos of the guitar in the eBay listing are completely different than the guitar you have?
I was wondering the same thing. The guitar in the ebay listing has the selector switch in a different spot and the neck heel is different.
The fake pickups use battery to work?
Is that a ebony fretboard?
Hey, can you upload any videos or phoots of the control cavity and/or the truss rod cavity? I know these chinese counterfeit sellers usually state that these guitars are made out of mahogany but mine was made out of paper waste wood and I'm not even joking.
its def not mahogany, the neck feels so bad, prolly waste wood
@@A7Tones You can check my scratching some paint off in the control or trussrod cavity.
How can you change from distorted to clean just changing the pickup position??
He has a foot pedal
would i have to do anything to replace those fake emgs with real ones like replace the hardware and shit (i dont know if those fake emgs are active or pasive)
The pickups are fake but sounds pretty much like the real ones, I replaced mine with real ones, this video was with the fake ones though.
I don't think James used that guitar on TBA tour at all. Justice tour, and that's it. Never saw the stage after that. All his guitars on TBA tour, were black. He only used guitars he was getting at that time and nothing older. I don't think he's ever used any of his guitars from before TBA tour ever again onstage. The weathered white V he uses onstage sometimes isn't the original.
How long did it take to deliver after you ordered it?
Just about a week and a half
what do you use for your effects?
At the time I was using the basic effects on amplitube 5 such as chorus little bit of reverb, stuff like that
@@A7Tones thanks alot mann, still trying to get into that sort of stuff, sounds fucking sick🙏🏽
What’s the fret board made out of?
I’m really not sure, it’s just very cheap
I have one and they are rediculously oversized to a real explorer
how do you get those tones
Amplitube 5 and some IRS I made
@@A7Tones could u drop tutorial?
@@A7Tones or could u share the preset cause i got amp 5
Would you say that the fret board looks like rosewood?
Yeah kinda
@@A7Tones I got one recently and it said Ebony but there is zero grain and it definitely isn’t Ebony but plays decent and sounds great. Just a bit of a thick neck is the only complaint for me, used a different seller but seems like they are all from the same source
@@guitarplayer6565 yeah that’s how it’s gonna be with these replicas man
Is this the from Aliexpress something like that
link tá na bio mano
I have one of those and played another one. The build is great, but the hardware needs to be replaced: the pickups are the worst pieces of garbage I've ever heard and tuners are not keeping in tune.
Also - YMWV with the fret buzz: out of the two I tried one was set up perfectly, the other one needed a few frets sanded. The nut was also a little too high on one.
A great instrument for the price overall, but needs setup and major hardware overhaul.
Hello, did u have issue with this guitar? You know...chinese copy..
The paint has started to crack a little
The EMG logo “looks horrible” because it’s the old logo, dude. Lol, the guitar is a 1989 replica.. hence the reason for the old logo
Yeah man. Looks horrible.
These fake pickups seem to sound A LOT like the real ones! And they sound better than about 100% of any pickups in budget guitars! Thus it would seem practically pointless to change them to the real ones since the tone will probably improve only 10%... but ofc, if one is loaded with money... I would personally just buy these fake EMG's to ALL my guitars, save a shit ton of money, and rule the world!! 🤩😈🤘
Mine has these pickups and I hate em, very tinny, and doesn’t have the same tone as any emg I’ve used in the past.
I’ll add: I just swapped out the electrical guts and pickups to a early 00’s Zakk Wylde set 81/85, converted the harness to two volumes and 3 way with no tone, and it sounds WAY better!
Hey kiddos, just don’t buy chibsons. It’s just a waste of money.
Not a chibson, and not a waste of money.
@@A7Tones nothing personal dude, but if you buy a replica on eBay or Ali express or whatever IT IS a chibson. It may have the look, but it’s all fake.
@@alfydime Knock off esp. not a chibson, but seriously I know what you mean
@@A7Tones no problem man ! That’s just my point, I was also tempted to buy one of these but, no, when I see the fretboard the neck everything it’s just good to look at but, not for me buddy !
ChESP not Chibson ;)