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2 reviews from our community
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"The enjoyment I received deserves 10..."
The enjoyment I received deserves 10 stars!
"It's everything you would expect."
It's everything you would expect.
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- "It's very nice"A 17 y.o. or younger male fan of Gary Moore from Romania
- "I love it"A Musicngear user
- "It is realy good gear for music which i like"A 25-34 y.o. male fan of Def Leppard from Bosnia and Herzegovina
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"A high-end, Japanese-built ST-style shred tool with modern active EMGs and a rock-solid Floyd Rose setup."
Review of ESP E-II Horizon FR-II EMG STBCSB
I came to the ESP E-II Horizon FR-II EMG STBCSB as a player who needs an extremely stable trem system, fast neck access, and a pickup set that can deliver tight, modern high-gain tone without losing clarity for cleans. My use case is gigging and recording heavy rock and metal, but I also wanted something that could cover cleaner, country-tinged lead parts when the song calls for it - this guitar promised that hybrid versatility and it mostly delivers.
First Impressions
The moment I unboxed the Horizon FR-II the finish grabbed me - the See Thru Black Cherry Sunburst lets the quilted maple top glow just enough while keeping a professional, understated look. The neck-thru build and satin neck back immediately felt familiar and fast in hand, and the Thin U contour combined with an ebony board made fretting wide bends and fast runs feel effortless straight away. Hardware looks premium - the Floyd Rose Original, Gotoh locking tuners, and the covered EMG pickups give the impression this is a no-compromise instrument right out of the case.
Build Quality & Design
This is a well-made guitar from the moment you pick it up - neck-thru construction with a mahogany body and a quilted maple top translates to a dense, sustaining tone and a solid center of gravity. The 3-piece maple neck with ebony fingerboard is finished with a satin back that keeps things slick under your hand, and ESP's fit-and-finish at the bridge pocket, neck heel and binding is tight and consistent with what I expect from Japanese-built E-II instruments. The hardware is blacked out and robust - the Floyd Rose Original sits snugly and the Gotoh locking tuners feel precise for string changes and tuning stability.
Playability & Comfort
The Thin U neck and 305mm radius combine to give a comfortable middle ground - chord work doesn't feel cramped and shredding across 24 extra-jumbo frets is a breeze thanks to the low action I set up. Nut width at 42mm and the satin neck back make this feel slightly chunkier than a modern super-slim shred neck, which I actually prefer for bending control and palm muting. At roughly 8.5 pounds it's not light, but the strap balance is good, and the ESP strap locks made moving around on stage feel secure without any wobble.
Sound & Electronics
The EMG 66TW (neck) and 57TW (bridge) pair gives a powerful, articulate output that cuts in a mix without getting woolly; highs are focused, mids are present, and lows are tight. The TW versions are dual-mode, meaning the push-pull controls provide coil-splitting for more single-coil-like clarity - in practice this expands the palette a lot, from creamy cleans to searing high-gain tones. Because these are active EMG TW pickups, the system is active and expects a battery - that active preamp is part of what keeps noise low and output consistent through high-gain channels.
Hardware, Tremolo & Tuning Stability
The Floyd Rose Original on this guitar is one of the best-feeling factory-installed trems I've used - the knife edges are true and it returns pitch very reliably after dives and pull-ups. Gotoh locking tuners complement the system well and make string changes faster than a typical locking setup; combined with the locking nut this guitar will hold tune for whole sets even with heavy trem use. Setup out of the case required basic intonation and action tweaks, but once dialed in my tuning was stable for rehearsals and full gigs.
Real-World Experience
I used the Horizon FR-II in rehearsal and a small club gig context and found it very reliable - the sustain from the neck-thru mahogany/quilt maple combination gave chords a pleasing thickness, while the EMG set provided the aggressive clarity I want when stacked with a tube amp and a high-gain pedal. The coil-split option was surprisingly musical for bridge single-coil-like tones - not a Strat replacement but useful for cutting softer lead lines without swapping guitars. The included form-fitting case is a practical touch for transport and storage between shows.
The Trade-Offs
There are a few compromises - this is a fairly heavy guitar, and players who want an ultra-light stage axe might feel the weight after a long set. The active EMG system gives great output and low noise, but it means you need to manage a 9V battery and be mindful of battery life for recordings or gigs. Finally, if you crave passive, vintage-style humbuckers with organic breakup, the EMG character leans more modern and tight, which is great for metal and modern rock but less flattering for certain vintage tones.
Final Verdict
The ESP E-II Horizon FR-II EMG STBCSB is a professional tool that nails reliability, playability and modern tone for players who need a stable Floyd Rose platform and high-output versatility. I recommend it to gigging and recording players in rock and metal who want Japanese build quality, fast playability, and EMG-driven consistency - if you need vintage-sounding, passive warmth as a priority you might look elsewhere, but for aggressive clarity and trem performance this one is hard to beat.
by Musicngear Verified Community ReviewsHelpful Tips & Answers
- Does this guitar come with a case?
- Yes - mine arrived with the MH form-fitting hardshell case, which made transporting and protecting the instrument straightforward.
- Will the Floyd Rose hold tuned after heavy use?
- In my experience it held tuning very well once set up - the Floyd Rose Original combined with locking tuners and nut kept the guitar stable through heavy dives and squeals.
- Are the pickups active, and do they need a battery?
- Yes, the EMG 66TW/57TW system is active - expect to use a 9V battery and check it periodically for gigs or long sessions.
- How heavy is the guitar and does it sit well on a strap?
- It is on the heavier side - around the mid-to-high 8-pound range - but the strap balance is solid and I didn't notice neck dive while playing standing.
- Is the neck better for rhythm or lead playing?
- I found the Thin U to be versatile - comfortable for chunky rhythm parts and fast enough for lead runs thanks to the satin back and extra-jumbo frets.
- How useful is the coil-splitting in real songs?
- Very useful - the push-pull coils give usable single-coil-ish tones for cleaner sections and add useful tonal variety without switching guitars mid-song.
- Would I need to modify the guitar for better vintage tones?
- If you want vintage passive warmth, you may consider swapping pickups, but out of the box the EMG TW set is aimed at modern clarity rather than vintage breakup.
"Perfect Quality and came with Perfect..."
Review of ESP E-II M-II Neck Thru Snow White Perfect Quality and came with Perfect condition like the pantings and sounds
"A compact, shred-ready slab-mahogany ST with a spacy Alien Gray finish and modern hardware at a very approachable price."
Review of ESP LTD M-200 AGRY
I spent a solid chunk of time playing the LTD M-200 in the Alien Gray finish and came away impressed by how much usable performance ESP squeezed into this price tier. I was looking for a fast, no-frills modern rock/metal guitar that could handle heavy riffing, Floyd-style tremolo work, and high-register soloing - this one fit that brief better than I expected.
First Impressions
The first thing that hit me was the finish - the Alien Gray (AGRY) looks surprisingly classy in person, not cheap or plasticky, and paired with black hardware it reads modern and aggressive. Out of the case the neck felt immediately playable - an extra-thin U maple neck and roasted jatoba fingerboard with 24 XJ frets made fast runs comfortable, and the bolt-on mahogany body gave the guitar a bit more midweight than some slab-bodied shred guitars I’ve tested.
Design & Features
The M-200 keeps the design simple and focused - a flat slab mahogany body, maple neck with an extra-thin U profile, roasted jatoba fingerboard, 24 extra-jumbo frets, and an LTD by Floyd Rose double-locking tremolo. Electronics are straightforward HH with ESP-designed LH-150 humbuckers, master volume, master tone, and a 3-way switch - nothing pretentious, just the essentials you need for modern high-gain playing. Hardware is finished in black which complements the Alien Gray finish and helps the guitar read as more modern and purpose-built than decorative.
Playability & Usability
I found the neck profile genuinely comfortable for both rhythm chugs and fast single-note runs - the extra-thin U sits nicely in my hand without feeling twiggy, and the 25.5" scale gives string tension that works well when dropping tunings a half- or whole-step. The 350mm radius and extra-jumbo frets make bends and vibrato feel effortless, and access to the upper frets is unhindered thanks to the double-cutaway slab body design.
Sound & Electronics
Plugged into a cranked amp the LH-150 humbuckers deliver the kind of punchy, mid-forward attack you'd expect from pickups voiced for modern rock and metal - palm-muted riffs have weight and clarity, and leads cut through a band mix without sounding brittle. Clean tones aren't the M-200's primary strength, but the neck pickup still offers a usable, warm flavor for cleans and crunchy rhythm work; roll off a little volume and the pickups clean up in a musical way.
Hardware & Tuning Stability
The LTD by Floyd Rose trem handles dive-bombs and expressive whammying well when set up correctly, and the locking nut paired with LTD tuners gives reasonable tuning stability for this class of instrument. That said, the system isn't flawless - very aggressive trem work and frequent string changes will demand a patient set-up and possibly a pro-level setup to maintain perfect intonation and stability compared with higher-end Floyd Rose installations.
The Trade-Offs
Where the M-200 makes sensible compromises is in hardware refinement and tonal breadth - the pickups are great for modern gain but lack the nuance of boutique or higher-end stock humbuckers, and the trem is robust for the price but not as silky or maintenance-free as premium Floyd systems. Fit-and-finish is generally good, but I encountered minor fret-dress and setup variance from unit to unit - nothing deal-breaking, but expect a short setup session when you get one.
Real-World Experience
I gigged and rehearsed with this one for a few weeks and used it across palm-muted metal parts, chunky rock progressions, and a handful of lead lines - it performed reliably and sounded cohesive in a full band mix. The fingerboard wear held up well and the roasted jatoba has a tight, articulate feel under the fingers; for practice, home recording, and club gigs the M-200 covered the bases without drama.
Final Verdict
The LTD M-200 AGRY is a smart, focused instrument for players who want a modern rock/metal workhorse without breaking the bank - it delivers a fast neck, a punchy set of pickups, and a functional double-locking trem in an attractive finish. I’d recommend it to intermediate players who want a second stage-ready axe or to gigging players on a budget who prioritize playability and aggression over boutique tonal subtleties.
by Musicngear Verified Community ReviewsHelpful Tips & Answers
- How chunky is the neck - will it suit fast lead work?
- In my experience the extra-thin U profile is on the thinner side of comfortable and is ideal for fast lead work - I had no trouble playing long shredding passages.
- Does the Floyd-style trem stay in tune during heavy use?
- With a proper initial setup and locking nut it stays in tune well for most gigging use, although extreme dive-bombs can require a fine re-tweak.
- Are the pickups usable for clean tones?
- The LH-150s are voiced toward higher output and cut, but the neck pickup still produces usable cleans if you back off the amp or guitar volume.
- Is the Alien Gray finish durable or prone to showing wear?
- The Alien Gray is robust and looks better in person than many budget finishes - it held up well through rehearsal sessions.
- Would you recommend this as a first “serious” guitar?
- I would - it’s a great value pick for someone stepping up from a beginner guitar who wants modern features like a double-locking trem and a fast neck.