2013 ESP Standard Series M-II NTB, Black, Neck-Thru with Floyd Rose and EMG-X, MIJ

Includes: ESP hard case with keys, tremolo arm, spare tremolo spring

Our take

A 2013 ESP Standard Series M-II NTB in black, built in Japan. Neck-thru is the reason to want this one: there is no heel to climb over, so the top of the 24-fret board is as reachable as the bottom, and the full-length maple neck gives a long, even sustain that a bolt-on has to work harder for.

The EMG X-series pickups keep the voicing of EMG's classic actives but run a redesigned preamp with more headroom, so they stay defined when the gain is up and clean up more musically when you roll the volume back. With a Floyd Rose Original and a locking nut, this suits a player who wants one instrument for hard rock and metal that will take a full set of vibrato work and still be in tune at the end of it.

Standard Series was ESP's Japanese production line before the E-II name took over, and 2013 was its last year. They come up for sale far less often than the E-II models that replaced them.

This one

• Condition: Excellent
• Cosmetics: virtually unplayed, and in the shape that implies
• Weight: 8 lb

This is a pristine example that has spent its life in its case rather than on a stage. The photos are shot close enough to judge it for yourself.

This one did not come off a shop floor. The shop I bought it from in 2019 sold it as artist owned, describing it as "Owned by Chris Cannella when he worked as dealer and artist representative for ESP", and saying the titanium Floyd Rose parts were a gift to him from Floyd Rose. That history reached me second hand and I cannot verify it, so I am passing it on exactly as it was passed to me. The hardware is not in question: the titanium parts are fitted and the brass tremolo block is engraved with his name.

Noted on inspection

• Tremolo cavity: no back plate. It was already missing (or never installed) when I bought the guitar.

If you see something in the photos I have not mentioned, ask and I will check it again with the item in hand.

Modifications

This guitar was allegedly spec'd for Chris Cannella formerly of the band Deicide and includes several custom options:

Pickups are EMG X-series humbuckers. ESP's own specification for this model lists an EMG 81 in both positions, so the X-series set is not what the catalogue calls for.

The Floyd Rose has the updated titanium parts fitted, and the sustain block is brass, custom engraved for Chris Cannella who was the ESP rep at the time. The block and the engraving are shown in the photo of the tremolo cavity.

Key specs

• Alder body, neck-thru-body construction
• Three-piece maple neck, extra thin U profile
• Rosewood fingerboard, 24 XJ frets, 25.5 inch scale
• EMG X-series active humbuckers, neck and bridge
• Master volume, three-way toggle
• Floyd Rose Original recessed tremolo, locking nut
• Gotoh tuners, black hardware

Shipping: Packed with care, insured for the full sale price, and sent within 1 to 2 business days from Olympia, WA.

Photos: every photo in this listing is of the exact item you will receive, shot by me. No stock images, no photos of a different unit.

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