Up for sale, an 1990's ESP Vintage Plus T-Style electric guitar in exceptional, 100% original condition and in perfect working order. A rare premium iteration of the Telecaster platform crafted in Japan, this ESP features a very rare Trans Purple gloss finish over a solid ash body, paired with a maple neck and thick slab rosewood fretboard. The natural acoustic tone of the instrument has the midrange punch and note attack consistent with ash as a tonewood, and the broad, lively sound of the instrument translates faithfully through the USA-made Seymour Duncan "Broadcaster" pickup pair. The STL-1b bridge position single coil is an energetic, emotive pickup, wound to pay homage to the original Fender coils of the early '50s with hand-ground Alnico V magnets for chewy twang and sparkling cut. The matching STL-1n neck pickup offers a sweet percussive sound with a bell-like response. This ESP weighs 8lbs 4oz, professionally setup here at Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar with fresh strings, low action, and accurate intonation.
The maple neck has a slender C-shaped profile carve with moderate shoulder and lightly rolled fretboard edges, measuring .805" deep at the 1st fret and .870" at the 12th. On the thick slab rosewood fretboard, the guitar features abalone dot inlay and an ESP block inlay at the octave. The medium jumbo frets have plenty of meat and their full factory height, showing only light wear beneath the plain strings on frets 1-7. The guitar plays easily up the 25 1/2" scale with a straight neck and responsive, optimally adjusted truss rod. The nut measures 42mm in width (1.653"), and the headstock features Kluson-style tuning machines that turn smoothly and hold pitch well.
The electronics function as intended with a traditional Tele control array, and hardware includes a control plate and knurled knobs with bright chrome plating, along with a six-saddle string through body bridge. A white pearloid pickguard contrasts with the high gloss Trans Purple finish, framed by cream binding on top. Cosmetic wear is limited to a few light scuffs in the gloss just below the control plate on top and just a couple additional faint finish scratches on the back. The satin neck profile finish shows only a few small shallow marks clustered behind frets 5-6.
