2010 Navigator N-SG-450 LTD SG Standard Black - All Original With Original Hard Shell Case - Made By ESP Kiso Custom Shop in Japan MIJ

Used 2010 Navigator N-SG-450 LTD SG Standard in gloss Black Nitro finish - All original with original Navigator hard-shell case - Made in the famous Kiso ESP Custom Shop in Japan - MIJ.

• Serial Number: K1032502 (Kiso Custom Shop 2010)
• Body: Honduras Mahogany - 1 piece
• Neck: Honduras Mahogany - 1 piece
• Fretboard: Honduras Rosewood
• Fretboard Radius: About 12"
• Fret Edge Binding: Yes (custom shop level)
• Inlays: Acrylic celluloid looking trapezoid inlays
• Frets: 22 x Medium Jumbo (1.0mm tall x 2.7mm wide) Sanko 213 frets
• Nut Width: 43.7mm
• Width at 1st Fret: 44.6mm
• Width at 12th Fret: 52.7mm
• Thickness at 1st Fret: 21.6mm
• Thickness at 12th Fret: 23.4mm
• Nut: Bone
• Tuners: Original nickel Gotoh SD90-SL Single line "Deluxe" Kluson style tuners
• Bridge & Tailpiece: Original nickel TABR-1 bridge and Gotoh GE101A aluminum tailpiece
• Pickups: Original Seymour Duncan APH-1N and APH-1B nickel covered humbuckers
• Neck Pickup Resistance: 7.26K ohm
• Bridge Pickup Resistance: 8.10K ohm
• Pots: Original CTS 500K linear taper Volume pots and 500K audio taper tone pots (1020 date codes, 20th week of 2010)
• Strings: Ernie Ball Regular Slinky 2221 10-46 strings - E Standard tuning
• Weight: 8.50lbs
• Non Original Parts: None
• Case: Original Navigator SG case with dark green interior
• Truss Rod: Works as expected with room in both directions

This is a 2010 Navigator N-SG-450 LTD SG Standard made in the ESP Kiso Custom Shop factory, as indicated by the K prefix in the serial number. ESP (yes that ESP) is the parent company of the Navigator brand of guitars. Navigator dates back to at least 1975, it was the first brand from ESP, and generally focused on making high end copies of vintage American models, as well as artist models and other custom models for their artists - along with custom orders. Navigator stopped making guitars as of August 2025 - so these are no longer being made.

In terms of a Japanese made SG Standard, this could easily be considered the final boss - you could easily argue there is nothing better than this. The Navigator brand of guitars typically are in the same ball park as the Gibson Custom shop in terms of materials used, craftsmanship, components, finishing, and cost - and this N-SG is easily comparable to a Gibson Custom Shop SG.

This model originally had an MSRP of 472,500 YEN in Japan in 2010.

This particular N-SG-450 appears to be all original, and in good shape. It has definitely been played - it's no case queen, but it does have a natural amount of mojo that looks and feels right. Being a gloss black guitar, it obviously shows every single scratch, and swirl in the finish - that's to be expected on gloss black. And with a super thin Nitro Lacquer finish, there are many small chips in the finish and some of the bare Honduras Mahogany underneath is exposed in spots.

The 2011 ESP catalog lists the N-SG-450 LTD to have a Honduras Mahogany neck and body, along with a Honduras Rosewood fretboard. Although impossible to tell for certain under the black finish, it appears to be a 1 piece neck, and a 1 piece body (I can't see any seams).

This is the only MIJ SG I have seen that specifically lists the finish as being Nitrocellulose lacquer. I have had many MIJ SG's, some with top lacquer, but often times the lacquer finish from Japan is quite rough, almost orange peel like. Not this one - it's a true gloss finish that has been sanded and buffed to a mirror finish (although it's got years of play wear now).

All of the components on this guitar are top shelf - including the nickel TABR-1 bridge and Gotoh aluminum tailpiece, the nickel Gotoh SD90-SL Single line "Deluxe" tuners, CTS 500K pots, Switchcraft 3 way switch and output jack, and cow bone nut. These features alone are rarely seen on Japanese made guitars, and only on the high end models.

The 1 piece mahogany neck on this is a joy to play, with a comfortable U shaped carve, and has a down the middle neck carve - not super thin, and not super thick, starting out at 21.6mm at the 1st fret and making it up to 23.4mm at the 12th fret. The neck is very wide, with a nut width of 43.7mm, and a width of 44.6mm at the 1st fret. If you like wide and flat necks, that aren't super thin, you'll love this neck. This is as close to the Gibson Custom Shop neck I have had - with the same dimensions and very similar carve.

This neck has a really nice medium brown Honduras rosewood fretboard, with expertly done acrylic trapezoid inlays that resemble vintage celluloid. These inlays are some of the best I have seen - the corners are pointy, but not overly pointy.

The 22 medium jumbo frets have been played a lot across the entire neck, with most play wear on the plain strings, and mostly on the 1st to 15th frets, but overall there's lots of life left in these frets, and the guitar plays well up and down the entire neck.

This neck also features custom shop level fret edge binding - and this is the best I have seen on a Japanese made SG. It has the same look and feel as the Gibson Custom shop guitars - the binding is rounded over perfectly with the frets, not squared edges like the USA Standard models. Further, this is the only MIJ SG I have had with the larger side dots on the neck binding - again similar to a Custom Shop.

The original Seymour Duncan APH-1 pickups pair nicely in this guitar. They are very warm, with lots of mids, and a defined low end, and smooth rounded top end. Although they are lower wind, they have a good amount of output, and can easily push your amp into breakup, but sound ground with the volume rolled down. They can easily recreate many classic SG tones you'll want.

All the guitars I sell, I test, thoroughly clean, and setup completely before I list them. Anything that is missing, damaged, or non original is mentioned in the listing.

I setup all my Gibson style guitars to Gibson factory specs - including neck relief, action, pickup height, intonation, and tailpiece height. So this guitar will be ready to play out of the box (after you tune it up - I ship my guitars with the strings loosened).

Of course with an instrument of this caliber, it came from the factory with a high quality case - and that is also included with this guitar. The case is in usable condition, all hinges and latches are in tact, but the case has lots of wear on the outside, and dirt and grime on the outside especially the bottom. The inside of the case smells - my wife think it's smells like smoke, to me it smells "old". There is no key for the case.

Overall, this is a custom shop level Japanese made SH made by one of the best guitar shops in the world.

If you're looking for a Japanese made gloss black SG Standard than it doesn't get any better than this.

CONDITION ------------

Overall it's in good player grade shape.

I've tried to capture all of the flaws in the photos and in the description - if you want more photos or details just let me know.

Across the entire body, top, back side, neck, and headstock, there are numerous dings, dents, scratches, and swirling in the black finish, along with some minor checking in the finish.

There are many chips in the finish, including across the top of the body, the sides of the body, a small one on the back of the neck, and on the face and the top of the headstock.

There's buckle rash and hazing in the finish on the back of the body.

There's some chipping in the finish on the high E side by the nut.

All of the nickel hardware, including the pickup covers & pole pieces, screws and tuners have varying degrees of light corrosion, tarnish, pitting, peeling and/or rust, but everything works as expected, and everything has been cleaned and polished - what you see is patina on the metal parts but everything is smooth to the touch. The worst parts are some of the screws, but overall the hardware is in good shape.

The black plastics are in tact with typical scratches and pick marks.

All of the Gotoh nickel tuners are are straight and working properly.

Around the strap buttons there's strap marks/swirling.

The 22 medium jumbo frets have a lot of playwear across the fretboard, mainly on the plain strings, and mostly between the 1st and 15th frets, but overall there is lots of life left in these frets, and the guitar plays well up and down the entire fretboard.

There's no signs of a headstock, heel or any other repair.

The truss rod works as expected, with room in both directions.

SHIPPING ------------  

Every shipment is expertly packed with great care and includes tracking, signature required on delivery, and full insurance coverage for both the purchase price and shipping.

Every guitar is fully wrapped in bubble wrap, in a cardboard box meant for guitars, with proper support inside. To reduce environmental impact, the packing material (paper, newsprint, gift wrap, bubble wrap, air packets, foam, carboard boxes and/or tube supports, etc...) used may be recycled.

Package dimensions are 118cm x 47cm x 17cm

Note: if you want an exact shipping quote, just send me a note with your postal/zip code, and I'll get a proper quote for your address. 

Note: If you're buying from outside of Canada, you as the Buyer may be required to pay import duties, tariffs, taxes and/or VAT upon delivery, depending on your location and the purchase price.

QUESTIONS ------------

Any questions? Want more photos or detailed shots? Measurements? Shoot me a message, and I'll be happy to answer them, or send more pics, or take any measurements you want/need.

Thanks for looking!