ESP Original Series XJ-6 II Sunburst 2001
ESP XJ-6 II, sunburst, made in Japan 2000-1. This is such a killer guitar. ESP's Original Series delivered production model instruments made with the same precision and care afforded to their custom builds in the 90s and 00s. The closest new equivalent is the E-II line, although that's not really the same, and you don't get the iconic logo. The XJ-6 shape references the offset bodies of Fender''s finest, but maxes out the playability and pushes the styling in the lean and mean direction. There was a couple of different versions made from 1996-03, but this XJ-6 II 1st Version was made from 2000-1 only. You get a cool angled sunburst headstock, a super fast neck with a maple board, cute mini abalone dots, a pearl guard, the high end version of the Floyd Rose bridge and a pair of Seymour's finest. It's amazing to play: the neck is perfectly intuitive and is carved from a truly exemplary piece of maple, it holds tune with gusto, rings like a bell and responds to the lightest touch. The little toggle switch offers series, parallel and split coil options, so you can get a lot of tonal options out of the pickups. It sounds awesome: punchy and full down low, breathy and rich through the mids with excellent note separation and a chewy, zesty chime on the top end. It does smooth cleans and nasty dirty tones and everything in between; it really handles whatever you throw at it. ESP nerds will appreciate the little details: the jack is on the right angle to tuck the lead into the strap, the neck plate is angled and trap shaped, the frets are bang on.... it's a pragmatists dream. At time of writing, this appears to be the only example of the model I can find for sale anywhere in the world, so feel free to shop around for a better deal, I'll wait. All up: hell yeah.
Model: ESP Original Series XJ-6 II
Made: Japan, 2000-1
Serial: 35454
Finish: 3 Tone Sunburst, gloss poly
Body: alder, two piece centre join
Neck: maple, maple fretboard, 43mm nut, 16" radius, slim C shape
Weight: 3.920kg
Mods: mini-toggle switch replaced, truss and trem covers removed and missing
Pickups: Seymour Duncan SH-4 'The JB' and SH-2 'Jazz' humbucker x2
Accessories: trem arm, gig bag
Cosmetic condition notes: minor finish wear. The headstock has dimples on the end and edges. The neck is clean and smooth in the hands, scuffs and rub wear on the back only. The back has dimples in the elbow area and back edge, scuffs along the bottom edge and on the the horns. Note the trem cover is missing The sides have minor dimples all over, as well as scuffs around the front strap pin and some chips around the jack. The front has a chip near the jack, dimples around the knobs and bridge and elbow area and some play wear on the guard and horns.
Overall: very good condition (7.5/10)
Playing condition notes: Action is low, neck is straight, intonation is good, truss rod works. All electronics tested and working properly. Wearing fresh 10/46 Moonshiners strings.
Fret life: 7/10, normal wear inc minor pitting, playing smoothly with no major buzz issues