ESP Edwards MIJ E-SA-125LT w/ Case Cherry Lacquer Carved Top 335-style Seymour Duncan Semi Acoustic

ESP Edwards E-SA-125LT Semi-Acoustic with ESP Hard Shell Case

Professor’s Notes

If you’re looking for a truly fantastic 335-style guitar without breaking the bank, look no further. Delicious tone, incredible craftsmanship, and lovely playing experience.

Specifications

Weight: 8 lbs

Case/Gig Bag: ESP Hard Case

Neck Profile: C

Neck Width, Nut: 1.71 in

Neck Width, 12th fret: 2.07 in

Neck Depth, 1st fret: 0.88 in

Neck Depth, 12th fret: 0.99in

Body: Maple, top and back machined from one-piece maple

Body Finish: Lacquer over Cherry

Neck: 1p Mahogany

Nut: Bone

Fingerboard: Rosewood

Fingerboard Radius: 10 in

Scale: 24.75 in (62.8 cm)

Frets: 22, Medium

Pickups: Seymour Duncan SH-2N (neck), SH-14 (bridge)

Pickguard: 4-ply black

Controls: Neck pickup volume and tone, bridge pickup volume and tone

Year of manufacture: 2007

Country of manufacture: Japan

Condition

This guitar is in Excellent condition with minor signs of prior use and aging typical of lacquer finish guitars. There is no significant damage and very few small marks or signs of use around the body and neck. Two very minor marks are visible on the back of the guitar. One is near the lower contour. The other is on the perimeter of the lower bout (pictured). There is a light patina on the bridge and pickups. A lighter rectangular section is visible on each pickup where the Seymour Duncan stickers used to be. The original ESP hard case is included. There are scuffs and a crack on the bottom of the case, but it is stable (pictured). A truss adjustment tool, case keys and original warranty card are also included.

This guitar has been thoroughly inspected to ensure proper function and set up with 10-46 roundwound strings, medium-low action, optimal relief, dialed in pickup height, and spot on intonation. Additional pictures available upon request. It weighs 8 pounds.

Overview

Like many of their made in Japan semi-acoustic cousins, Edwards E-SA series guitars have quietly garnered a reputation for exceptional value for money and excellent craftsmanship. Featuring a traditional configuration of maple body, mahogany neck and center block, rosewood fretboard and dual humbucker pickups, the E-SA-125LT harmoniously brings all the right elements together for a classic 335 experience. The top and bottom of the body are carved from a single piece of subtly figured maple expertly painted with a thin layer of lacquer to maintain outstanding resonance and tone.

The masterfully shaped C-profile one-piece mahogany neck feels amazing in hand. The width, depth and profile of this neck are best described as “medium” (measurements above), with just enough depth and shoulder to feel substantial without feeling overly thick or cumbersome. In practice, it feels fast, fluid and comfortable. Handsomely figured cinnamon-toned rosewood is used for the fingerboard, which sports expertly finished medium frets, bone nut, and white pearloid block inlays. The vintage crème binding lining the body is seamless, showing no gaps or areas pulling away with age. Vintage 3+3 Kluson-style locking tuners are used, providing a nice modern touch, easy restringing, and stable tuning.

Electronics and Tone

Strummed acoustically, the E-SA-125LTS feels incredibly lively and responsive. Warm, airy, and full but without mud, these attributes carry over beautifully when plugged in to your favorite amp. ESP has used a Seymour Duncan SH-2n humbucker in the neck position. This vintage output Alnico V pickup with glassy treble sounds great for nearly any genre and is able to maintain clarity even with extreme distortion sounds. Bass is full and tight, with a scoop in the mids that helps prevent mud and maintain clarity and definition for each note. A Seymour Duncan SH-14 Alnico V is used for the bridge position, providing a slightly hotter output and balancing well with the SH-2n as it has a similar tonal profile. A standard 3-way pickup switch is used, as well as Volume and Tone control for each pickup.

The result is an exceptionally well-rounded pickup set suitable for a variety of genres that beautifully communicates the outstanding tonal properties of the E-SA-125LTS for clean, lightly crunchy, and overdriven tones.