first off, im glad i found this video, its very good. your points were well made and really helped shed some light on this guitar. I had two questions though, is this just a one off issue with this one particular guitar or is it just like a shitty guitar in general? secondly, if one was to put in the time and effort in fixing any wrongdoings, would it be a worthwhile endeavour to pursue?
I'm glad you found the video. It could just be a one off, but honestly I would try and lay hands on one before buying. The setup part is not a huge deal, the stainless steel fret ends can be a big job. I hope that helps man. Thanks for checking out my video.
When I first got my Floyd Rose installed Guitars I had a hard time with the screw claws and all could not get it level even with the screws all the way in it wasn’t right then I learned how to make the adjustments and I can have those screws halfway out and have a level. You got it as a demo so someone else tried to set up the trim and probably returned it.
I bought a new LTD M-1000 last year and I needed to spot level the frets. The frets themselves were beautiful and shiny, but they didn't level them! I can agree that its not acceptable to deliver guitars in this price range like this. Regarding the spring claw, if it is screwed all the way in, and there are three springs and it isn't pulling the back down, there is a problem. The Floyd route is standard and there is usually more than enough adjustment room, so I'm guessing there are either two springs, or the ones installed are low tension. Again, not something you should have to deal with. BTW, your amp sounds great.
I have got the same model but not the floye one. My one is with tuneomatic bridge. The guitar itself feels amazing, and the neck is perfect so as the frets. However, the bridge wasn't grounded so the guitar hum as hell. I took apart the guitar and I found that the bridge wire was broken inside the bridge bushing. It must be broken when the bushing was installed. Everything else about the guitar has no problems at all. So when you get this model make sure you check every detail.
Hi, thank you for review! Today I've got Ibanez RGD61ALA-MTR, it had bridge pickup screw broken in half and stuck on a pickup magnet, pickup blocks 6th string. Neck pickup has screw head destroyed and that side is way high up without a possibility to turn it. I was shocked. Made in Indonesia... For the same money I'm looking now at LTD H3-1000 Black TB... I am hoping that it won't be such a crap :(
Honestly bro I’m so sorry to hear about the Ibanez, if you can go to a guitar store and lay hands on one to check it out before purchasing. I haven’t had the best luck with Indonesian guitars, but definitely try to get one from a store than online if you can. Anything else let me know and I’ll try to help you.
@@jordansguitarchannel3809 Thank you for your support :) I have got it from Thomann, so it won't be a problem with returns. My first guitar was LTD MH-50 that was perfectly built (although I guess it was made in china 101%), so I have some hopes for LTD :D But it may be that both the Ibanez and LTD are built on the same factory in Indonesia, which means it is the same lottery :) Yes, everyone says to go to the store, but not all wanted models are available locally, unfortunately :) And Thomann has 3 year warranty, so... :D Have you got a replacement for your H3-1000?
I’m hoping you’ll find the perfect one my friend. Yeah I have an early LTD made in China and it’s awesome. Unfortunately the replacement was out of stock so I went with a Charvel and honestly couldn’t be happier. I’m saving up to get another E-II, fantastic guitars and I can’t have enough. Cheers brother
seems like the QC didn't get any better? I bought my EC-1000 (MII) back in 2020 and while it plays great, the electronics were unreliable - the tone knob was really loose, it was basically spinning around. switching the pickups usually resulted in no sound. that's kinda weird for this price point
Unfortunately it’s pretty common, my latest video I have a cracked fretboard on my new LTD which is in for repair. At almost $1600, they need to step it up.
Don't be crushed. It was just one sample, maybe just a bad guitar. If your heart is set on that one go for it. If you get a bad one, send it back. Best of luck either way.
Go for it. I love my LTD and my E-II....both hardtails as I don't do tremolos...more hassle, less stability in tuning. Lots of people buy good guitars...but very few people write reviews about the good ones. Only bad experiences inspire an effort to write an online review.
@@jordansguitarchannel3809 the way i see it they have two choices. Stop promoting the 55 point inspection or let the staff actually take the time to do it properly. They only alot the 15 minutes per instrument.
Absolutely. Sweetwater has a high reputation amongst the guitar and music community. They should live up to that standard and support those who support them.
@@jordansguitarchannel3809 idk personally i had 3 bad gibsons in a row from sweet water. I dont think the 55 point inspection means jack at this point, had much better luck with zzounds and CME.
Sometimes it comes down to the manufacturer shipping out less-than-stellar products. Sweetwater may not necessarily be cutting corners with their in-house inspections, rather they’re doing what they can with the instruments they’re being sent. All of the Japanese brands (Ibanez, FGN, and ESP) are all about a year behind schedule on production across all product lines. Sending a guitar back due to defect may mean a lost sale for Sweetwater, or it means the customer may have to wait almost a year for another one.
No, maybe I should’ve shown more clearly. I would’ve had to remove and reinstall the whole Floyd on a brand new guitar, besides that there were several bad frets. To me it looked like a project and probably was not built correctly. I’m all for fixing minor issues but this one was just too much. Check my Charvel video, I had to do a lot of work to it and my Solar. Unfortunately as beautiful as that axe was it was in need of a luthier.
I heard you mention you switched from 9s to 10s. Did you set up the guitar again when you changed strings? You sounded really unhappy with the guitar but everything you described sounds like it just needs a setup. You will definitely need to reset up that guitar if you switched string gauge. With a Floyd that can upset it pretty dramatically. But guitars need setups all the time. If all it needs is a setup I don't see how that makes it a bad guitar. I've bought many guitars from Sweetwater and they never do their own setups. They're probably bottom of my list in terms of QC on items they ship. If you get one straight from the factory it will have a factory setup. But you said that one was a demo. So probably a customer screwed around with it. Sent it back and then Sweetwater sold it to you without looking at it. They do that all the time. Half the time they won't even say it's a demo model. They'll just list it as new. Then you'll get it covered in pick scratches and nonsense. Sweetwater blows. The fact that they sent you a guitar with no setup and a loose tone pot doesn't surprise me in the slightest. You said the neck was straight. You said the fret ends were rounded off. If all that's wrong with it is a setup that's Sweetwater's fault, not the guitars. I have always found factory QC and setup from LTD indonesia to be excellent and top notch on every guitar I've had from them. I'm not saying there isn't a fluke here and there like with everything else but I've found their factory quality and setups to be at professional level. I have built and worked on guitars for years and was also a guitar tech/luthier for guitar center for a while. Thanks for the video though good luck with your guitar endeavours.
I have always been a Ibanez fan, picked up a LTD and as much as I want to love it, it just feels cheap, and not even a year old, it's been nothing but problems, my 28 year old Ibanez plays better.
@@jordansguitarchannel3809 I have the M1 Custom 1987, and it looks killer! but I would not buy another LTD, I think the next guitar I get will be a Kiesel.
Ive no stakes in any outcomes of any outcomes. I just watched this because im interested in trading for one. 1st, fret filing is definitely not a good thing . Sucks and will cost money. But any brand is capable of sending one out that has sharp edges. Again that doesnt mean they should, but it happens. Why? Becaude everyone makes mistakes just like the reader of this message at your job. Again though, you should complain if this happens to you. 2nd, yes you would ideally like the guitar to come in ready to play action when you buy it. But if you are buying and or trading or stealing or whatever means to aquire a guitar with a floyd rose, you better either accept the pain or learn how to fix one. I looked up several videos on how to set up one. Did i want to punch my wall? Yes, do i know now how to setup one myself? Yes. Saving me a bunch of money and time. Even if any comany sends you a well setup guitar, so many factors are at play with a guitar, especially one with a floyd. 3rd, this is speaking from a more personal point, ive never had a guitar with any finish, satin or not be the reason why i don't shred. But yes id also complain if i had to setup a Floyd and fret work on any 1000+ guitar. Id be salty. But i learned how to fix all this on my own with the internet.
Lol. Absolutely bro, the reason I didn’t mess with anything is because it was new. Usually a guitar with this many issues is definitely hiding more, and something I didn’t want to keep having problems to fix. Just bought another LTD and it’s in the repair shop right now so draw your own conclusions.
@@jordansguitarchannel3809 that's fair. 500 dollars and more is a lot for sure. But whether you do or don't, just because you didn't mention it, learning how to do a setup wasn't that difficult in my opinion. But if you've never setup a guitar before, I can understand how that that's hard for sure.
I’ve been doing setups for twenty years, I didn’t because the guitar had other issues. If it had been otherwise perfect, I’d have absolutely set it up.
Sounds like a lot of complaining here number one. I’ve never seen a Floyd Rose come in exactly level and it’s such a easy fix. no matter the price I always adjust the Floyd Rose to how I like it which is low action all guitars should be readjusted when buying them. The only thing I agree with you on is that the neck shouldn’t be slick like that out of that just a whole bunch of complaining
Do people really fall for the "trust us bro, all our guitars go through 55 point inspection" crap!? Lol. Sweetwater sells thousands of guitars, common sense anybody!?
first off, im glad i found this video, its very good. your points were well made and really helped shed some light on this guitar. I had two questions though, is this just a one off issue with this one particular guitar or is it just like a shitty guitar in general? secondly, if one was to put in the time and effort in fixing any wrongdoings, would it be a worthwhile endeavour to pursue?
I'm glad you found the video. It could just be a one off, but honestly I would try and lay hands on one before buying. The setup part is not a huge deal, the stainless steel fret ends can be a big job. I hope that helps man. Thanks for checking out my video.
When I first got my Floyd Rose installed Guitars I had a hard time with the screw claws and all could not get it level even with the screws all the way in it wasn’t right then I learned how to make the adjustments and I can have those screws halfway out and have a level. You got it as a demo so someone else tried to set up the trim and probably returned it.
Probably so, and with it under warranty I didn’t want to mess with it.
Thanks for the review mate! I was really looking into the Snow White version of this guitar, but I'm a bit more hesitant right now.
You're welcome, glad the video helped you.
I've been looking for that same snow white version but where could I find it ? From esp themselves ?
I bought a new LTD M-1000 last year and I needed to spot level the frets. The frets themselves were beautiful and shiny, but they didn't level them! I can agree that its not acceptable to deliver guitars in this price range like this. Regarding the spring claw, if it is screwed all the way in, and there are three springs and it isn't pulling the back down, there is a problem. The Floyd route is standard and there is usually more than enough adjustment room, so I'm guessing there are either two springs, or the ones installed are low tension. Again, not something you should have to deal with. BTW, your amp sounds great.
Thanks brother and thanks for sharing your experience. It's a shame QC is out the window on a lot of new LTDS. Wish they'd fix it.
I have got the same model but not the floye one. My one is with tuneomatic bridge. The guitar itself feels amazing, and the neck is perfect so as the frets. However, the bridge wasn't grounded so the guitar hum as hell. I took apart the guitar and I found that the bridge wire was broken inside the bridge bushing. It must be broken when the bushing was installed. Everything else about the guitar has no problems at all. So when you get this model make sure you check every detail.
Absolutely
I have that same guitar , but it’s a LTD ELITE made in Japan. The ltd elite series became the EII line.
Absolutely. Wish they were still the same price.
If you are referring to ESP LTD Elite st-1, yes they were made in Japan, only in 2013 though, and are awesome guitars.
Hi, thank you for review! Today I've got Ibanez RGD61ALA-MTR, it had bridge pickup screw broken in half and stuck on a pickup magnet, pickup blocks 6th string. Neck pickup has screw head destroyed and that side is way high up without a possibility to turn it. I was shocked. Made in Indonesia... For the same money I'm looking now at LTD H3-1000 Black TB... I am hoping that it won't be such a crap :(
Honestly bro I’m so sorry to hear about the Ibanez, if you can go to a guitar store and lay hands on one to check it out before purchasing. I haven’t had the best luck with Indonesian guitars, but definitely try to get one from a store than online if you can. Anything else let me know and I’ll try to help you.
@@jordansguitarchannel3809 Thank you for your support :) I have got it from Thomann, so it won't be a problem with returns. My first guitar was LTD MH-50 that was perfectly built (although I guess it was made in china 101%), so I have some hopes for LTD :D
But it may be that both the Ibanez and LTD are built on the same factory in Indonesia, which means it is the same lottery :)
Yes, everyone says to go to the store, but not all wanted models are available locally, unfortunately :) And Thomann has 3 year warranty, so... :D
Have you got a replacement for your H3-1000?
I’m hoping you’ll find the perfect one my friend. Yeah I have an early LTD made in China and it’s awesome. Unfortunately the replacement was out of stock so I went with a Charvel and honestly couldn’t be happier. I’m saving up to get another E-II, fantastic guitars and I can’t have enough. Cheers brother
@@jordansguitarchannel3809 Thanks ;) Hope your future E-II will not disappoint you! Keep on rocking ;)
seems like the QC didn't get any better? I bought my EC-1000 (MII) back in 2020 and while it plays great, the electronics were unreliable - the tone knob was really loose, it was basically spinning around. switching the pickups usually resulted in no sound. that's kinda weird for this price point
Unfortunately it’s pretty common, my latest video I have a cracked fretboard on my new LTD which is in for repair. At almost $1600, they need to step it up.
Agree with the point about the tone knob being useless for metal.
It needs to go! Haha.
Depends what you call metal. Saint vitus was achieved by rolling the tone knob down
Not entirely. For Obituarys sound they actually only have the tone knob at 20% which is why they sound the way they do.
Is it madein Indonesia? Cuz m planning to buy a string thru green version of this with pegasus pups
Yep. Made in Indonesia, wish they'd do them all in Korea.
But yes, those frets are horrible. You said the neck is completely straight. Is it adjusted to the max? Should have a slight curve in
Absolutely man, someone tried and failed to set that axe up bro.
I was a day away from buying the hardtail version with the Flame top. Im crushed 😢
Don't be crushed. It was just one sample, maybe just a bad guitar. If your heart is set on that one go for it. If you get a bad one, send it back. Best of luck either way.
Go for it. I love my LTD and my E-II....both hardtails as I don't do tremolos...more hassle, less stability in tuning. Lots of people buy good guitars...but very few people write reviews about the good ones. Only bad experiences inspire an effort to write an online review.
A month or two ago i did a video on the 55 point inspection. They seem to be missing the mark alot these days
This is my second time sadly. Supposedly they're working on it. New guitar is coming this week hopefully, stay tuned.
@@jordansguitarchannel3809 the way i see it they have two choices. Stop promoting the 55 point inspection or let the staff actually take the time to do it properly. They only alot the 15 minutes per instrument.
Absolutely. Sweetwater has a high reputation amongst the guitar and music community. They should live up to that standard and support those who support them.
@@jordansguitarchannel3809 idk personally i had 3 bad gibsons in a row from sweet water. I dont think the 55 point inspection means jack at this point, had much better luck with zzounds and CME.
Sometimes it comes down to the manufacturer shipping out less-than-stellar products. Sweetwater may not necessarily be cutting corners with their in-house inspections, rather they’re doing what they can with the instruments they’re being sent. All of the Japanese brands (Ibanez, FGN, and ESP) are all about a year behind schedule on production across all product lines. Sending a guitar back due to defect may mean a lost sale for Sweetwater, or it means the customer may have to wait almost a year for another one.
I'm not sure, but I think nobody uses the tone pot?
Maybe some Jazz players
Obituary. tone at 20%
didnt you try to lower the floyd yourself?
No, the problem was worse than that.
@@jordansguitarchannel3809 did you try different springs?? I am just trying to makes sense out of it
No, maybe I should’ve shown more clearly. I would’ve had to remove and reinstall the whole Floyd on a brand new guitar, besides that there were several bad frets. To me it looked like a project and probably was not built correctly. I’m all for fixing minor issues but this one was just too much. Check my Charvel video, I had to do a lot of work to it and my Solar. Unfortunately as beautiful as that axe was it was in need of a luthier.
I heard you mention you switched from 9s to 10s. Did you set up the guitar again when you changed strings? You sounded really unhappy with the guitar but everything you described sounds like it just needs a setup. You will definitely need to reset up that guitar if you switched string gauge. With a Floyd that can upset it pretty dramatically. But guitars need setups all the time. If all it needs is a setup I don't see how that makes it a bad guitar. I've bought many guitars from Sweetwater and they never do their own setups. They're probably bottom of my list in terms of QC on items they ship. If you get one straight from the factory it will have a factory setup. But you said that one was a demo. So probably a customer screwed around with it. Sent it back and then Sweetwater sold it to you without looking at it. They do that all the time. Half the time they won't even say it's a demo model. They'll just list it as new. Then you'll get it covered in pick scratches and nonsense. Sweetwater blows. The fact that they sent you a guitar with no setup and a loose tone pot doesn't surprise me in the slightest. You said the neck was straight. You said the fret ends were rounded off. If all that's wrong with it is a setup that's Sweetwater's fault, not the guitars. I have always found factory QC and setup from LTD indonesia to be excellent and top notch on every guitar I've had from them. I'm not saying there isn't a fluke here and there like with everything else but I've found their factory quality and setups to be at professional level. I have built and worked on guitars for years and was also a guitar tech/luthier for guitar center for a while. Thanks for the video though good luck with your guitar endeavours.
Thanks brother, I appreciate your comment
I have always been a Ibanez fan, picked up a LTD and as much as I want to love it, it just feels cheap, and not even a year old, it's been nothing but problems, my 28 year old Ibanez plays better.
I know what you mean. I had three last year I had to send back. I’m told it’s getting better, but I’d have to have the evidence in hand.
@@jordansguitarchannel3809 I have the M1 Custom 1987, and it looks killer! but I would not buy another LTD, I think the next guitar I get will be a Kiesel.
Ive no stakes in any outcomes of any outcomes. I just watched this because im interested in trading for one.
1st, fret filing is definitely not a good thing . Sucks and will cost money. But any brand is capable of sending one out that has sharp edges. Again that doesnt mean they should, but it happens. Why? Becaude everyone makes mistakes just like the reader of this message at your job. Again though, you should complain if this happens to you.
2nd, yes you would ideally like the guitar to come in ready to play action when you buy it. But if you are buying and or trading or stealing or whatever means to aquire a guitar with a floyd rose, you better either accept the pain or learn how to fix one. I looked up several videos on how to set up one. Did i want to punch my wall? Yes, do i know now how to setup one myself? Yes. Saving me a bunch of money and time. Even if any comany sends you a well setup guitar, so many factors are at play with a guitar, especially one with a floyd.
3rd, this is speaking from a more personal point, ive never had a guitar with any finish, satin or not be the reason why i don't shred.
But yes id also complain if i had to setup a Floyd and fret work on any 1000+ guitar. Id be salty.
But i learned how to fix all this on my own with the internet.
Lol. Absolutely bro, the reason I didn’t mess with anything is because it was new. Usually a guitar with this many issues is definitely hiding more, and something I didn’t want to keep having problems to fix. Just bought another LTD and it’s in the repair shop right now so draw your own conclusions.
@@jordansguitarchannel3809 that's fair. 500 dollars and more is a lot for sure. But whether you do or don't, just because you didn't mention it, learning how to do a setup wasn't that difficult in my opinion. But if you've never setup a guitar before, I can understand how that that's hard for sure.
I’ve been doing setups for twenty years, I didn’t because the guitar had other issues. If it had been otherwise perfect, I’d have absolutely set it up.
Sounds like a lot of complaining here number one. I’ve never seen a Floyd Rose come in exactly level and it’s such a easy fix. no matter the price I always adjust the Floyd Rose to how I like it which is low action all guitars should be readjusted when buying them. The only thing I agree with you on is that the neck shouldn’t be slick like that out of that just a whole bunch of complaining
Bro I bought that guitar with my own money, and the Floyd did need to be remounted according to the techs, so they sent me a different model.
Shouldn't be any complaints on that tone. Sounds outrageously punchy with insane harmonics and plenty of clarity.
Thanks bro, I appreciate that.
Do people really fall for the "trust us bro, all our guitars go through 55 point inspection" crap!? Lol. Sweetwater sells thousands of guitars, common sense anybody!?
Stay tuned for my next video.