After owning multiple Gibson, an Epi and a couple ESP/LTD’s I have to put ESP/LTD at the top. Both the 1000 and the 401 from LTD are both great value and playability. I’m old now and those heavy assed Gibsons are just too much now, the ESP necks are more comfortable and quicker as well
Pretty spot on list! I put some Fishman Moderns in my EC1000. It’s easily my #1! The Gibson Adam Jones Standard, if it wasn’t a signature it would just be a really bad ass Standard! Great video as always my man! 🤘🏼🤘🏼
I found an ESP LTD EC-1000 Deluxe, very used on Reverb several years ago. Just needed a backup for my Gibson Les Paul. It's been three years now and it's my #1, and kicked off a love affair for ESP LTD guitars. Now I have a EC-1000 Deluxe, a TE-1000 Deluxe, a Viper Deluxe, and a ST-1000 Deluxe. Can't get enough of the "Thin-U" shaped neck and the attention to detail that ESP LTD puts into their Deluxe models.
That happened to me too lol. I went from a Matt Heafy Epiphone to a Gary Holt LTD GH-600 NT. It's been 4 years and I still have the LTD. I've since bought a Viper-1000 and a couple EC-256s. They're all really great guitars
I know it seems like you focused on high end single cuts, but can the Thoroughbred get some love? I bought one after seeing it on your channel, and i fell in love with that guitar over just a few weeks... I did put a SD Distortion Mayhem set in it though... 🤘
I gotta shout out the Harley Benton SC 25th anniversary. Locking tuners, stainless frets, and it’s 300 bucks. It punches way above its weight, and can go toe to toe with the real mccoy Les Pauls I’ve tried. If I had the money though, the Bullseye Les Paul is my dream Les Paul.
I recently picked up a cheap Old Glory (Black) Epi. It's tremendous! That neck is THICK!!!! It was your video that sealed the deal - your tones were sick! No PRS though? Mark Tremonti and Chris Robertson guitars are on my bucket list. I'm also a huge Tele fan, so I want a Jim Root model at some point. My own Tele is just a Mexican standard with Richie Kotzen's pickups, so great for rock but not for metal.
I wish you had included the Ben Weinman LTD signature model. The BW-1 is S tier, for sure. It may be the least metal looking, yet undeniably metal guitar around. You really can't understand, until you've played one. It's absolutely killer.
************. 🤷♂️ Ibanez ARZ? ESP Richard Z (Rammstein) Eclipse? Chapman ML2? Yamaha Revstar? James Hetfield Truckster/Iron cross? Will Adler is about 10 years overdue...for a new signature! Lol. Ill be honest...i love preety much all brands, models etc. But ESP? Hands down the best single cuts imo.
Was expecting actual shapes tbh, Les Paul, PRS, Schecter solo, ESP Eclipse (thin and full thickness) would be the biggest ones out with Kiesel and Jackson too. Tele would include the Abasi stuff, Vola, Ibanez AZ tele shapes.
Nice seeing the Marty Freidman signature at the S Tier! But you gotta check out some of the lawsuit era single cuts, and for that matter, Edwards, which is a part of the ESP brand. I have one of their MIJ Custom copies (Duncan JB in the bridge, think it's a Jazz in the neck) and it's the sickest guitar I've ever played. My #1 for sure, and beats the two actual Les Pauls I've owned over the years. Those were more modern examples (2017 and 2018 respectively) but felt like toys in comparison to the Edwards.
The Gold Glory, the Adam Jones Epiphone, the E-II Bill Kelliher, the Solar GC1.6NC Nocturno Culto, the Gary Holt ESP, and the Standard's Gibson are my fav !!
The bottom line is ..... All these guitars are pretty good and great . I'm not picky .... Its very subjective , Xander has his personal favorites and I have my favorites. 😉
Totally agree, the Adam Jones hype is absolutely INSANE! I was already completely SICK of it and OVER IT before it was even released! I don't even really like it either, personally. The silverburst thing is just not for me. I love metallic silver guitars, but silverburst, not so much...
I don’t get how you can rank multiple colors or versions of the exact same guitar but neglect to include other unique models. Schecter? PRS? Even Chapman lol?
I prefer the 60's taper neck on the Gibson for some reason too. Playing the 50's neck is a whole different ball game 😂 it's a total different instrument.
I've always wanted a singlecut that i gel with, but i just can't find one i end up loving. I do think I'd like one of kiesel's singlecuts, but it's super hard to find one you can play b4 buying... Lol going off topic I just picked up an rg5320 im cosmic shadow w/ hardcase for 1100! WOOOOOO!
I actually love the white pickups on the Arctic Metal series, but they should have put a black PICKUP RING. The white ring AND pickup ruins the aesthetic for me too, but thankfully I could fix that for what, about $5, right?
No one ever talks about the Gibson Les Paul Modern or Trad Pro V. Based on what you said, these guitars are right up your alley, more so than the Standards. You always hear "Gibson needs to make modern guitars.' They do, they're just mostly ignored.
Check out fleetwood mac -I've got a mind to give up living. You'll get the whole Peter Green thing a little better. Might not be your cup of tea but that is a top ten solo of all time for me.
I know that due to legal issues (Gibson) it was not on the market in the USA as far as I know but to this day one of my favorite single cut guitars is the ESP Eclipse-I CTM. It was available in full thickness and "standard" thickness. Four potmeters like Les Pauls, the cutout was a bit sharper than on the Les Paul but the curve of the cutout was more similar to the Les Paul than on the later Eclipse (3-pot) models.
I usually agree that extended range single cuts don't look right, but it grew on me after seeing Meshuggah use weird shapes like a Ibanez ARZ and FTM signature.
To me the matt heafy LPs are the perfect guitar.. I wish you would do one with a Floyd Rose thoughthat it would be absolutely perfect I can always put a kill switch in it if I have to seeing it doesn't like come with 1 but they really are the perfect guitar
10:55 I like abalone, just... not *that* much abalone. I have an EC-1000, but the vintage satin finish one with Seymour Duncans, because... we'll, I'm not that heavy.
@@xanderraymondcharles shame there was no matt heafy origins on the list, fluence pickups, locking tuners in both right and lefty 6/string for £1000 is insane
A Gary Holt guitar I absolutely love is his Eclipse that was painted with his own blood. Not only is that wild, but it also looks sick too.
Should have said "Gary F****** Holt" on the back of the headstock for real
I thought you did this video a while back? Did you redo the list or is it a reupload? Thanks! I love the Telecaster and the Les Paul the most.
After owning multiple Gibson, an Epi and a couple ESP/LTD’s I have to put ESP/LTD at the top.
Both the 1000 and the 401 from LTD are both great value and playability. I’m old now and those heavy assed Gibsons are just too much now, the ESP necks are more comfortable and quicker as well
Pretty spot on list! I put some Fishman Moderns in my EC1000. It’s easily my #1! The Gibson Adam Jones Standard, if it wasn’t a signature it would just be a really bad ass Standard! Great video as always my man! 🤘🏼🤘🏼
I found an ESP LTD EC-1000 Deluxe, very used on Reverb several years ago. Just needed a backup for my Gibson Les Paul. It's been three years now and it's my #1, and kicked off a love affair for ESP LTD guitars. Now I have a EC-1000 Deluxe, a TE-1000 Deluxe, a Viper Deluxe, and a ST-1000 Deluxe. Can't get enough of the "Thin-U" shaped neck and the attention to detail that ESP LTD puts into their Deluxe models.
That happened to me too lol. I went from a Matt Heafy Epiphone to a Gary Holt LTD GH-600 NT. It's been 4 years and I still have the LTD. I've since bought a Viper-1000 and a couple EC-256s. They're all really great guitars
+1 for all of this, love my ec-1000
I know it seems like you focused on high end single cuts, but can the Thoroughbred get some love? I bought one after seeing it on your channel, and i fell in love with that guitar over just a few weeks... I did put a SD Distortion Mayhem set in it though... 🤘
Badass guitar with a badass set of pickups.
surprised not to see a Schecter single cuts on the list. They're so sick and I think you'd rlly like them
Yes , plus one for schecter single cuts 👍⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Got a Silverburst (rim) Epiphone that I stuck some EMGs in. Absolute beast!
Surprised you didn't list the Prophecy in the mix.
ESP eclipse deserves the S tier and i agree the gary holt lava ESP looks beautiful. Metal as hell and plays and sounds amazing.
I gotta shout out the Harley Benton SC 25th anniversary. Locking tuners, stainless frets, and it’s 300 bucks. It punches way above its weight, and can go toe to toe with the real mccoy Les Pauls I’ve tried.
If I had the money though, the Bullseye Les Paul is my dream Les Paul.
No Schecter Solo II? John 5 Tele? Dean Cadillac? Are you distancing yourself from Dean these days?
I recently picked up a cheap Old Glory (Black) Epi. It's tremendous! That neck is THICK!!!! It was your video that sealed the deal - your tones were sick!
No PRS though? Mark Tremonti and Chris Robertson guitars are on my bucket list. I'm also a huge Tele fan, so I want a Jim Root model at some point. My own Tele is just a Mexican standard with Richie Kotzen's pickups, so great for rock but not for metal.
I'm curious to know your thoughts on any of the Slash offerings?
I wish you had included the Ben Weinman LTD signature model.
The BW-1 is S tier, for sure.
It may be the least metal looking, yet undeniably metal guitar around.
You really can't understand, until you've played one.
It's absolutely killer.
Hammett’s guitar goes to C tier because it has a Floyd? Is that a good reason?
Swear that guitar gets rough treatment from all the guitar UA-cam channels. I have it and it's amazing.
************. 🤷♂️ Ibanez ARZ? ESP Richard Z (Rammstein) Eclipse? Chapman ML2? Yamaha Revstar? James Hetfield Truckster/Iron cross? Will Adler is about 10 years overdue...for a new signature! Lol. Ill be honest...i love preety much all brands, models etc. But ESP? Hands down the best single cuts imo.
Was expecting actual shapes tbh, Les Paul, PRS, Schecter solo, ESP Eclipse (thin and full thickness) would be the biggest ones out with Kiesel and Jackson too. Tele would include the Abasi stuff, Vola, Ibanez AZ tele shapes.
My favorite singlecut is the ESP Ironcross in olympic white! 🤘
Benjamin Burnley's signature is awesome too
Nice seeing the Marty Freidman signature at the S Tier! But you gotta check out some of the lawsuit era single cuts, and for that matter, Edwards, which is a part of the ESP brand. I have one of their MIJ Custom copies (Duncan JB in the bridge, think it's a Jazz in the neck) and it's the sickest guitar I've ever played. My #1 for sure, and beats the two actual Les Pauls I've owned over the years. Those were more modern examples (2017 and 2018 respectively) but felt like toys in comparison to the Edwards.
The full thickness E2s are sick af..cant go wrong..
Why was there no John 5 telecaster on the list?
The Gold Glory, the Adam Jones Epiphone, the E-II Bill Kelliher, the Solar GC1.6NC Nocturno Culto, the Gary Holt ESP, and the Standard's Gibson are my fav !!
The bottom line is ..... All these guitars are pretty good and great . I'm not picky .... Its very subjective , Xander has his personal favorites and I have my favorites. 😉
In a side note I'm loving that Philly Sixers Jersey
Bill knows how to make a sig .. His actual Les Paul was amazing I think it's called the hellion? But his eclipse is sick as hell too
Forgot the Dean Caddy. Would have been interesting to see where you'd place it
Totally agree, the Adam Jones hype is absolutely INSANE! I was already completely SICK of it and OVER IT before it was even released! I don't even really like it either, personally. The silverburst thing is just not for me. I love metallic silver guitars, but silverburst, not so much...
You should check out Schecters Solo ii evil twin. That guitar is metal AF
I'm with you on the freidman sig
I don’t get how you can rank multiple colors or versions of the exact same guitar but neglect to include other unique models. Schecter? PRS? Even Chapman lol?
I prefer the 60's taper neck on the Gibson for some reason too. Playing the 50's neck is a whole different ball game 😂 it's a total different instrument.
Black and Red - my school colors
I've always wanted a singlecut that i gel with, but i just can't find one i end up loving. I do think I'd like one of kiesel's singlecuts, but it's super hard to find one you can play b4 buying...
Lol going off topic I just picked up an rg5320 im cosmic shadow w/ hardcase for 1100! WOOOOOO!
I actually love the white pickups on the Arctic Metal series, but they should have put a black PICKUP RING. The white ring AND pickup ruins the aesthetic for me too, but thankfully I could fix that for what, about $5, right?
No one ever talks about the Gibson Les Paul Modern or Trad Pro V. Based on what you said, these guitars are right up your alley, more so than the Standards. You always hear "Gibson needs to make modern guitars.' They do, they're just mostly ignored.
ESP Eclipse ???
Check out fleetwood mac -I've got a mind to give up living. You'll get the whole Peter Green thing a little better. Might not be your cup of tea but that is a top ten solo of all time for me.
Where is the Joe Duplantier tele?
You should do a baritone tier list!
No "Heritage" Single Cut from Kalamazoo ??!! the H-157 Custom is nice !! And H-150 Standard are cool too !!
I know that due to legal issues (Gibson) it was not on the market in the USA as far as I know but to this day one of my favorite single cut guitars is the ESP Eclipse-I CTM. It was available in full thickness and "standard" thickness. Four potmeters like Les Pauls, the cutout was a bit sharper than on the Les Paul but the curve of the cutout was more similar to the Les Paul than on the later Eclipse (3-pot) models.
100% this.
You should have included the EVH Wolfgang models
Ok I'll buy an ESP.... you twisted my arm lol
PRS singlecuts???
I usually agree that extended range single cuts don't look right, but it grew on me after seeing Meshuggah use weird shapes like a Ibanez ARZ and FTM signature.
Aw man, no love for the PRS singlecuts? Would’ve loved to see a Tremonti given the ranking treatment
See the cheap peavey raptor custom silverburst ?
Godin singlecuts should have made the list as well.
To me the matt heafy LPs are the perfect guitar.. I wish you would do one with a Floyd Rose thoughthat it would be absolutely perfect I can always put a kill switch in it if I have to seeing it doesn't like come with 1 but they really are the perfect guitar
i would add the prs se 245. i have the fredrik akesson model and i love it. granted thats a thicker ebony version with a maple neck...
10:55 I like abalone, just... not *that* much abalone. I have an EC-1000, but the vintage satin finish one with Seymour Duncans, because... we'll, I'm not that heavy.
PRS McCarty 594 SC American made is the best quality single cut made. Solar's are pretty much just middle of the road guitars at best.
Why no Schecters??
The prs tremonti is no joke
ESP and Jackson 🤘
What about the LTD NW-44?
buckethead sigs are pretty great imo
Just got the Jared James Nichols Epiphone .. It’s possibly the baddest MF’er in my arsenal
I'm shocked you didn't put the Jimmy Page Tele on here.
Xander doesn't like tele 's
That was straight up blasphemous to do the KH-3 like that! Just kidding. To each their own. I LOVE my KH-3!
Personally, I have never known a p-90 to be thin and weak per se.
This is the who Gibson wants to sue most list.
Shouldve done this with agufish 😂
Les Paul S tier, ESP Eclipse A tier, Gretsch Jet C tier, the rest of them F tier :)
Easier ranking: All of these belong on D tier. 🙂
Dude heck yeah. Up top! 🙏 got ‘em.
If I was going to buy this kind of guitar I'd get a used Hamer USA Monaco, which is far nicer than any of these
struggling for content. sorry man, but the quality of content has gone to you know what.
Why would anyone want a bad molly hatchet album cover on the back of their guitar?
Wylde Audio over an Adam Jones custom... no thank you.
False advertising, I bet all these guitars needed more than 1 cut to make 😅
Badoom pssh
@@xanderraymondcharles shame there was no matt heafy origins on the list, fluence pickups, locking tuners in both right and lefty 6/string for £1000 is insane
@@omgdisfunny4852 what are you talking about it’s the first guitar he ranks lol
It was literally the first guitar I talked about.
@@davids2629 oh yea lmao
Single cuts just don’t work for Metal. Most are too Boomer.
Gibson are definite D tier. Only thing worse are Epiphonies. 😂
No BW-1?