u/RiffsAndResearch

Got the ESP LTD EC-1000 CARS from Thomann last week and I have not really been able to put it down since. The candy apple red satin finish looks even better in person and reminds me a lot of the ESP Original Series Lava Red, which I have been eyeing for a while. I can live without the lava texture given the relatively lower price of the LTD. The dark fingerboard without inlays is a perfect match for the overall aesthetic. I don't think I have to ramble about the playability of an EC-1000 in this sub ;).

The active voicings of the Seymour Duncan Mortal Coils are a strong contender against the Fishman Moderns. More versatile in my opinion. Having the classic JB/Jazz set available via push/pull is just priceless. I will put them in one of my ESP Standard Series Eclipses as well.
Some minor QC comments, but not warranting a return IMHO: one bridge humbucker screw was loose (10 second fix). A small line-form dent in the finish at the neck joint, about 1 cm. I am taking it as the first cosmetic characteristic of a guitar that is going to be played a lot (plus peace of mind from trying to avoid a first dent). Frets are filed well but I still feel the edges slightly more than on my other ESPs. I will have the fret ends filed at some point, but I forget about it after 5 minutes of playing anyways.

It went great. I basically followed the recommendations in Pipp Priss' live tutorial. He was so right with suggesting to lift the signal with a neutral EQ between Namplayer and power amp (I used Harley Benton GPA-100). I used the Amalgam Audio Dual Rectifier Capture and it cuts through very well in the room and the mix via DI. No more carrying ampheads for me, I guess! :)

Got a good deal on this used gem in exchange for my LTD EC-1000ET, which I never really warmed up to. It is my third pre-E-II Era ESP Standard and they just never disappoint. I will definitely keep hunting for more. And, before you ask, I have no idea what kind of humbuckers the originals were exchanged for by the previous owner (neither did the store), but they sound amazing. They are certainly not SDs from what I can tell. They sound a bit Gibsonesque. I will check when I change the strings in a couple of weeks.

Upgraded my HB Fusion ST EMG with an EMG 81X in the bridge and Gotoh locking tuners and I am happy how it turned out. The EMG Retro Active Hot 70 in the bridge was just not for me. The Humbucker rings of the EMG 81X still had the threads in but I did not want to drill them. So I tried different screws until the threads popped out on one side and I could reuse the mounting screw. I became impatient and still did not want to drill so I used a pickup frame screw to mount it to the body. Two different screws are not ideal but it holds tight and I can adjust the height. A true Frankenstein Mod. :) Maybe some day I will fix it.

Wondering if anyone has done something similar and whether the pickup frame screw holds up long term.

Gotoh tuners were a straightforward drop in and yes, I admit...mostly an optical upgrade...don't judge me! :D