RE: ESP explorers. MX series not the new EX

Captain Underpants

Captain Underpants

New member
RE: ESP explorers. MX series not the new EX

Hi all, I would like to know whether is this a real ESP MX250 guitar. I know what it says at the headstock, but is it suppose to have this 'ESP' inlayed at the end of the fretboard?


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Another clearer picture of the guitar...

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c2B8D1TbT49uBOt.jpg
 
Look at the top picture at the brown box.The one below the hardcase.It says China in upside down.So might be a bit suspicious.
 
WhiteMX-250wallpaper.jpg


This might enlighten you. As far as I know, ESP don't inlay their brand name of the last fret of the fingerboard, so that raises a point of suspicion.

2nd point of suspicion - look @ the truss rod cover of the one I posted and the one that you posted. The shape is altogether different. It might slip some of your eyes if you don't look closely.

And if the price is really too darn good to be true, think again.
 
LadyInTears said:
ask yourself what website you got the pics from, if from some dodgy china site, fake assured.
Click to expand...
+1....True... Make sure its not some China website....could be fake....I'm a born lover of Metallica's Xplorer... Wanting to own one too...Couldn't find it....
 
neuro182 said:
WhiteMX-250wallpaper.jpg


This might enlighten you. As far as I know, ESP don't inlay their brand name of the last fret of the fingerboard, so that raises a point of suspicion.

2nd point of suspicion - look @ the truss rod cover of the one I posted and the one that you posted. The shape is altogether different. It might slip some of your eyes if you don't look closely.

And if the price is really too darn good to be true, think again.
Click to expand...
From what I know...(At the truss rod cover) the model of the guitar is a older version....The newer MXes are Bullet style....
 
This is what I found in some forums....

The MX250II means:
Metallica
Xplorer
250,000yen retail
II humbuckers
The bigger rounder body style was know as the EX not to be confused with the EXP or the neck heavy new Ex you can buy now.
The toggle switch on the EEt Fuk explorer was closer to the knobs it was the first revision it had a unique two screw truss rod cover that mounted flush with the nut, also it has a "step where the neck joins the body like a Gibson explorer and the input jack is round and concaved into the body,
the next revision the input jack was changed to a four screw variety and the truss rod went to the 2 screw Gibson style no longer flush with the nut but everything else stayed the same including the step in the neck.

This was one of the first hetfield explorers in the old EX body shape with no serial number and the step in the neck like all of Hetfields white ones.




The next revision was a major one. They no longer used the step in the neck and it was flush set like the MX250s and KLs. Kept the Gibson style truss rod cover went back to the round input jack with no extrior screws and the control route was changed that is why the toggle switch is in a different location but the body remained round. Also the tune o matic bridge remained the same on all these models with a silver coat hangar type wire that went around the edges and under the saddles(will post pics later)

All these revision occured from 87 to 89 the reason for these I assume was legal as well as what Hetfield wanted.
Esp did make explorers before its contract with Hetfield but they looked more like the Gibson explorers with pickguards I would love to get my hands on one of these.
The custom shop logos never apeared on the back of these headstocks and well into most of all the Mx250 including Hetfield's personal explorers.

MX250 revisions Update (9/12/05)

These were realesed in Japan with set necks ebony boards and full mahgony necks and bodies with poly finish. They came stock wired with dual EMG 81. Available in black with dot inlays. For and order made MX250 these were available in any color for an up charge and also you could request Sperzels and I think a few other things before it became a full custom order. In the USA these were known as the EXPcustom as the MX designation was take for another US based product. These featured single screw bell shaped truss rod covers with a single screw. These all had serial numbers, they went to the bullet style truss rod cover in 1995.


Update added

The MX130:
M= Metallica
X= Explorer
130= 130,000yen retail

This were started in 2000 and were available in Black, also in black plastice diamond plate and silver plastic diamond plate.
In other words they were all finished in black and then had diamond plate added to them.

These were similar to mx250II almost identical and these intrestingly enough did not have any serial numbers and were for the Japanese Domestic market. All came from the factory with two EMG 81's and featured the same set neck construction as the MX 250. I think the fretboard was a dark rosewood.

These were discontinued in 2003 all had the new bullet style truss rod cover. No they did not make any that were white.

Information was based on E-mails and correspondends from dealers in Japan.

MX250 limited product runs such as the wolf and man explorer were called in Japan ESP special intrest group. I have no idea what this means but it probably means that you had to be someone or pay alot to get one. I confirmed with Ron Thorn that along with ESP an limited run of about 20 wolf and man explorers were made. Thorn of course doing all the inlays for the run. this was called the MX250 custom inlay or MX250 Special intrest group. It was never called the wolf and man explorer. One had showed up on auction about a year ago in Japan and I dont believe it was ever sold the seller wanted 10,000 US dollars for it. These had serial numbers and were all set neck with one screw bell truss rod covers identical to Hetfield's in everyway. There was no custom shop logo.


The first Ex custom inlay run was the Eet Fuk in 1989. It was a very small run featuring slightly smaller inlays after the 5th fret and no step in the neck apparantley Hetfield found out and they had to stop production but one I know for sure one was sold to Europe and I believe less than 30 were made as far as I know I have one of the only ones in the USA the rest are in Japan a Japanese fan was seen with one of these guitars on Metallica's website. There was an MX250 made with these inlays for an employee of drum city guitar land in 95 and was a one off.

Elk Skull MX250 was available from the late 90's to 2003 as custom order only. It was apparantley labor intensive and would end up costing close to 5000 dollars through ESP of Japan. I have never actually seen one but I have correspondence E-mail from ESP of Japan from 2002 confirming me a price and time to make on an Elk Skull so I know they exist I have never seen one. This was done in the custom shop in Tokyo not by the original wood burn artist.

Updated 9/13/05


Another update 6/12/06

One thing I am finding out the new MXII as they are no longer MX250 II's because they no longer have the retail price of 250,000 yen so its just the MXII.

Thanks to Luna Sea for clearing up the ebony issue bit I still want to know about the clear laquer over the board. The ESP explorers with the bell truss rod covers have REAL EBONY boards. I need people to collaborate this information so when can verify that this is true please post on this if you have any info.
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WOW! HupyDupy! Looks like you're a great fan of it too! HAHA.....I want to know where can I find them, the original ones....LTD is alright too...The models I'm looking for is either LTD MX130, ESP MX220 or MX250...
 
The website is from iOffer right?Chances are the guitar's a fake..you might want to take a look at this,seems like the products they sell there are usually knockoffs..
 
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