ESP LTD Unleashes 6 Black Metal II Redburst Guitars
ESP LTD unleashes six Black Metal II guitars in a striking Redburst finish, featuring Seymour Duncan MortalCoil pickups and scale lengths up to 30"
Japanese heavyweight manufacturer ESP has unleashed a fiery update to its LTD Black Metal line. Geared relentlessly toward the hard rock and heavy metal crowd, the new ESP LTD Black Metal II series brings six new models that are guaranteed to turn heads. Boasting a striking Black Redburst Satin finish, jet-black hardware, and specialized, streamlined electronics, these guitars prove that less is sometimes devastatingly more.
While the menacing aesthetic and single-pickup layout unify the lineup, the individual models vary drastically in shape, scale, and function.
The Heart of the Beast: Stripped-Down Electronics
What all six Black Metal models share is a purist, highly optimized minimal setup. No messing around and straight to the point.
In the bridge position sits a single active pickup: the Seymour Duncan MortalCoil. Screwed directly into the body for maximum resonance, this high-output humbucker features three distinct alternative voicings. The controls are unapologetically simple, featuring just a single volume knob and a 3-way toggle switch to alternate between the pickup voicings.
Seven Strings and Extended Range
For modern metal players demanding lower tunings and earth-shattering riffs, ESP delivers three outstanding seven-string baritone options, all featuring a 27-inch scale length:
ESP LTD Phoenix-7 Baritone: This model blends the classic, sweeping Phoenix shape with modern brutality. It features a mahogany body, a maple top, and a slim three-piece mahogany neck-through (Thin-U profile). The dark Macassar ebony fingerboard is free of inlays and features 22 stainless-steel XJ frets. A fixed TonePros Locking TOM bridge with string-through body construction ensures maximum sustain.
ESP LTD EXL-7 Baritone: Taking the aggressive EX shape to new dimensions, this sharp-edged beast utilizes a solid mahogany body (no top) and a set-in three-piece maple neck. It ups the fret count to 24 XJ stainless steel frets on its Macassar ebony board. Unlike the Phoenix, its TOM bridge omits the string-through construction for a different tactile response.
ESP LTD M-7 Baritone: Built for speed in a classic double-cut style, the M-7 features an alder body paired with an "Extra Thin U" three-piece maple neck-through design. It sports 24 extra-large jumbo stainless steel frets and locks down the tuning with a fixed Hipshot string-through bridge.
Key insight: Baritone scale lengths (27" and up) maintain critical string tension for low tunings. Attempting to tune a standard 24.75" guitar down to Drop F# usually results in loose, muddy, "floppy" strings that won't intonate properly.
The 30-Inch Behemoth: M-6 EverTune 30
Occupying a special, extreme niche in the lineup is the ESP LTD M-6 EverTune 30 Black Metal. As the name explicitly states, this 6-string baritone boasts a massive 30-inch scale length—approaching short-scale bass territory!
This allows for incredibly low tunings while retaining piano-like string tightness. The double-cut mahogany body is capped with maple and joined to an extra-slim bolt-on neck. With 24 XJ stainless steel frets and the mechanical wizardry of an EverTune bridge, tuning stability is rock-solid no matter how hard you pick.
Six-String Shredders
For players who prefer standard 6-string configurations and traditional scale lengths, ESP has crafted two striking options:
ESP LTD Arrow Black Metal: An ultra-aggressive take on the classic "V" shape, featuring a mahogany body, maple top, and a super-slim 25.5" neck-through construction. It is the sole instrument in the series equipped with a recessed Floyd Rose 1000 tremolo system and locking nut, perfect for dive bombs and harmonic squeals. It relies on Grover non-locking tuners and features a wicked reversed headstock.
ESP LTD EXL Black Metal: A razor-sharp reimagining of the Explorer shape. It pairs a solid mahogany body with a set neck at a compact, bend-friendly 24.75-inch scale length. Tuning stability is anchored by a two-piece TonePros TOM bridge and ESP locking tuners.
Deep Dark Destroyers
Whether you are looking to plunge into subterranean drop tunings with the 30-inch M-6 or want to shred aggressively on the Floyd Rose-equipped Arrow, the Black Metal II series offers something uniquely punishing for every heavy player.
You can explore the full range on the ESP Guitars Official Black Metal Series page.
- +Single-pickup minimalist design cuts through dense mix
- +Seymour Duncan MortalCoil voicing options add tonal flexibility
- +Extended scale lengths (27"-30") maintain clean tuning for low tunings
- +Stainless steel frets withstand aggressive play
- +EverTune option eliminates tuning drift on 30" model
- −Single pickup limits tonal versatility for non-metal styles
- −Aggressive aesthetic not suited for all genres
- −30" scale length extreme niche with steep learning curve
What pickups are in the ESP LTD Black Metal II guitars?
All six Black Metal II models feature a single Seymour Duncan MortalCoil active humbucker in the bridge position with three alternative voicings, controlled by a simple volume knob and 3-way toggle switch.
What scale lengths do the ESP LTD Black Metal II models offer?
The lineup includes 25.5" and 24.75" standard six-strings, three 27" baritone seven-strings, and one extreme 30" baritone six-string for subterranean tunings.
Which Black Metal II model has a Floyd Rose tremolo?
The ESP LTD Arrow Black Metal is the only model in the series equipped with a Floyd Rose 1000 tremolo system with locking nut, ideal for dive bombs and harmonic effects.
What wood construction do the Black Metal II guitars use?
Models vary between mahogany bodies with maple tops (Phoenix, Arrow, M-6 EverTune) and solid mahogany (EXL-7), paired with either neck-through or set-neck construction depending on the model.
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