LHORIZONCTM87BLKLH vs LVIPER1000VBLH — Compare
ESP LTD Horizon Custom '87 Lefty Guitar in Black vs ESP LTD VIPER-1000VB Vintage Black Lefty Guitar
The Horizon Custom '87 is a neck-thru shredder optimized for extreme techniques and coil-split versatility, while the VIPER-1000VB is a set-thru all-rounder with dual-voicing Fishman pickups and locking hardware for tuning stability. Choose the Horizon for dive bombs and fast lead work; choose the VIPER for tonal flexibility and studio reliability.
No sales tax on orders shipped outside California — total cost beats national retailers that charge sales tax in nearly every state.
ESP LTD Horizon Custom '87 Lefty Guitar in Black
ESP LTD VIPER-1000VB Vintage Black Lefty Guitar
Specs side by side
| ESP LTD Horizon Custom '87 Lefty Guitar in Black | ESP LTD VIPER-1000VB Vintage Black Lefty Guitar | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,499.00 | $1,499.00 |
| Brand | ESP LTD | ESP LTD |
| Series | LTD H | LTD Viper |
| Body | — | Double Cutaway |
| Body Type | Solid | Solid |
| Scale | 25.5" Scale | 24.75" Scale |
| Strings | 6 | 6 |
| Frets | 24 Frets | 22 Frets |
| Fretboard | Ebony | Ebony |
| Neck | Maple | Mahogany |
| Neck Construction | — | Set-Neck |
| Pickup Configuration | — | HH |
| Bridge | Tremolo | Tune-O-Matic / Stopbar |
| Year | 2023 | 2023 |
| Condition | New | New |
Why choose ESP LTD Horizon Custom '87 Lefty Guitar in Black
- ✓ Neck-thru construction with Floyd Rose 1000 for extreme vibrato and pitch-locking techniques
- ✓ Extra-jumbo frets and extra-thin neck profile optimized for rapid legato and bending
- ✓ Dual coil-split controls on both volume and tone for expanded single-to-humbucker tonal range
- ✓ Seymour Duncan TB-5 and Hot Rails pickups tuned specifically for aggressive lead and rhythm balance
Why choose ESP LTD VIPER-1000VB Vintage Black Lefty Guitar
- ✓ Fishman Fluence Modern Humbuckers with dual voicings via push-pull control for studio and live flexibility
- ✓ Set-thru mahogany body delivers full-bodied, resonant character with rich harmonic content
- ✓ TonePros locking TOM bridge and locking tuners provide superior tuning stability over long sessions
- ✓ 22 stainless steel extra-jumbo frets with Macassar ebony fingerboard and pearloid inlays for precision feel
Frequently asked questions
Which guitar suits extreme vibrato techniques like dive bombs?
The Horizon Custom '87 features a Floyd Rose 1000 double-locking tremolo with locking nut designed specifically for pitch stability through aggressive vibrato and dive bombs. The VIPER-1000VB uses a TonePros locking TOM bridge, which is more stable for standard playing but not engineered for extreme tremolo work.
Which one offers more tonal flexibility?
The VIPER-1000VB edges ahead with Fishman Fluence pickups that switch between two complete voicings per pickup via push-pull controls, giving four distinct tonal profiles. The Horizon Custom '87 offers coil-splitting on both pickups, which thins tone from full humbucker to single-coil but stays within one core voicing per pickup.
What's the structural difference between neck-thru and set-thru?
The Horizon Custom '87 uses neck-thru construction, where the neck extends through the body for maximum upper-fret access and sustain. The VIPER-1000VB uses set-thru, where the neck is glued into the body—still providing good access and sustain but with slightly warmer, body-focused tone due to the mahogany body. Both are professional-grade.
Which guitar is better for studio recording sessions?
The VIPER-1000VB is better suited for studio thanks to its dual-voicing Fishman pickups, locking TOM bridge, and locking tuners, which offer more tuning stability and tonal options without re-tuning. The Horizon Custom '87 is more tour-focused due to its tremolo system and aggressive lead voicing.