ESP LTD EC-256 Electric Guitar Candy Apple Red Satin
The ESP LTD EC-256 offers the classic single-cutaway shape with high-end details at a great price. Featuring bound body, neck, & headstock, mahogany body, & coil-split ESP LH-150 humbuckers. In Candy Apple Red Satin
4.8
50 Reviews
0% Interest
Payment Plan
Don’t sell your soul to a creditor to get the gear you need. At AMS, we want to lower the barriers to create. That’s why we offer in-house 0% financing, and you don’t even have to open a new line of credit! Spread out payments on your credit card to simplify financing and avoid hefty late fees or service charges. Cost shouldn’t interfere with your creativity.
Earn rewards every time you shop at AMS. You'll collect points on eligible purchases that turn into promotional savings on future gear, with points typically available several days after your order ships. All you need is a free AMS account — no credit card, financing, or payment plan required.
The more you shop, the more you earn. Create a free account and start earning from your very first eligible purchase. Rewards are applied as a discount on future eligible purchases.
Earn points on eligible purchases with AMS Rewards and turn them into savings on future orders, no credit card required. You can apply points at checkout once they’re available.
Eligible to earn $29.95 for this purchase
OR
Compare
Compare! Here are all the serial numbers of this model we have in stock. Compare them all and select your favorite!
Opt in for Notifications on this product for the price drops, stock changes and promotions
Looking for a classic single cutaway that punches above its weight? The ESP LTD EC-256 electric guitar offers a premium feel without the premium price. This workhorse delivers the aggressive look and timeless style of a high-end rock machine. With stunning binding on its body, neck, and headstock, it has the vintage swagger of a guitar that costs three times as much. It’s a road-ready companion built for roaring riffs and soulful solos.
Built for the Bold
A great guitar feels like a natural extension of your body, and the EC-256 delivers that effortless physical connection. Carved from rich, resonant mahogany, it provides a warm, thick foundation for your tone. The clever body contours make it a joy to strap on for hours of playing, while the fast, slick neck invites your fingers to fly across the fretboard.
Resonant Mahogany Body: Experience deep, rumbling lows and punchy mids that provide a massive sonic footprint, perfect for pushing a roaring tube amp into sweet saturation.
Thin U-Shaped Neck: Glide effortlessly across the three-piece mahogany neck. Its slim profile reduces hand fatigue, letting you play faster and longer with absolute ease.
Extra-Jumbo Frets: Dig into wild bends and wide vibrato on the smooth rosewood fingerboard. The 22 extra-jumbo frets make grabbing big notes feel incredibly responsive and secure.
Tone That Can Do It All
You need a guitar that can handle all dynamics for when the song demands subtlety. This axe is incredibly versatile, loaded with a pair of acclaimed ESP-designed humbuckers. From bone-crushing metal chugs to glassy blues licks, these pickups give you a massive palette of sonic colors to paint with.
ESP LH-150 Humbuckers: Unleash thick, aggressive tones. These high-output pickups, decked out in sleek matte black covers, cut right through the mix with brilliant articulation and bite.
Push/Pull Coil-Split: Instantly snap from heavy humbucker growl to bright, spanky single-coil chime by simply popping the tone knob. It’s two entirely different guitars living inside one switch.
Independent Volume Controls: Blend your neck and bridge pickups precisely to dial in that sweet, elusive middle-position magic for rhythm playing.
Pro-Level Reliability
Nothing kills a gig faster than a guitar that refuses to stay in tune or feels flimsy in your hands. The EC-256 is built like a tank, anchored by solid hardware and robust construction methods usually hidden behind luxury price barriers. You can trust this instrument to handle the sweat, the stage, and the studio without a single hiccup.
Set-Neck Construction: Feel every note resonate from headstock to strap pin. This classic glued-in neck design isn't just for looks; it's the secret sauce for maximizing sustain, letting your chords ring out for what feels like an eternity.
Tune-o-Matic Bridge & Tailpiece: Forget tuning troubles. This iconic hardware combination keeps your intonation flawless and your tuning locked down, gig after gig. Plus, it's the perfect platform for palm-muting your way to percussive, powerful riffs.
Elegant Binding: Look the part without emptying your wallet. The crisp, multi-ply binding on the body, neck, and headstock screams "custom shop," giving this guitar an aesthetic edge that's as sharp as its tone.
The Rocker's Axe
The ESP LTD EC-256 is a masterclass in giving players more for their money. It bridges the gap between budget-friendly beginner guitars and premium custom shop models, offering a reliable and stylish rock machine. Grab one, plug in, and let your hands do the talking.
Frequently Asked Questions About the ESP LTD EC-256
How does the ESP LTD EC-256 compare to the EC-1000?
The EC-256 is an excellent value-focused model featuring passive ESP-designed pickups and standard tuners. The higher-end EC-1000 typically includes premium active pickups (like EMGs or Fishman Fluence), locking tuners, and upgraded hardware designed specifically for professional touring musicians.
Is the ESP LTD EC-256 good for metal and rock?
Absolutely. The mahogany body and high-output ESP LH-150 humbuckers deliver the thick, aggressive tone needed for hard rock and heavy metal, while the coil-split feature allows you to dial it back for sparkling clean passages.
Does the ESP LTD EC-256 feature a coil-split or coil-tap?
The push/pull tone knob on the EC-256 engages a coil-split. This essentially shuts off one coil of the humbucker to give you the bright, snappy, and articulate sound of a traditional single-coil pickup.
What does the neck on the EC-256 feel like?
It features a "Thin U" neck profile. It’s comfortably slim, making it fast and easy to play, which is ideal for both rapid lead playing and gripping thick chords without causing hand cramping or fatigue.
Is the EC-256 a good guitar for intermediate players?
Yes, it’s widely considered one of the best guitars in its price range. It offers professional-grade features like set-neck construction and body binding, making it a massive step up for ambitious beginners and a highly reliable workhorse for intermediate and gigging players.
ESP LTD EC-256 Guitar Features:
Comfortable 3-piece mahogany neck with a fast, Thin-U profile
Rosewood fingerboard with iconic ESP flag inlays and 22 extra-jumbo frets
ESP LH-150 humbucking pickups (neck and bridge) for punchy, aggressive tones
Push/pull tone knob engages coil-split for bright single-coil versatility
Reliable set-neck construction enhances overall sustain and stability
Premium binding on the body, neck, and headstock
Solid Tune-o-matic bridge and tailpiece for optimal intonation
If you play death metal, look no further. This is a beast.
Published date
11/20/25
Was this review helpful?
2
1
CJ K. 🇺🇸
Verified Buyer
Amazing guitar, amazing price, superb customer sat
AMS always comes through with quality gear at affordable prices, and super fast shipping. Any time I need new gear, AMS is the only place I shop!
Published date
11/26/25
Was this review helpful?
2
0
Carl K. 🇺🇸
Verified Buyer
Amazing guitar, amazing price, superb
Amazing guitar, amazing price, superb customer satisfaction! AMS always comes through with quality gear at affordable prices, and super fast shipping. Any time I need new gear, AMS is the only place I shop!
Published date
11/26/25
Was this review helpful?
2
0
Adam 🇺🇸
Verified Buyer
Amazing Guitar. Especially at the Price.
I was hesitant to buy this. I've never played an LTD and am quite the Jackson fan. I was really worried I wouldn't like the neck or something, but this guitar kept catching my eye so I decided to get it. I'm so happy. It exceeded my expectations. I was planning on changing the tuners and pickups, bu...
This website uses cookies to enhance user experience and to analyze performance and traffic on our website. We also share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising and analytics partners. View our Privacy Policy.
Privacy Preference Center
Privacy Preference Center
Your Privacy
Your Privacy
When you visit our website, we store cookies on your browser to collect information. The information collected might relate to you, your preferences or your device, and is mostly used to make the site work as you expect it to and to provide a more personalized web experience. However, you can choose not to allow certain types of cookies, which may impact your experience of the site and the services we are able to offer. Click on the different category headings to find out more and change our default settings according to your preference. You cannot opt-out of our First Party Strictly Necessary Cookies as they are deployed in order to ensure the proper functioning of our website (such as prompting the cookie banner and remembering your settings, to log into your account, to redirect you when you log out, etc.). For more information about the First and Third Party Cookies used please follow this link.
More information
Strictly Necessary Cookies
Strictly Necessary Cookies
Always Active
These cookies are necessary for our website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to your requests for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging into your account, or filling in forms. You can manually set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but it will prevent parts of our site from working as expected. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable information.
Performance Cookies
Performance Cookies
These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us identify which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around our site. All the information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies, we will not know when you have visited our site and will not be able to monitor its performance.
Functional Cookies
Functional Cookies
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalization. They may be set by us or by third-party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies, then some or all of these services may not function properly.
Sale of Personal Data
Sale of Personal Data
Under the California Consumer Privacy Act, you have the right to opt-out of the sale of your personal information to third parties. These cookies collect information for analytics and to personalize your experience with targeted ads. You may exercise your right to opt out of the sale of personal information by using this toggle switch. If you opt out we will not be able to offer you personalised ads and will not hand over your personal information to any third parties. Additionally, you may contact our legal department for further clarification about your rights as a California consumer by using this Exercise My Rights link.
If you have enabled privacy controls on your browser (such as a plugin), we have to take that as a valid request to opt-out. Therefore we would not be able to track your activity through the web. This may affect our ability to personalize ads according to your preferences.
Targeting Cookies
Targeting cookies collect information for analytics and to personalize your experience with targeted ads. These cookies may be used to build a profile of your interests to show you relevant ads on other sites. They do not store specific personal information but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device.
You may exercise your right to opt out of the sale of personal information by using the toggle switch in this menu. If you opt out of targeting cookies, we will not offer you personalized ads or share your personal information with any third parties. If you have enabled privacy controls on your browser (e.g., Global Privacy Control), we will automatically opt you out of targeted advertising and the ads you see will not be personalized.
