ESP is known for high-quality musical instruments. But like many other brands such as Fender and Gibson, they offer more affordable guitars and other instruments under the LTD brand.
LTD MH-100 QMNT is a member of MH series guitars that offer good quality, amazing playability, and decent sound at a low price. This is a great guitar for beginner and intermediate guitar players.
In this post, I will review LTD MH-100 QMNT. I personally own this guitar and know every detail of it. I have played live and recorded some songs with this guitar.
Build Quality
First, let’s talk about the build quality. And I can say that LTD MH-100 QMNT has superb build quality for its price. Although LTD MH-100 QMNT electric guitar is an affordable guitar, it has very good build quality.
I remember when I bought it and opened the package. It was ready to play out of the box. My guitar has everything original and it needs no upgrades. Yes, it’s an affordable instrument but feels more expensive.
This particular model has a bolt-on neck like many guitars in this price range. Neck and body construction are great. I have no issues here. Frets are cut really well and there are no sharp edges.
The only issue with the frets is that they need leveling. Especially after the 15th fret. It’s not bad but a little work is needed. Some frets are a little higher and it causes a small amount of fret buzz.
What about hardware? Well, it has a cheap, ESP bridge and tuners. Nothing special but they work perfectly. I’ve never had an issue with tuning stability. It stays in tune perfectly. Even for drop tunings.
The bridge is Tune-o-Matic style. You can set each string individually. It is great for action and intonation. Although I am not a guitar luthier, I set my action and intonation and it’s perfect because it’s so easy with this bridge.
Overall, LTD MH-100 QMNT is well built electric guitar and can be used as a backup guitar. Very solid construction, great neck, and body. Frets need work to level them.
Body and Neck
The real beauty of this guitar and why I bought it in the first place is the body. It’s a basswood body with a quilted maple top which looks amazing. This makes it look more expensive.
The body is really great. There are no flaws or cracks in the finish and is really high quality. The style of body is super strat and it’s very comfortable. It has a medium-size body and makes playing easier for standing and sitting positions. Has a nice cut out behind and sits well against your chest.
The neck of LTD MH-100 QMNT is made from maple and it has a rosewood fingerboard. Frets are extra jumbo and it really feels and plays amazing. The neck is very smooth and makes playing easier.
The neck has a thin U shape. It’s narrow and thin at the same time. Great for shredding and metal in general. But I have one issue with this neck. And it’s just personal.
I have big hands and long fingers and because the neck is so thin and narrow, it’s not very comfortable for me to play. Also, that’s because I love thumb-over-neck playing like Jimi Hendrix or Jimmy Page.
So, if you are like me and love blues, you might not like it. This guitar is made for metal riffs. Also, great for those who have smaller hands.
Other than that I don’t have issues. It’s smooth, fast, and frets are done really well. Shredding and bends are very smooth and easy. ESP recommends 0.09 gauge strings but I use 0.10 gauges. I have used 0.11s and even 0.12s and it worked perfectly.
Hardware
The hardware of LTD MH-100 QMNT is nothing special. It’s the default ESP hardware you see on other guitars under $500. But I have no issues. I haven’t changed them and still works like new.
The bridge is a tune-o-Matic style. It’s great for action and intonation because you can control each saddle separately. There are no issues with how the bridge works. The saddle still works and the bridge is solid. I have used different gauge strings and it had no problems.
The tuners are default ESP tuners. No locking tuners. But this guitar stays in tune. You can tune in standard E, drop tuning, use 0.12 gauge strings and it will still stay in tune. Even G string stays in tune.
Perhaps the bridge and tuner combination is the key. They work well together. It has no tremolo so it helps to stay in tune.
I can honestly say that the hardware of MH-100 QMNT is really good. Especially at this price range. And I have played live many times and recorded many tunes. It worked perfectly and still handles after all these years.
Sound
Sound is where you can tell that this is an affordable guitar. It’s nothing special and has no characteristic sound. It is equipped with ESP LH-150 humbuckers that sound decent. Has a good clean sound and works well with distortion.
Clean sound has good clarity. You can hear every string and note perfectly. I can say the same for distorted sound but not as clear. Power chords sound good. But distorted chords are not as clear as they should be. Works great with real guitar amps or guitar amp sims.
Have in mind that these are passive pickups. If you searching for active pickups, it’s not for you. But you can always switch them. But personally, I like passive pickups. They sound more dynamic and pleasant to me.
But don’t get me wrong. These are not bad pickups. They sound great live and can be used for recording. I have done it. But the sound is nothing extraordinary. Of course, Seymour Duncan’s pickups will sound better.
These are very cheap, standard pickups. But I can say that it sounds as good as it was when I bought it. Nothing changed. I live in a very dry area so humidity is not the issue. So, pickups were preserved well.
I think LTD MH-100 QMNT is good for live performances and even for recording. It’s not a beginner guitar but rather for intermediate players. Has a very good clean sound and decent dirty tones.
Playability
The playability is perhaps the best thing about this guitar. Although I mentioned my issue with the neck, it still plays fast and smooth.
The body is very comfortable. Whether you’re playing standing or sitting position, it sits well. Smooth and fast necks make playing easier. Also, extra-jumbo frets are great for bends.
But I will say again that this guitar is made for heavy music. I play different kinds of music from blues to metal and I know it. Playing blues or chords is not as comfortable as playing metal riffs and fast solos.
Also, frets are shorter and you don’t need to stretch your fingers. And playing in the high register, after the 12th fret is also very comfortable. Has a nice cutaway which makes playing easier in the 24th fret.
Conclusion
I have owned LTD MH-100 QMNT guitar for many years and I really love it. I think this is a great guitar for live shows and even for recording. Great as a backup guitar too. It’s a little much for beginners but can be used for that purpose. Build quality is great, hardware works, and sound is pretty decent. If you are looking for an affordable metal guitar that has great playability and decent sound, this is a guitar for you.
Courtesy of https://apartmentrecording.com
As always, great write-up, Adam,
I don’t share the nationalist convictions a lot of my fellow USA musicians seem to have, and have become a big fan of, and even prefer Japanese guitars. I know the LTD’s are not Japanese, but ESP is a Japanese company for all intents and purposes, I have an ESP also. It’s an Edwards 1960 Les Paul replica. A black and gold CD-130. It is absolutely perfect in every way. The workmanship is flawless. I’m looking at some Tokai’s currently — but back to ESP … I think their pointyness turns some people off, but that does not take away that they are built to a high standard across all of their lines. There is a video of their custom shop floating around somewhere, and that is what sealed it for me. It’s only about 18 people who have gone through the whole apprentice to master journey and have at least a decade of experience. Sort of a throwback to the whole old world craftsmanship thing. If there is any negative I can think of, it’s their USA website. A very strange place!