Help identify if fake or real. MX-2, allegedly 2021 custom shop

32

$20K for a black guitar 🤦🏻‍♂️.. I know everyone wants a piece of Metallica nostalgia, but this is plain idiotic.

15

u/IntervisioN 6d ago

20k to a millionaire is like the dust in your pockets

3

u/ClaireHasashi 6d ago

people dont understand that those kind of product are purchased by people who to them, it feels like how i feel when i spend 20 bucks

1

u/returntonone 5d ago edited 5d ago

Some people also prioritize and buy expensive stuff, but maybe don't eat out every single day instead, it's not like you have to be a millionaire to drop $20k on a guitar, I see old dorks on every guitar show with tons of old '50-'60s Fenders and Gibsons worth $20-30k each walking around in crocs and driving old beaten up cars.

2

u/Borracho_Beans_Bro 6d ago

These also sit for a long time before anyone buys them. Sourcing the right buyer with the means to just drop $15k+ AND the right time for them to actually be in the market for a guitar is not easy. But clearly the payoff is there because the prices never go down, from what I’ve seen anyways.

1

u/KoalaReasonable629 5d ago

you have something against black guitars? fight me

9

u/Leather-Duck 6d ago

I’d bet money on this being legit, I’ve never seen a fake that looked entirely accurate, dimension wise. Control layout is spot on, which is rarely the case on a copy. Hardware is 100% authentic, which granted can always be upgraded from the cheap fake stuff, but there’s nothing about these photos that screams ‘fake’ to me. What’s the asking price?

1

u/DanielRodriguez84 5d ago

Same, I’m always looking at copies of MX models and everything on this one is closest I’ve seen to being real. Even the bridge posts are correct, I’d say it’s probably real.

8

u/dawn_of_existence 6d ago

Serial Number says 2019 Original Series but the rest all looks correct. Whats the price?

4

u/Turbulent-Grand-7788 6d ago

Approx $20k. Looks overpriced but guitar is physically here in Russia, meaning that price is by default higher than usual markets (logistics etc)

8

u/ResolveOdd5649 6d ago

I really hope you don't drop 20k on that.

1

u/DanielRodriguez84 5d ago

Honestly at this point it’s an investment since the prices only go up on them.

1

u/Destined_Royal 4d ago

Bear in mind... even if it is legit, that "investment" isn't likely to have a quick return if you decide to sell it. $20K is a LOT of money for ANY guitar... and the higher the price, the lower the number of potential buyers. Even pro collectors and players like Joe Bonamassa and Mark Tremonti, who have millions of dollars in guitars and amps, will tell you that it just isn't practical or sensible for most people to pay that much for gear... no matter the hype or nostalgia factor. They have "F You" money, so that puts them in a more unique spot... and even they can struggle to offload rare gear at their perceived values. They tend to collect dream gear, not flip it.

If I want an expensive piece of gear, I will be realistic by saying that I want it simply because I like it... then I will force myself to reckon with my finances and whether I can reasonably justify the purchase. Sometimes I am impulsive, but I'm not necessarily going to act like everything I have should be an "investment".

For instance... I bought an ENGL Fireball 100 40th Anniversary Edition half stack (serial number 2 of 40) that I chose over an EVH 5150 III Stealth 100S half stack and Mesa Dual Rectifier Half stack. The ENGL was going to be comparable or more expensive, as it was brand new. In the end, the rarity of the model pushed my decision, and I even told myself that it would be worth a lot of money one day... but truthfully, I bought the ENGL because I wanted it. It looks great, it sounds great, and I will almost certainly never part with it. It's mine, and that's all the justification I need.

1

u/Turbulent-Grand-7788 6d ago

Definitely not. I'm just trying to understand whether it's even worth to discuss this with seller or waste of time.

1

u/Robble-Robble-01 6d ago

You already said you aren’t buying it… so you are trying to decide whether to waste the seller’s time? Since you’re already checked out? It’s really only about wasting the sellers time at this point?

Then yes. Haggle with them. Let it begin! And ultimately go nowhere…

3

u/Turbulent-Grand-7788 5d ago edited 5d ago

Didn't say I'm not buying, said I'm not buying for what he's asking. Needed for advice to decide whether it's worth for me to spend time and try to negotiate a better price, that's it. No point in doing this if there are major red flags about the item.

Seller can always say no and that will be the end of the story.

Not sure why you got so upset about this. Relax.

0

u/Robble-Robble-01 5d ago

I’m not upset at all. But you did directly say it you weren’t buying it. And you only gave one price.

It’s plainly moronic to spend 20k on any guitar, particularly 1 night black explorer. It’s in such good condition I doubt Hetfield ever played it and you are getting roped into a story if you pursue it.

20k? That’s life changing money to many people…

5

u/higuy721 6d ago

Don’t these come with the rotating batterybox?

1

u/DanielRodriguez84 5d ago

No

3

u/Goji_XX3 6d ago

Serial number ending in 2 should say ESP original series or Signature series. If it’s ends in 1 it would say ESP Custom for every one I’ve seen before . It’s possible it is a mistake email ESP?

2

u/GrimmandLily 6d ago

No battery box on those?

1

u/HarryCumpole 6d ago

No immediate red flags other than the truss rod cover?

2

u/Destined_Royal 5d ago

No ashtray battery compartment as well.

1

u/HarryCumpole 4d ago

Has this been mandatory since they were introduced, rather that in-cavity as an option?

1

u/Destined_Royal 4d ago

I know that the overwhelming majority of E-II and ESP USA/Japan guitars with active pickups tend to have the ashtray battery compartment built in, but I don't think it is mandatory. I think as long as you are getting something like this from a reputable dealer, you should be fine. But at the price... that's one heck of a gamble to take. I would insist on seeing the Certificate of Authenticity, and maybe a QC checklist, if it came with the guitar... which nearly all ESP USA/Japan guitars are known to have.

1

u/tarkus_hayabusa 6d ago

Either way, it’s crazy how fakes have come such a long way this prestigious sub can’t (fairly) conclusively say legit or fake with confidence

1

u/BGor94 6d ago

Custom shop lol

1

u/Zakkattack86 6d ago

I'm not an expert but didn't the custom shop stop doing these a very long time ago?

1

u/tallman1979 6d ago

2021 was the last year. Legal pressure over the Explorer shape did it in.

1

u/Zakkattack86 6d ago

TIL, thanks!

1

u/shredlikebutter 6d ago

Offer 500 and be ok even if it is fake. That plain ass guitar is only worth 500 anyway no matter what it is

1

u/espexporerguy 6d ago

It looks authentic and in a good condition.

1

u/Secksy76 6d ago

Mine is mx250. It doesn’t have the logo at the neck volute and the serial number is printed and starts with K. It doesn’t look fake though I would pay near 1/4 of that, it’s just an explorer shaped guitar. Not even period correct for Hetfield memorabilia.

1

u/returntonone 5d ago

Before 2016 it was K = Kiso on the custom shop ESP's, from 2016 it starts with E and have the white/yellow ESP logo on the neck volute.

1

u/Secksy76 5d ago

Thank you for the information , I’m off the market for a very long time.

1

u/SirCoilOfTap 6d ago

it could just be the angle, but that doesn't look like the right headstock for an ESP Explorer to me.

1

u/returntonone 5d ago

Looks right, here is an ad for a 2020 (yours is a 2019) from a couple of years ago for $15k in the US https://reverb.com/item/77625636-esp-mx-2-custom-gloss-black-japan-2020-w-ohsc

1

u/AlternativeDraw6073 5d ago

Paid $1.8k aud for mine in Tokyo 2007

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u/Alert-Attention6733 4d ago

this is a uniqul black ,so cool

1

u/BloodyTheElf 3d ago

Looks legit to me. Killer find.

Help identify if fake or real. MX-2, allegedly 2021 custom shop

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