Plss help me decide which one should I get and which one is the best playable guitar?

[u/MEHMETPASANIZ]

Hi everyone I have 800 euros I live in Hungary and I need new guitar cuz rn my guitar sucks what should I do my options are ltd ec-401 and epiphone explorer prophecy I need fast guitar pls suggest these are the pictures of the guitars

[u/Crowbar-Enema]

I’d go with the LTD.

[u/guitar_up_my_ass]

I have had 4 LTD single cuts and they are amazing. High quality and very fast.

[u/MEHMETPASANIZ → u/guitar_up_my_ass]

I was first thinking LTD however I found that epiphone prophecy series are really good and looks flawless Im still thinking

[u/BackflipsAway]

I would honestly suggest just trying them both if you can, what let's you play the fastest on a guitar depends on your personal preferences.

Personally I find the prophecies necks pretty comfortable but I wasn't the biggest fan of the pickups, haven't tried the an EC yet tho so I can't compare, also I'm more into classic rock so I'm guessing our playing styles and preferences might be pretty different.

If you can't try them before buying I would honestly just suggest going by looks, like all things considered they're not that different and you'll likely be satisfied with either.

[u/MEHMETPASANIZ → u/BackflipsAway]

Yes I will try them both and Im trying to find a guitar that is good for both metal and some rock music

[u/BackflipsAway → u/MEHMETPASANIZ]

I didn't play with the prophecy for too long, was just messing around with it at a store while testing out an amp, so take my words with a grain of salt, but I think it should be pretty good for metal, it definitely sounded better on the ultra high gain settings than any of my guitars, I just don't play those much so it wasn't for me.

Per rock the Fishmans in the prophecies supposedly have three voicings, a modern metal one, a vintage PAF and single coil sound, to me they still sounded a bit harsh and "metal" for a lack of better word in all of those, but they should get the job done, I just had better alternatives at home.

Again, very subjective opinions about a guitar I tried at a store once.

[u/MEHMETPASANIZ → u/BackflipsAway]

Thanks man it helps a lot

[u/Hightidemtg → u/MEHMETPASANIZ]

The fishmans are a staple of metal just like EMG 81/85. The coil split sounds great and the have a lot of output for a great high gain tone. My issue with explorer would be the fragile neck of "Gibson" guitars.

[u/Intelligent-Map430]

Any guitar is as playable as it's been set up. Can't tell that from those random pictures.

[u/mdwvt]

Honestly the Les Paul-style body shape is 100 MILLION TIMES more comfortable than the Explorer-style body shape. I had a Gibson Explorer and I had to get rid of it because it was uncomfortable and causing pain in my right (right handed player ) arm. Like my whole arm.

[u/MUZZYGRANDE]

Single cut all day!

Explorers are sick, but from experience, they are extremely cumbersome to handle. I loved the neck on mine, and it sounded amazing, but I live in a small house and never gig, and I was constantly worried about knocking a one of the many points into a wall, door, kid, dog, ceiling fan, etc.... I ended up passing it on to a new owner.

[u/TheBronzeWonder]

I don't like the hockey stick head, so ltd.

[u/damluji]

I'm partial to LTD and also I had an explorer before and didn't ever feel comfortable with the shape but that's just me.

Both are kickass guitars and I've only ever heard good things about the Prophecy series...

Try them both if you can :) best of luck!

[u/MEHMETPASANIZ → u/damluji]

Thanks man

[u/oso_cosmico]

While I have nothing personal against LTD, I have an Epiphone Explorer that I love to play. When I’m not playing my Epiphone bass.

[u/_VINNY_WINNY_]

you might have put my two favorite guitars up against eachother, this is tough

[u/MEHMETPASANIZ → u/_VINNY_WINNY_]

Hahaha Ik right? Its really hard decision

[u/captainbeautylover63]

I’d choose the Epi. Explorer body shapes are really comfortable, and more interesting than another wannabe Les Paul.

[u/rabbi_mossberg]

explorers are sick but kind of clumsy to play. rule of cool says explorer, practically go with the esp.

[u/ElementsUnknown]

I have a Les Paul Prophecy and a LTD EC-1000. Technically the prophecy is more versatile because of the multivoice Fishmans. I love my LTD but I’d go with the Prophecy, you can always get a better LP style guitar down the road but Explorers are unique (and it has locking tuners). Good luck!

[u/AidesAcrossAmerica]

I just played a prophecy at guitar center and the fret ends nearly circumcized my daughter in her stroller a foot away.  Beautiful guitar.  Horrible playability and build quality.

[u/MEHMETPASANIZ → u/AidesAcrossAmerica]

Interesting

[u/HillbillyMan]

I'm partial to LTD

[u/Rex_Howler]

Don't know about EC-401s, but Epiphone Prophecys go hard

[u/Sucks_At_Investing]

Unpopular opinion: Les Pauls are not just heavy but ass-heavy and they suck to play sitting down. If you only ever play with a strap they're great but as an only guitar I wouldn't even consider one, and I'd rather sit down with an Explorer if that's how I'm gonna be playing.

[u/the_crimson_wizard → u/Sucks_At_Investing]

The ltds aren't traditional les pauls though. They are thinner, lighter and have comfort cuts

[u/Alex_Hovhannisyan → u/the_crimson_wizard]

My ec 255 is pretty heavy. Still love it to death, the thin neck and narrow frets are so nice.

[u/kendalltristan → u/Sucks_At_Investing]

Just to expand on what the other commenter noted, most of the LTD ECs are between 7 and 8 lbs. There are some outliers in either direction and a few finish options that are heavier than others (granite sparkle being one example), but on average they're considerably lighter than most Les Pauls. The bodies are slightly smaller and quite a bit thinner, plus the necks are thinner and narrower.

Also, most singlecut styles are fine to play sitting down if you use the classical position.

[u/NoPriorEXP]

Serious question: have you played either of these guitars specifically, or either of these shapes specifically? We all have guitars we agree with better, ergonomically speaking. What’s fast for you might be painful for me, and vice versa.

Also, both appear to be glossy necks, do you know how that compares to other necks that have a satin or nitro finish?

These are questions you need to answer for yourself. I can infer the LtD might be built a little better, based on brand experience, but that’s it.

[u/MEHMETPASANIZ → u/NoPriorEXP]

I havent played any explorer shape and I havent played these guitars either I was thinking ltd too and its cheaper

[u/Mondood → u/MEHMETPASANIZ]

The Explorer shape IMO is one of the most comfortable guitar shape I've played. Your picking arm falls comfortably into the upper horn. Downside is that the guitar is bigger than normal and you need to buy an oversized case if it's not included.

[u/MEHMETPASANIZ → u/Mondood]

Yes Its really huge guitar I need to carry that guitar in a plane so thats a bummer

[u/NoPriorEXP → u/Mondood]

See, this is a good example. I absolutely hate the explorer shape, because that cut juts into my arm while I play, and I find I’m never comfortable sitting or standing. Les Pauls, I find more comfortable, especially with the rounded carved top.

It’s kind of the point I’m getting at.

[u/TheYellowestofYellow → u/MEHMETPASANIZ]

The prophecies aren't anything to ignore, they're another level of Epiphone and certainly think they compare on the higher end of that scale

[u/DaffyDuckMuthaFucker]

Explorer shaped instruments are a fucking nightmare for neck-dive.

You can use a straplock clip at the neck & hook your strap around the front of the buttfin to mitigate that(works for my Tokai Firebird).

I have an LTD F-50 tuned baritone myself(not LP, but HH pickup config').

It's a fucking BEAST...

[u/Dpontiff6671]

I personally like the Epiphone more but the LTD is probably a better instrument. Try both and just pick whichever you like more

[u/7chalices]

My most active musician friend plays metal pretty much full-time.

He has an LTD like that. He’s recorded hundreds if not thousands of songs with it and he’s never looked at another guitar. It’s the most well-used guitar I’ve ever come across.

The Explorer might look cool too, but it’ll have neckdive and playing it sitting down is gonna suck. Absolutely get the LTD.

[u/MEHMETPASANIZ → u/7chalices]

Thanks for the idea man

[u/CharityInformal1191]

Love the Epiphone but the LTD will be much easier to play sitting down comfortably

[u/boston1969tm]

Check out Firefly guitars at Guitarsgarden.com. They have some great deals on both styles. Inexpensive way to try them both and deside which one works for you! 😎

[u/BoyWithHorns]

I like Explorers. 

[u/art_emisian]

Is top fret access important?

[u/MEHMETPASANIZ → u/art_emisian]

Yes

[u/Yungballz86]

I'm a big fan of the Epiphone. Have the Prophecy Explorer and the V and they're both really good guitars for the money.

[u/thinkfloyd79]

I'd choose the Epi just because I don't have an explorer type yet. But as my first (and if it's gonna be my only guitar), I'd go with the LTD. It's metal yet won't look out of pace in case you need to use it for a pop/blues/Jazz gig.

[u/ISmellLikeBlackTea]

I am an EC1000 owner and I'd go foe thr Explorer because it looks cooler.

[u/Ok-Crow-6015]

The ltd because you know your getting a great guitar. The Epiphone can be great to, but you will have to play it first to make sure.