Head to head
ESP E-II SN-III Ht Tiger Eye Sunburst vs Gibson 1958 Mahogany Explorer Reissue, VOS, Antique Natural
Electric$5,499
No ratings yet77Overall / 100
The verdict
The ESP E-II SN-III Ht Tiger Eye Sunburst comes out ahead overall — 82 to 77 on our estimated score.
Estimated from specs & owner reviews — a starting point, not a substitute for playing both.
ESP E-II SN-III Ht Tiger Eye Sunburst wins on
- Better build (97 vs 87)
- Better value (72 vs 67)
- Lower price ($3,369 vs $5,499)
Gibson 1958 Mahogany Explorer Reissue, VOS, Antique Natural wins on
No standout advantage.
Scorecard
| Metric | E-II SN-III Ht Tiger Eye Sunburst | 1958 Mahogany Explorer Reissue, VOS, Antique Natural |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 82 | 77 |
| Build | 97 | 87 |
| Playability | 78 | 75 |
| Sound | 76 | 74 |
| Value | 72 | 67 |
Full specifications
| Spec | E-II SN-III Ht Tiger Eye Sunburst | 1958 Mahogany Explorer Reissue, VOS, Antique Natural |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | ESP | Gibson |
| Type | Electric | Electric |
| Years | — | — |
| Country | JP | US |
| Body wood | Alder | 2-piece Mahogany |
| Neck wood | 3Pc Maple | Mahogany |
| Fretboard | Ebony | Indian Rosewood |
| Strings | 6 | 6 |
| Frets | 22 | 22 |
| Scale | 25.5" | 24.75" |
| Pickups | Fishman Fluence Single Width Black / Fishman Fluence Modern Humbucker Ceramic Black Nickel *(Pull Tone for Voice 2) | Custombucker Alnico 3 (Unpotted) / Custombucker Alnico 3 (Unpotted) |
| Rating | — | — |
| Price | $3,369 | $5,499 |
| Bridge | Hipshot Fixed w/ String Thru | ABR-1 No-Wire |
| Bridge pickup | Fishman Fluence Modern Humbucker Ceramic Black Nickel *(Pull Tone for Voice 2) | Custombucker Alnico 3 (Unpotted) |
| Case | ST-1 Guitar Form Fit Case | Historic Explorer Brown/Pink Hardshell |
| Case Included | Y | — |
| Construction | Bolt-On | — |
| Controls | Active | 2 Volume, 1 Tone, 500K CTS Vintage Taper Potentiometers, Phone Book Capacitor |
| Finish | Tiger Eye Sunburst | Aged Gold |
| Fretboard radius | 305mm | 304.8mm / 12.0in |
| Hardware | Black | — |
| Middle pickup | Fishman Fluence Single Width Black | — |
| Neck pickup | Fishman Fluence Single Width Black | Custombucker Alnico 3 (Unpotted) |
| Neck profile | Thin U | — |
| Nut | Black Bone | Nylon |
| Nut width | 42mm | 42.8mm / 1.69in |
| Scale length | 25.5" | 628.65mm / 24.75in |
| Strap Button | ESP Strap Lock | — |
| Top wood | Flamed Maple | — |
| Tuners | Gotoh Locking | Kluson Single Ring Reissue |
| Body Finish | — | Nitrocellulose VOS (Vintage Patina) |
| Body shape | — | Explorer |
| Body Styles | — | Explorer |
| Control Covers | — | Brown Explorer |
| Control Knobs | — | True Historic Black Top Hat with Dial Pointer |
| Fretboard inlay | — | Cellulose Dot |
| Fret Count | — | 22 |
| Headstock | — | 1958 Explorer |
| Headstock Inlay | — | Gibson Logo in Mother of Pearl |
| Joint | — | Hide Glue Fit |
| Model | — | 58MEXPANVOGH1 |
| Mounting Rings | — | True Historic Black |
| Output Jack | — | 1/4" Switchcraft |
| Pickguard | — | 4-ply White |
| Pickup Covers | — | True Historic Aged Gold |
| Pickup Selector | — | 3-Way Switchcraft |
| Profile | — | 50s Vintage |
| Strap Buttons | — | 2 - Brass |
| String gauges | — | .010, .013, .017, .026, .036, .046 |
| Switch Tip | — | True Historic Amber |
| Tailpiece | — | Lightweight Aluminum Stop Bar |
| Truss rod | — | Authentic 1950s No-Tube |
| Truss Rod Cover | — | True Historic Black |
| Tuner Plating | — | Aged Gold |