Head to head
ESP M-II Ctm Fr Black Aqua C-Burst vs Gibson Adam Jones 1979 V2 Les Paul Custom (Aged & Signed), Antique Silverburst

Electric$9,999
No ratings yet76Overall / 100
The verdict
The ESP M-II Ctm Fr Black Aqua C-Burst comes out ahead overall — 85 to 76 on our estimated score.
Estimated from specs & owner reviews — a starting point, not a substitute for playing both.
ESP M-II Ctm Fr Black Aqua C-Burst wins on
- Better build (98 vs 91)
- Better playability (81 vs 75)
- Better sound (82 vs 68)
- Better value (75 vs 66)
- Lower price ($7,799 vs $9,999)
Gibson Adam Jones 1979 V2 Les Paul Custom (Aged & Signed), Antique Silverburst wins on
No standout advantage.
Scorecard
| Metric | M-II Ctm Fr Black Aqua C-Burst | Adam Jones 1979 V2 Les Paul Custom (Aged & Signed), Antique Silverburst |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 85 | 76 |
| Build | 98 | 91 |
| Playability | 81 | 75 |
| Sound | 82 | 68 |
| Value | 75 | 66 |
Full specifications
| Spec | M-II Ctm Fr Black Aqua C-Burst | Adam Jones 1979 V2 Les Paul Custom (Aged & Signed), Antique Silverburst |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | ESP | Gibson |
| Type | Electric | Electric |
| Years | — | — |
| Country | JP | US |
| Body wood | Honduras Mahogany | Solid Mahogany |
| Neck wood | 3Pc Maple | 3-piece Maple |
| Fretboard | Ebony | Ebony |
| Strings | 6 | 6 |
| Frets | 24 | 22 |
| Scale | 25.5" | 24.75" |
| Pickups | EMG 66TW Brushed Black Chrome Direct Mount *(Pull Tone for Single Coil Mode) / EMG 57TW Brushed Black Chrome Direct Mount *(Pull Volume for Single Coil Mode) | Custombucker Reverse-Mounted / Custom-Wound Seymour Duncan DDJ |
| Rating | — | — |
| Price | $7,799 | $9,999 |
| Bridge | Floyd Rose Original | Tune-O-Matic |
| Bridge pickup | EMG 57TW Brushed Black Chrome Direct Mount *(Pull Volume for Single Coil Mode) | Custom-Wound Seymour Duncan DDJ |
| Case | MH Guitar Form Fit Case | Hardshell Case |
| Case Included | Y | — |
| Coa | Y | — |
| Construction | Set-Thru | — |
| Controls | Volume(Push/Pull)/Tone(Push/Pull)/3-way Switch | 2 Volume, 2 Tone; 1 DiMarzio 500 k Volume Pot (Bridge), and 3 CTS Pots, .047uF Orange Drop Capacitors |
| Finish | Black Aqua C-Burst | Lightly Aged Chrome |
| Fretboard radius | 305mm | 304.8mm / 12.0in |
| Hardware | Black Nickel | — |
| Neck pickup | EMG 66TW Brushed Black Chrome Direct Mount *(Pull Tone for Single Coil Mode) | Custombucker Reverse-Mounted |
| Neck profile | Thin U | — |
| Nut | Locking | Bone |
| Nut width | 42mm | 42.86mm / 1.69in |
| Scale length | 25.5" | 628.65mm / 24.75in |
| Strap Button | ESP Strap Lock | — |
| Top wood | Solid Flamed Maple | 2-Piece Plain Maple |
| Tuners | Gotoh Locking | Schaller M6 with Large Buttons |
| Accessories | — | Adam Jones Headstock Mirror, Certificate of Authenticity |
| Binding | — | 7-ply Top, 5-ply Back and Headstock |
| Body Finish | — | Murphy Lab Aged Nitrocellulose Lacquer |
| Body shape | — | Les Paul |
| Body Styles | — | Les Paul |
| Control Covers | — | Black |
| Control Knobs | — | Black Speed Knobs |
| Fretboard inlay | — | Mother of Pearl Block |
| Fret Count | — | 22 |
| Headstock | — | Gibson Les Paul Custom, 5-ply White / Black Binding, Custom-Designed Artwork on Back, Numbered and Signed by Adam Jones |
| Headstock Inlay | — | Closed B & O Gibson logo, and Custom Split Diamond, both in Mother of Pearl |
| Jack Plate Cover | — | Chrome |
| Joint | — | Hide Glue Fit |
| Model | — | LPC79AJ2VASVSBCH1 |
| Mounting Rings | — | Black |
| Output Jack | — | 1/4" Switchcraft |
| Pickguard | — | None |
| Pickup Covers | — | Neck: Chrome, Bridge: None |
| Pickup Selector | — | 3-Way Switchcraft |
| Profile | — | Medium C |
| Strap Buttons | — | Diamond-Shaped |
| String gauges | — | .010, .013, .017, .026, .036, .046 |
| Switch Tip | — | Chrome |
| Switchwasher | — | Thick Black |
| Tailpiece | — | Stop Bar |
| Truss rod | — | Adjustable |
| Truss Rod Cover | — | 70s Custom |
| Tuner Plating | — | Lightly Aged Chrome |
| Weight Relief | — | None |
