Head to head
ESP M-II Ctm Fr Black Aqua C-Burst vs Gibson LE 1954 Les Paul Custom Reissue with Humbucker, Heavy Aged, Ebony
Electric$9,499
No ratings yet75Overall / 100
The verdict
The ESP M-II Ctm Fr Black Aqua C-Burst comes out ahead overall — 85 to 75 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 87)
- Better playability (81 vs 75)
- Better sound (82 vs 68)
- Better value (75 vs 65)
- Lower price ($7,799 vs $9,499)
Gibson LE 1954 Les Paul Custom Reissue with Humbucker, Heavy Aged, Ebony wins on
No standout advantage.
Scorecard
| Metric | M-II Ctm Fr Black Aqua C-Burst | LE 1954 Les Paul Custom Reissue with Humbucker, Heavy Aged, Ebony |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 85 | 75 |
| Build | 98 | 87 |
| Playability | 81 | 75 |
| Sound | 82 | 68 |
| Value | 75 | 65 |
Full specifications
| Spec | M-II Ctm Fr Black Aqua C-Burst | LE 1954 Les Paul Custom Reissue with Humbucker, Heavy Aged, Ebony |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | ESP | Gibson |
| Type | Electric | Electric |
| Years | — | — |
| Country | JP | US |
| Body wood | Honduras Mahogany | Mahogany |
| Neck wood | 3Pc Maple | Mahogany |
| 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) | Custom Staple / Custombucker Alnico 3 |
| Rating | — | — |
| Price | $7,799 | $9,499 |
| Bridge | Floyd Rose Original | ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic |
| Bridge pickup | EMG 57TW Brushed Black Chrome Direct Mount *(Pull Volume for Single Coil Mode) | Custombucker Alnico 3 |
| Case | MH Guitar Form Fit Case | Custom Shop Hardshell |
| Case Included | Y | — |
| Coa | Y | — |
| Construction | Set-Thru | — |
| Controls | Volume(Push/Pull)/Tone(Push/Pull)/3-way Switch | 2 volume, 2 tone |
| Finish | Black Aqua C-Burst | Gold |
| Fretboard radius | 305mm | 12 in. | 304.8 mm |
| Hardware | Black Nickel | — |
| Neck pickup | EMG 66TW Brushed Black Chrome Direct Mount *(Pull Tone for Single Coil Mode) | Custom Staple |
| Neck profile | Thin U | — |
| Nut | Locking | Nylon |
| Nut width | 42mm | — |
| Scale length | 25.5" | 628.65mm / 24.75in |
| Strap Button | ESP Strap Lock | — |
| Top wood | Solid Flamed Maple | — |
| Tuners | Gotoh Locking | Kluson Waffleback |
| Accessories | — | Certificate of Authenticity Booklet, Historic Reissue Hang Tags |
| Binding | — | Multi-ply top and back |
| Body Finish | — | Heavy Aged nitrocellulose lacquer |
| Body shape | — | Les Paul |
| Control Knobs | — | Black Top Hats |
| Fretboard inlay | — | Block |
| Fret Count | — | 22 |
| Joint | — | Long neck tenon |
| Model | — | LPB5426LE23255 |
| Output Jack | — | 1/4" |
| Pickup Covers | — | Soapbar and Zebra |
| Pickup Selector | — | 3-way toggle |
| Plastic Parts | — | Black |
| Profile | — | 1950s Chunky D |
| String gauges | — | .010, .013, .017, .026, .036, .046 |
| Tailpiece | — | Stop Bar |
| Weight Relief | — | None |