Swap
Swap
ESP Bill Kelliher Eclipse
ESP Alex Skolnick FR
VS
Playability
80
Sound
77
Build
74
Value
62
Score
77
FIND IT ON:
Sweetwater logo
Playability
75
Sound
82
Build
77
Value
63
Score
78
FIND IT ON:
Sweetwater logo
Add more to comparison

ESP Bill Kelliher Eclipse vs Alex Skolnick FR

Reasons to Get
ESP Bill Kelliher Eclipse over Alex Skolnick FR

Locking Tuners
Yes vs None
Easier to change strings
Nut Width
1.654'' (42mm) vs 1.693'' (43mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Bridge
Fixed vs Floyd Rose
Good sustain and needs no set-up

Reasons to Get
ESP Alex Skolnick FR over Bill Kelliher Eclipse

Decorative Top
Flamed Maple vs None
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns
Nut Material
Locking vs Graphite
Best tuning stability for intense tremolo usage
Volume Knobs
2 vs 1
More volume control
Nut Width
1.693'' (43mm) vs 1.654'' (42mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Bridge
Floyd Rose vs Fixed
Allows intense vibratos and techniques like Dive Bombs
Value Score
63 vs 62
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
ESP Bill Kelliher Eclipse vs Alex Skolnick FR

Bridge Pickup
Seymour Duncan Distortion SH-6 vs Seymour Duncan AS Signature
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Seymour Duncan Distortion SH-6 vs Seymour Duncan AS Signature
Different Neck Pickup
Neck Wood
Mahogany vs Maple
Different Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Ebony vs Rosewood
Different Fretboard Wood
Nut Material
Graphite vs Locking
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
ESP Bill Kelliher Eclipse vs Alex Skolnick FR

Body Wood
Mahogany
Same Body Wood
Headstock
3-3
Same Headstock
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Switch Positions
3
Same pickups versatility
Tone Knobs
1
Same tone control
Pickups
HH
High output without hum
Number of Frets
22
Same maximum octave
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Scale Length
24.75'' (628.7mm)
Same string tension and fret separation
Fretboard Radius
12'' (304.8mm)
Same fretboard comfortability
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Neck Profile Type
U
Comfortable neck with more grip
Neck Joint
Set
Neck is glued to the body
Type of Frets
XL Jumbo
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

  • Pickup Alter Switch/Knob
  • From a High-Quality-Standards Country
  • Strap Lock
  • Top Pickup Brand
  • Expensive Wood

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Weight Relief
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • High-Quality Frets
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the ESP Alex Skolnick FR is probably the better product overall with its final score of 78 compared to the ESP Bill Kelliher Eclipse's 77 score, although not by a lot.

The ESP Alex Skolnick FR wins when it comes to sound, build quality, value for the money. On the other hand, the ESP Bill Kelliher Eclipse has the upper hand when it comes to playability.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel that the ESP Bill Kelliher Eclipse is easier to play.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the ESP Bill Kelliher Eclipse is the better choice.

The ESP Bill Kelliher Eclipse meets 6 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the ESP Alex Skolnick FR meets only 3. This takes into account the type of frets, scale length, nut width, bridge type, fretboard radius, and neck profile to determine the easiest combination for new players.

New Player Friendliness

ESP Bill Kelliher Eclipse
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Short scale

New Player Friendliness

ESP Alex Skolnick FR
  • Comfortable shape
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners
  • Easy-to-use bridge

Nevertheless, when it comes to choosing an instrument, you should pick the one more compatible with your personal style. Still, below we'll try you to give you our results as objectively as it's possible to help you decide.

ESP Bill Kelliher Eclipse Overview

  • From ESP's 2016 Signature series
  • Bill Kelliher Signature
  • Made in Japan
  • 6 strings
  • 24.75"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Mahogany w/ Maple Cap body
  • Mahogany neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Seymour Duncan Distortion SH-6 (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Seymour Duncan Distortion SH-6 (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Tonepros Locking TOM Bridge & Tailpiece bridge
  • Thin U Set neck
  • 22 XL Jumbo frets
  • Sperzel Locking tuners
  • Compare Specs >

ESP Alex Skolnick FR Overview

  • From ESP's 2016 Signature series
  • Alex Skolnick Signature
  • Made in Japan
  • 6 strings
  • 24.75"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Flamed Maple top
  • Mahogany body
  • 3pc Maple neck
  • Rosewood fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Seymour Duncan AS Signature (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Seymour Duncan AS Signature (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 2 volume and 1 tone Speed knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Floyd Rose Original bridge
  • Custom U Set neck
  • 22 XL Jumbo frets
  • Grover tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Sound Quality Comparison

The wood used in an electric guitar or bass is not as important to determine the final tone. However, some people prefer specific wood types, so we'll take a look at those first. Then, we'll take a look at the electronics to determine the versatility and sound quality of each instrument.

Woods Used in Both

Mahogany wood pattern used for guitar building
Mahogany

Mahogany is a fairly rare wood nowadays. It's used mostly for bodies due to its relatively lightweight. Gibson popularized it with their Les Paul guitars during their golden years, so this wood has a lot of good reputation behind it. The most expensive type comes from South America and it's still used by Gibson even today. Find out more about Mahogany.

Woods Used in the ESP Bill Kelliher Eclipse

Ebony wood pattern used for guitar building
Ebony

Ebony is a high-end wood, so it is not cheap. It's only used for fretboards because it's also very heavy. It does an excellent job as a durable material while looking elegant. Find out more about Ebony.

Woods Used in the ESP Alex Skolnick FR

Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Maple
Rosewood wood pattern used for guitar building
Rosewood

Maple is one of the most popular necks for good reasons. It is a strong wood that is relatively cheap to make and looks beautiful. The highest quality maple is the hardest that comes from North America. Find out more about Maple.

Rosewood is an almost purple-looking wood that is used mainly for fretboards since it's heavy, rare, and expensive. It's sometimes used on acoustic guitar bodies to create stronger warm tones. Find out more about Rosewood.

Winner: Tie.

Pickup Configuration

Both pickup configurations are HH. Double Humbucker (HH) is the choice for people who want a fuller, more round sound with tons of mids and lows. Humbuckers also get rid of the hum noise that plague single-coil pickups. They can work out for almost any genre going from Djent to even Jazz.

Pickups Quality

Both come with very good pickups from at least one of the specialized brands in the market. With pickups like these, you probably won't need an upgrade anytime soon.

You can purchase similar pickups to the ESP Bill Kelliher Eclipse's and use them on any guitar:

Both use Passive pickups. This is what's used for most music genres. They have a regular output and will serve you for both high-gain and clean tones. The alternative (Active pickups) offer a higher output that is mostly used for heavy music.

Winner: Tie.

Versatility Comparison

Some instruments offer you more ways to explore your creativity than others. Below you'll find how both compare when it comes to versatility.

Switch Options

Both are equal when it comes to the pickup switching option.

Both offer you the same type of pickup mod: Coil Split.

Coil Split lets you disconnect one of the pickup coils. When used with humbuckers, it turns them into single-coil with lower output and cleaner tone.

ESP Bill Kelliher Eclipse pickups switch and push knobs diagram
ESP Bill Kelliher Eclipse's switch options
ESP Alex Skolnick FR pickups switch and push knobs diagram
ESP Alex Skolnick FR's switch options

When evaluating versatility, we also take into consideration bridge and neck joint type, number of frets, switch options, amount of pickups and more.

Winner: ESP Alex Skolnick FR.

Final Sound Quality Scores

ESP Bill Kelliher Eclipse
Pickups 90
Sustain 80
Versatility 59
Tuning Stability 80
Sound 77
ESP Alex Skolnick FR
Pickups 90
Sustain 80
Versatility 71
Tuning Stability 85
Sound 82

Build Quality Comparison

When it comes to build quality, we like to take into account everything used to build the instrument. This includes materials, hardware and the quality control expected depending on the country where it was built. Let's see how the ESP Bill Kelliher Eclipse compares to the ESP Alex Skolnick FR.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. Both in this comparison where made in Japan.

Japan has a long history of high-quality guitar building. Little has changed in terms of their manufacturing and quality control over the years. Many guitars made in this country can be compared—and even beat—others made in the US.

Winner: Tie

Nut Material

If you want your guitar to stay in tune and sound good, you need a well cut nut. Nut quality can be inconsistent even when comparing two copies of the same model. The best way to make sure you're nut will be well done is by getting a nut made by an expert company like TUSQ or Micarta.

The ESP Bill Kelliher Eclipse has a Graphite nut. It's a self-lubricating material that will allow the strings to slide over the nut without a lot of friction. It's a good type of nut if you want to have better tuning stability than with plastic, although it's not as resistant as Bone or Tusq.

On the other hand, the ESP Alex Skolnick FR comes with a Locking nut. Instead of a regular nut, this guitar has a locking system that will lock down the strings at the nut, preventing it from getting out of tune. It removes one of the disadvantages of tremolo bridges, tune stability.

Winner: ESP Alex Skolnick FR.

Fret Material

Most fret wire is made of nickel silver. This material eventually wears down after a lot of use and most instruments end up needing a complete fret replacement. However, some expensive models come with stainless steel frets. This is what you should aim for if you can afford it.

Unfortunately, none of them come with stainless steel frets.

Winner: Tie.

Bridge

The perfect bridge for you will depend on your playstyle because they all have advantages and disadvantages. However, some bridges are more expensive—like Floyd Roses and Evertunes—and thus add more value to a guitar.

The ESP Bill Kelliher Eclipse's brige is a Fixed. It's a simple bridge that is very beginner-friendly since it doesn't require any set-up. You can swap strings easily. It might also give more sustain since it doesn't have complex moving parts that make the strings lose vibration. However, it doesn't have the same versatility as a tremolo bridge.

On the other hand, the ESP Alex Skolnick FR's is a Floyd Rose. This is a double-locking bridge system that allows you to perform techniques like dive bombs and pinch harmonics. The locking nut allows your guitar to stay in tune even after the most intense tremolo usage. The disadvantage is that it takes more work to change the strings and set up everything correctly.

Since we need to be objective, the most expensive type of bridge will be the winner of this section. In the end, this doesn't matter if you're not going to use the bridge for its original purpose, so choose the bridge that fits your playing style better.

Winner: ESP Alex Skolnick FR.

Tuners

The ESP Bill Kelliher Eclipse has the best tuners of the two because they are locking tuners. They'll help to keep your guitar in tune because they allow you to tune it without wrapping the strings around the posts. This avoids variations in the tuning due to the strings changing position at the post after a bend. They come at the disadvantage of being slightly heavier than regular tuners. Also, it makes it a lot easier to restring.

Nevertheless, the ESP Alex Skolnick FR has a locking nut, so it should have even better tune stability and doesn't need locking tuners.

Winner: ESP Bill Kelliher Eclipse.

Neck Joint

Contrary to popular belief, the difference in sustain and tone that some neck joints give to a guitar is simply unperceivable—if they're all well built. However, some of them do have advantages over the others.

Both have a Set neck joint. This neck is tightly glued to the body. They give you the least versatility because you can't swap them for a neck that fits your hand better if you want to, unlike bolt-on necks. Some people think this gives more resonance and sustain, but there's no real difference if the bolt-on joint is well built.

Winner: Tie.

Here is the list of features that were considered when choosing the winner in the Features subcategory:

Strengths & Weaknesses
ESP Bill Kelliher Eclipse
  • Locking Tuners
  • Made in Japan
  • Expensive Wood
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Coil Split Pickups
  • Strap Lock
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No High-Quality Nut
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
Strengths & Weaknesses
ESP Alex Skolnick FR
  • Made in Japan
  • Expensive Wood
  • Locking Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Coil Split Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • Retainer Bar
  • Strap Lock
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio

Final Build Quality Scores

ESP Bill Kelliher Eclipse
Quality of materials 51
Features 70
Quality Control 100
Build Quality 74
ESP Alex Skolnick FR
Quality of materials 55
Features 75
Quality Control 100
Build Quality 77

Playability Comparison

Let's now compare their playability. Bear in mind that the instrument will feel different depending on your hand size and play style. That's why you should always test before buying. But if you can't or want a second opinion on it, we can still take a look at each of the important measurements of the instrument for you. This way, we can predict how easy a guitar might be to play, or how different it will feel compared to the other.

Remember that, even though the difference might seem small, every inch counts when it comes to feeling of the instrument in your hands. Any variation can completely change how comfortable a guitar feels in your hands.

Nut Width

ESP Bill Kelliher Eclipse Nut Width
ESP Bill Kelliher Eclipse Nut Width
ESP Alex Skolnick FR Nut Width
ESP Alex Skolnick FR Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the ESP Alex Skolnick FR has the wider nut with 43mm (1.693'') vs 42mm (1.654''). This is a 1mm (0.039'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the ESP Alex Skolnick FR, especially closer to the nut. However, it's also easier to play without muting strings accidently. This favors people with big hands.

Scale Length

ESP Bill Kelliher Eclipse and ESP Alex Skolnick FR's Scale Length
Both have the same scale length

The scale length is one of the things that influences playability the most. This is the distance between the nut and the bridge and will affect everything from low action allowance, difficulty to perform bends, fret separation, and even tone.

In this case, both have a scale length of 24.75".

This is the scale length that Gibson uses for most of its Les Paul guitars. It's a smaller scale than the typical Stratocaster's 25.5''. Short scale lengths like this make it easier to bend the strings, which is pretty important if you have a fixed bridge. They also have a shorter fret separation, which makes it easier to change position fast at the fretboard.

On the other hand, a shorter scale like this one will make fret buzz more likely, which can affect you if you want to use thicker string gauges.

Lastly, remember that you can also affect the tension of the strings by changing your string gauge. You can use a thicker gauge for more tension and a lighter one for less tension.

Neck Profile

ESP Bill Kelliher Eclipse Neck Profile
ESP Bill Kelliher Eclipse's neck profile
ESP Alex Skolnick FR Neck Profile
ESP Alex Skolnick FR's neck profile

No single neck shape is better than others. However, most people tend to prefer a thinner necks because it doesn't get in their way when playing fast and most hand sizes can adapt to it pretty well. However, some people still prefer thicker necks for a better grip, especially if they have big hands.

Both the ESP Bill Kelliher Eclipse and the ESP Alex Skolnick FR have a U-shaped neck. This is also referred to as ''baseball neck'' because of its shape. It's usually thick, which is why some people with big hands like it. However, they can also be thin, similar to a C shape, but with more shoulders for a better grip.

Fretboard Radius

ESP Bill Kelliher Eclipse Fingerboard Radius
Both Guitars Have The Same Fretboard Radius

Most guitar fretboards are not flat; they usually have a curve or arc across their width. A curved fretboard will make it easier to perform chords without muting strings, while a flatter one will make it easier to play single notes, which is good for bending and soloing in general. The best fretboards have a compound radius that varies across the fingerboard, but they're not common since they take a lot more work to build.

Both the ESP Bill Kelliher Eclipse and the ESP Alex Skolnick FR have the same fretboard radius of 12". This is the radius used in most Gibson guitars. It gives you a good balance for playing chords without muting, but also good comfortability for playing single notes and bending.

Hand Size Comfortability

Everyone has a different hand size, and that's why it's recommended to try a guitar before buying, even if others tell you that it's comfortable to play. However, we can know whether a guitar favors small or large hands just by knowing its exact measurements.

And after taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that the ESP Alex Skolnick FR favors large hands more than the ESP Bill Kelliher Eclipse.

ESP Bill Kelliher Eclipse:
Big Hands
Small Hands
ESP Alex Skolnick FR:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

ESP Bill Kelliher Eclipse and ESP Alex Skolnick FR Frets Size
Both have a similar XL Jumbo fret size

Both have a XL Jumbo fret size. These are really tall frets made like this so you don't meet any resistance when playing techniques like vibrato, bending, tapping, etc. They should make the guitar easier to play, but you have to be careful not to get the notes out of pitch by pressing down too hard, which might happen since the fretboard will be too low to stop your hand.

Final Playability Scores

ESP Bill Kelliher Eclipse
Bending & Vibrato Ease 95
Chord Playability 75
Solo Playability 70
Playability 80
ESP Alex Skolnick FR
Bending & Vibrato Ease 90
Chord Playability 65
Solo Playability 70
Playability 75

Specs Side-by-Side

ESP Bill Kelliher Eclipse vs Alex Skolnick FR
General ESP Bill Kelliher Eclipse Alex Skolnick FR
Brand: ESP ESP
Year: 2016 2016
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: Japan Japan
Series: Signature Signature
Colors: Military Green Sunburst Satin Black Aqua Sunburst
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Mahogany w/ Maple Cap Mahogany
Bridge: Tonepros Locking TOM Bridge & Tailpiece Floyd Rose Original
Neck
Neck Joint: Set Set
Tuners: Sperzel Locking Grover
Fretboard: Ebony Rosewood
Neck Material: Mahogany 3pc Maple
Decoration: Flags Blocks
Scale Size: 24.75" 24.75"
Shape: Thin U Custom U
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.787'' (20mm) - 12th Fret: 0.866'' (22mm) 1st Fret: - 12th Fret:
Frets: 22 XL Jumbo Nickel Silver 22 XL Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" 12"
Nut: Graphite Locking
Nut Width: 42mm (1.654'') 43mm (1.693'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Seymour Duncan Distortion SH-6 (Humbucker / Passive) Seymour Duncan AS Signature (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Seymour Duncan Distortion SH-6 (Humbucker / Passive) Seymour Duncan AS Signature (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Dome Speed
Pickup Mods: Coil Split Coil Split
Volume Controls: 1 2
Tone Controls: 1 1