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ESP LTD EX-200
Gibson Les Paul Special Tribute P-90
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Playability
80
Sound
64
Build
54
Value
71
Score
66
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Playability
73
Sound
72
Build
64
Value
70
Score
70
FIND IT ON:
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LTD EX-200 vs Gibson Les Paul Special Tribute P-90

Reasons to Get
LTD EX-200 over Gibson Les Paul Special Tribute P-90

Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Type of Frets
XL Jumbo vs Medium Jumbo
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Neck Profile
Thin U vs Rounded
Comfortable neck with more grip
Pickups
HH vs P90P90
High output without hum
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.787'' (20mm) vs 0.82'' (20.8mm)
More comfortable open chords for small hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.866'' (22mm) vs 0.97'' (24.6mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for small hands
Nut Width
1.654'' (42mm) vs 1.693'' (43mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Fretboard Radius
13.78'' (350mm) vs 12'' (304.8mm)
Flatter fretboard makes it easier to play single notes and bend
Value Score
71 vs 70
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Gibson Les Paul Special Tribute P-90 over ESP LTD EX-200

Country of Manufacturing
United States vs Indonesia
Built with higher quality standards
Release Year
2019 vs 2014
From a more recent year
Type of Frets
Medium Jumbo vs XL Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Neck Profile
Rounded vs Thin U
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Pickups Brand
Gibson vs None
Pickups from a renown brand
Nut Material
Ivory Tusq vs Plastic
Resistant, good tuning stability and rich tone
Volume Knobs
2 vs 1
More volume control
Tone Knobs
2 vs 1
More tone control
Pickups
P90P90 vs HH
Vintage tone with decent versatility
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.82'' (20.8mm) vs 0.787'' (20mm)
More comfortable open chords for big hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.97'' (24.6mm) vs 0.866'' (22mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for big hands
Nut Width
1.693'' (43mm) vs 1.654'' (42mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Fretboard Radius
12'' (304.8mm) vs 13.78'' (350mm)
More curved fretboard helpful to play chords without muting strings

Other Key Differences
LTD EX-200 vs Gibson Les Paul Special Tribute P-90

Bridge Pickup
ESP Designed LH-150B vs Gibson P-90
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
ESP Designed LH-150N vs Gibson P-90
Different Neck Pickup
Fretboard Wood
Jatoba vs Rosewood
Different Fretboard Wood
Headstock
6 vs 3-3
Different Headstock
Nut Material
Plastic vs Ivory Tusq
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
LTD EX-200 vs Gibson Les Paul Special Tribute P-90

Body Wood
Mahogany
Same Body Wood
Neck Wood
Maple
Same Neck Wood
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Switch Positions
3
Same pickups versatility
Number of Frets
22
Same maximum octave
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Bridge
Fixed
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Scale Length
24.75'' (628.7mm)
Same string tension and fret separation
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Neck Joint
Set
Neck is glued to the body

Common Strengths

  • Expensive Wood

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Pickup Alter Switch/Knob
  • Weight Relief
  • Locking Tuners
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • High-Quality Frets
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • Strap Lock
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

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Gibson Les Paul Special Tribute P-90 Prices

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Gibson Les Paul Special Tribute P-90 is probably the better product overall with its final score of 70 compared to the ESP LTD EX-200's 66 score, although not by a lot.

The Gibson Les Paul Special Tribute P-90 wins when it comes to sound, build quality. On the other hand, the ESP LTD EX-200 has the upper hand when it comes to playability, value for the money.

If you got small hands, none of these instruments will make a big difference when it comes to comfortability.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the ESP LTD EX-200 is the better choice.

The ESP LTD EX-200 meets 5 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Gibson Les Paul Special Tribute P-90 meets only 4. 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 LTD EX-200
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

New Player Friendliness

Gibson Les Paul Special Tribute P-90
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

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 LTD EX-200 Overview

  • From ESP LTD's 2014 EX series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 24.75"'' scale
  • 13.78" Fretboard Radius
  • Mahogany body
  • 3pc Maple neck
  • Roasted Jatoba fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: ESP Designed LH-150B (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: ESP Designed LH-150N (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • TOM & Tailpiece bridge
  • Thin U Set neck
  • 22 XL Jumbo frets
  • LTD tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Gibson Les Paul Special Tribute P-90 Overview

  • From Gibson's 2019 Modern Collection series
  • Made in United States
  • 6 strings
  • 24.75"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Mahogany body
  • Maple neck
  • Rosewood fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Gibson P-90 (P90/Passive)
  • 2 volume and 2 tone Bell knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Compensated Wraparound bridge
  • Rounded Set neck
  • 22 Medium Jumbo frets
  • Vintage Deluxe w/ White Buttons 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

Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Maple
Mahogany wood pattern used for guitar building
Mahogany

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.

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 LTD EX-200

Jatoba wood pattern used for guitar building
Jatoba

Jatoba is a hard and dense wood that emphasizes the mid-lows, giving a fuller, more round sound than, for example, Mahogany. However, it also has a lot of clarity in the top end. Find out more about Jatoba.

Woods Used in the Gibson Les Paul Special Tribute P-90

Rosewood wood pattern used for guitar building
Rosewood

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: Gibson Les Paul Special Tribute P-90.

Pickup Configuration

The ESP LTD EX-200 has an HH configuration while the Gibson Les Paul Special Tribute P-90 has P90P90 pickups.

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.

On the other hand, P90P90 gives you two P90s for a crunchy vintage tone. The tone sits somewhere in the middle between typical single-coils and humbuckers. They also produce less hum than single-coils, but they don't cancel it completely like humbuckers.

Pickups Quality

The Gibson Les Paul Special Tribute P-90 pickups from a more specialized brand than the ESP LTD EX-200. Its pickups should give you a fuller, richer sound, although it all depends on what type of music you're going to play. We recommend these pickups for Blues and similar genres.

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: Gibson Les Paul Special Tribute P-90.

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.

Neither of them come with some kind of coil split or pickup mod option. This makes both lacking in terms of versatility.

ESP LTD EX-200 pickups switch and push knobs diagram
ESP LTD EX-200's switch options
Gibson Les Paul Special Tribute P-90 pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Gibson Les Paul Special Tribute P-90'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: Gibson Les Paul Special Tribute P-90.

Final Sound Quality Scores

ESP LTD EX-200
Pickups 60
Sustain 80
Versatility 49
Tuning Stability 65
Sound 64
Gibson Les Paul Special Tribute P-90
Pickups 100
Sustain 65
Versatility 53
Tuning Stability 70
Sound 72

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 LTD EX-200 compares to the Gibson Les Paul Special Tribute P-90.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The ESP LTD EX-200 is built in Indonesia while the Gibson Les Paul Special Tribute P-90 is made in United States.

Indonesia is becoming the most popular country for guitar building because they can make good instruments for a low price. Some people think that they're 'the new China' when it comes to build quality. But the truth is that Indonesian guitars are more consistent, although Chinese quality has improved a lot in the last few years.

The United States is considered one of the best electric guitar manufacturers in the world. A guitar made in this country is supposed to have world-class quality control. Nowadays, guitars made in other countries can beat some of the ones made in the US, but most of the time, this country offers the best you can get. Of course, that comes at a price.

Winner: Gibson Les Paul Special Tribute P-90

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 LTD EX-200 has a Plastic nut. This is a low-quality nut that you might want to consider upgrading soon. Bone and TUSQ nuts are the best for guitars with a fixed or simple tremolo bridge.

On the other hand, the Gibson Les Paul Special Tribute P-90 comes with a Ivory Tusq nut. Ivory used to be considered the best material for guitar nuts due to its beauty, durability, and the rich harmonics and sustain you could get from a guitar with it. However, the way to obtain it is simply unethical. Enter TUSQ ivory nuts, which are made synthetically to imitate ivory. Technically, it's better than ivory because it is consistent piece-to-piece, while natural materials can vary a lot, even if they're made from the same.

Winner: Gibson Les Paul Special Tribute P-90.

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.

Both come with a similar bridge: 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.

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: Tie.

Tuners

Both come with regular tuners. The ESP LTD EX-200's are LTD while the Gibson Les Paul Special Tribute P-90's are Vintage Deluxe w/ White Buttons

Winner: Tie.

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 LTD EX-200
  • Expensive Wood
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No High-Quality Nut
  • No Top Brand Pickups
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Gibson Les Paul Special Tribute P-90
  • Made in United States
  • Expensive Wood
  • Ivory Tusq Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

ESP LTD EX-200
Quality of materials 41
Features 50
Quality Control 70
Build Quality 54
Gibson Les Paul Special Tribute P-90
Quality of materials 56
Features 50
Quality Control 85
Build Quality 64

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 LTD EX-200 Nut Width
ESP LTD EX-200 Nut Width
Gibson Les Paul Special Tribute P-90 Nut Width
Gibson Les Paul Special Tribute P-90 Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Gibson Les Paul Special Tribute P-90 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 Gibson Les Paul Special Tribute P-90, 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 LTD EX-200 and Gibson Les Paul Special Tribute P-90'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 LTD EX-200 Neck Profile
ESP LTD EX-200's neck profile
Gibson Les Paul Special Tribute P-90 Neck Profile
Gibson Les Paul Special Tribute P-90'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.

In this case, both have different neck shapes:

The ESP LTD EX-200 has a U type of 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.

The Gibson Les Paul Special Tribute P-90, on the other hand, has a C neck. This is what you'll find in most modern guitars. Most people feel like the thickness of a C neck is simply the less intrusive one for playing fast, while at the same time allowing you to grab the neck easily for resting if you want to.

Fretboard Radius

ESP LTD EX-200 Fingerboard Radius
ESP LTD EX-200's Fingerboard radius
Gibson Les Paul Special Tribute P-90 Fingerboard Radius
Gibson Les Paul Special Tribute P-90's Fingerboard 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.

In this case, the Gibson Les Paul Special Tribute P-90's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the ESP LTD EX-200's. This extra arc will make playing chords easier in this model. You won't be as likely to mute the strings, especially if you have big hands. However, playing single notes and bending will be easier on the ESP LTD EX-200.

Still, both tend to favor soloing over chords, so if you're looking for a guitar for playing rhythm, you might want something else with a radius closer to a Stratocaster's 9.5''.

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.

After taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that both in this comparison favor small hands .

ESP LTD EX-200:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Gibson Les Paul Special Tribute P-90:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

ESP LTD EX-200 Frets Size
ESP LTD EX-200's Frets Size
Gibson Les Paul Special Tribute P-90 Frets Size
Gibson Les Paul Special Tribute P-90's Frets Size

The ESP LTD EX-200 has XL Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the Gibson Les Paul Special Tribute P-90's Medium Jumbo frets.

Some people prefer taller frets because they result in more sustain since the strings get pressed cleanly without interference from the fretboard. However, if they're too tall—like Jumbo frets—, you might change the pitch of the strings accidentally if you press too hard because you won't be touching the fretboard with your fingers. This is also why some guitarists with a heavy grip prefer smaller frets. They like to feel the fingerboard to avoid pressing down too hard and getting out of pitch.

Final Playability Scores

ESP LTD EX-200
Bending & Vibrato Ease 95
Chord Playability 75
Solo Playability 70
Playability 80
Gibson Les Paul Special Tribute P-90
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 65
Solo Playability 70
Playability 73

Specs Side-by-Side

LTD EX-200 vs Gibson Les Paul Special Tribute P-90
General LTD EX-200 Gibson Les Paul Special Tribute P-90
Brand: ESP LTD Gibson
Year: 2014 2019
Configuration: HH P90P90
Strings: 6 6
Made in: Indonesia United States
Series: EX Modern Collection
Colors: Black White, Black, Red, Natural
Left-Handed Version: Yes No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Mahogany Mahogany
Bridge: TOM & Tailpiece Compensated Wraparound
Neck
Neck Joint: Set Set
Tuners: LTD Vintage Deluxe w/ White Buttons
Fretboard: Roasted Jatoba Rosewood
Neck Material: 3pc Maple Maple
Decoration: Dot Acrylic Dots
Scale Size: 24.75" 24.75"
Shape: Thin U Rounded
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.787'' (20mm) - 12th Fret: 0.866'' (22mm) 1st Fret: 0.82'' (20.8mm) - 12th Fret: 0.97'' (24.6mm)
Frets: 22 XL Jumbo Nickel Silver 22 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 13.78" 12"
Nut: Plastic Ivory Tusq
Nut Width: 42mm (1.654'') 43mm (1.693'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: ESP Designed LH-150B (Humbucker / Passive) Gibson P-90 (P90 / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: ESP Designed LH-150N (Humbucker / Passive) Gibson P-90 (P90 / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Dome Bell
Pickup Mods: None None
Volume Controls: 1 2
Tone Controls: 1 2