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Gibson Custom 1959 ES-355 Reissue
ESP LTD EC-407
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Playability
73
Sound
72
Build
74
Value
58
Score
73
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Playability
75
Sound
72
Build
59
Value
69
Score
69
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Gibson Custom 1959 ES-355 Reissue vs LTD EC-407

Reasons to Get
Gibson Custom 1959 ES-355 Reissue over LTD EC-407

Country of Manufacturing
United States vs Indonesia
Built with higher quality standards
Release Year
2022 vs 2015
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
50s Rounded Medium C vs Thin U
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Nut Material
Nylon vs Plastic
Resistant nut with good tuning stability
Strings
6 vs 7
Narrower neck and fewer strings to change
Body Type
Semi-Hollow vs Solid Body
Lighter and allows more gain than a hollowbody
Tone Knobs
2 vs 1
More tone control
Nut Width
1.688'' (42.9mm) vs 1.89'' (48mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Paint Finish
Nitro vs Poly
Thin finish that creates aging marks faster
Scale Length
24.75'' (628.7mm) vs 25.5'' (647.7mm)
Easier bending, shorter fret separation and warmer natural tone
Fretboard Radius
12'' (304.8mm) vs 13.78'' (350mm)
More curved fretboard helpful to play chords without muting strings
Pickups Power
Passive vs Active
Cleaner sound and no battery needed

Reasons to Get
ESP LTD EC-407 over Gibson Custom 1959 ES-355 Reissue

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 50s Rounded Medium C
Comfortable neck with more grip
Strings
7 vs 6
Allows you to play lower notes
Body Type
Solid Body vs Semi-Hollow
Feedback free
Number of Frets
24 vs 22
Allows to reach higher notes
Nut Width
1.89'' (48mm) vs 1.688'' (42.9mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Paint Finish
Poly vs Nitro
Resistant paint that ages well
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm) vs 24.75'' (628.7mm)
Lower action and brighter natural tone
Fretboard Radius
13.78'' (350mm) vs 12'' (304.8mm)
Flatter fretboard makes it easier to play single notes and bend
Pickups Power
Active vs Passive
More output
Value Score
69 vs 58
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Gibson Custom 1959 ES-355 Reissue vs LTD EC-407

Bridge Pickup
Custombucker Alnico III (Unpotted) vs EMG 81-7H
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Custombucker Alnico III (Unpotted) vs EMG 60-7H
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Maple vs Mahogany
Different Body Wood
Neck Wood
Mahogany vs Maple
Different Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Ebony vs Pau Ferro
Different Fretboard Wood
Headstock
3-3 vs 4-3
Different Headstock
Nut Material
Nylon vs Plastic
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Gibson Custom 1959 ES-355 Reissue vs LTD EC-407

Switch Positions
3
Same pickups versatility
Volume Knobs
2
Same volume control
Pickups
HH
High output without hum
Bridge
Fixed
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Neck Joint
Set
Neck is glued to the body

Common Strengths

  • Top Pickup Brand
  • Expensive Wood

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Pickup Alter Switch/Knob
  • 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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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Gibson Custom 1959 ES-355 Reissue is probably the better product overall with its final score of 73 compared to the ESP LTD EC-407's 69 score, although not by a lot.

The Gibson Custom 1959 ES-355 Reissue wins when it comes to build quality. On the other hand, the ESP LTD EC-407 has the upper hand when it comes to playability, value for the money.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel more comfortable playing the Gibson Custom 1959 ES-355 Reissue.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

Both meet 4 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness. 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. If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, you can't go wrong with either of them.

New Player Friendliness

Gibson Custom 1959 ES-355 Reissue
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

New Player Friendliness

ESP LTD EC-407
  • 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.

Gibson Custom 1959 ES-355 Reissue Overview

  • From Gibson Custom's 2022 Historic Collection series
  • Made in United States
  • 6 strings
  • 24.75"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • 3-Ply Maple/Poplar/Maple body
  • Mahogany neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Custombucker Alnico III (Unpotted) (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Custombucker Alnico III (Unpotted) (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 2 volume and 2 tone Bell knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Lightweight Aluminum Stop Bar bridge
  • 50s Rounded Medium C Set neck
  • 22 Medium Jumbo frets
  • Kluson Waffleback with Pearloid Tips tuners
  • Compare Specs >

ESP LTD EC-407 Overview

  • From ESP LTD's 2015 EC series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 7 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 13.78" Fretboard Radius
  • Mahogany w/ Maple Cap body
  • 3pc Maple neck
  • Pau Ferro fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: EMG 81-7H (Humbucker/Active)
  • Neck pickup: EMG 60-7H (Humbucker/Active)
  • 2 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • TOM & Tailpiece bridge
  • Thin U Set neck
  • 24 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
Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
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.

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.

Woods Used in the Gibson Custom 1959 ES-355 Reissue

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 LTD EC-407

Pau Ferro wood pattern used for guitar building
Pau Ferro

Pau Ferro has a dark, chocolate-like color with straight dark grains that is being used as a replacement to Rosewood due to the regulations. It produces a warm tone that is somewhere between Mahogany and Rosewood. Find out more about Pau Ferro.

Winner: Gibson Custom 1959 ES-355 Reissue.

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.

However, the Gibson Custom 1959 ES-355 Reissue has a slight sound quality advantage when taking into account other factors like the type of pickups, magnet, position, etc.

We found the same or similar pickups to the ESP LTD EC-407's online:

The Gibson Custom 1959 ES-355 Reissue's pickups are Passive while the ESP LTD EC-407's are Active.

Passive pickups are what most guitars use. These have a normal output that works well for most genres. However, Active pickups are the preferred choice of heavy metal players because they offer extra output thanks to their 9v battery, which results in a heavier, more distorted sound. Bear in mind that achieving a completely clean tone with them won't be easy. So if you want to also use clean tones, you might want to avoid Active pickups.

Winner: Gibson Custom 1959 ES-355 Reissue.

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.

They both share the following switching options:

Gibson Custom 1959 ES-355 Reissue and ESP LTD EC-407 pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Gibson Custom 1959 ES-355 Reissue and ESP LTD EC-407'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 Custom 1959 ES-355 Reissue.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Gibson Custom 1959 ES-355 Reissue
Pickups 90
Sustain 75
Versatility 53
Tuning Stability 70
Sound 72
ESP LTD EC-407
Pickups 85
Sustain 85
Versatility 51
Tuning Stability 65
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 Gibson Custom 1959 ES-355 Reissue compares to the ESP LTD EC-407.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Gibson Custom 1959 ES-355 Reissue is built in United States while the ESP LTD EC-407 is made in Indonesia.

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.

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.

Winner: Gibson Custom 1959 ES-355 Reissue

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 Gibson Custom 1959 ES-355 Reissue has a Nylon nut. It used to be one of the highest quality materials for nuts (and still is), but it's rare to find nowadays because it's hard to work with. It's a very resistant material with very low friction, so it will keep the guitar in tune and will last for a long time

On the other hand, the ESP LTD EC-407 comes with 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.

Winner: Gibson Custom 1959 ES-355 Reissue.

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 Gibson Custom 1959 ES-355 Reissue's are Kluson Waffleback with Pearloid Tips while the ESP LTD EC-407's are Grover

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
Gibson Custom 1959 ES-355 Reissue
  • Made in United States
  • Expensive Wood
  • Nylon Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
ESP LTD EC-407
  • Expensive Wood
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No High-Quality Nut
  • 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

Gibson Custom 1959 ES-355 Reissue
Quality of materials 66
Features 55
Quality Control 100
Build Quality 74
ESP LTD EC-407
Quality of materials 51
Features 50
Quality Control 75
Build Quality 59

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

Gibson Custom 1959 ES-355 Reissue Nut Width
Gibson Custom 1959 ES-355 Reissue Nut Width
ESP LTD EC-407 Nut Width
ESP LTD EC-407 Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the ESP LTD EC-407 has the wider nut with 48mm (1.89'') vs 42.9mm (1.688''). This is a 5.1mm (0.202'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the ESP LTD EC-407, especially closer to the nut. However, it's also easier to play without muting strings accidently. This favors people with big hands.

Scale Length

Gibson Custom 1959 ES-355 Reissue's Scale Length
Gibson Custom 1959 ES-355 Reissue's Scale Length
ESP LTD EC-407's Scale Length
ESP LTD EC-407's 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.

The ESP LTD EC-407 has the longest scale: 25.5". The Gibson Custom 1959 ES-355 Reissue is only 24.75" long. This is a 0.75'' (19.1mm) scale length difference.

This longer scale means that the strings need more tension to get in tune. This is good if you want to avoid fret buzz, which can happen when the strings are too loose and touch the frets while vibrating. This is especially important when playing in lower tunings. This will also let you reduce the gap between fretboard and strings (low action) to make them easier to press down. However, this higher tension will also make it harder to perform bends and vibratos as the strings will feel stiffer.

This also means that the frets have a longer separation between each other, so this will make it harder for people with smaller hands when playing some chord positions.

Another characteristic of a longer scale is that it makes the guitar sound 'snappier' or brighter. This is due to the extra separation between harmonics and overtones produced by the tension. This influences tone more than any other factor (except the pickups).

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

Gibson Custom 1959 ES-355 Reissue Neck Profile
Gibson Custom 1959 ES-355 Reissue's neck profile
ESP LTD EC-407 Neck Profile
ESP LTD EC-407'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 Gibson Custom 1959 ES-355 Reissue has a C type of 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.

The ESP LTD EC-407, on the other hand, has a U 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

Gibson Custom 1959 ES-355 Reissue Fingerboard Radius
Gibson Custom 1959 ES-355 Reissue's Fingerboard radius
ESP LTD EC-407 Fingerboard Radius
ESP LTD EC-407'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 Custom 1959 ES-355 Reissue's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the ESP LTD EC-407'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 EC-407.

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.

And after taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that the ESP LTD EC-407 favors large hands more than the Gibson Custom 1959 ES-355 Reissue.

Gibson Custom 1959 ES-355 Reissue:
Big Hands
Small Hands
ESP LTD EC-407:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Gibson Custom 1959 ES-355 Reissue Frets Size
Gibson Custom 1959 ES-355 Reissue's Frets Size
ESP LTD EC-407 Frets Size
ESP LTD EC-407's Frets Size

The ESP LTD EC-407 has XL Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the Gibson Custom 1959 ES-355 Reissue'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

Gibson Custom 1959 ES-355 Reissue
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 65
Solo Playability 70
Playability 73
ESP LTD EC-407
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 60
Solo Playability 80
Playability 75

Specs Side-by-Side

Gibson Custom 1959 ES-355 Reissue vs LTD EC-407
General Gibson Custom 1959 ES-355 Reissue LTD EC-407
Brand: Gibson Custom ESP LTD
Year: 2022 2015
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 6 7
Made in: United States Indonesia
Series: Historic Collection EC
Colors: Black, Natural Black
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Semi-Hollow Solid Body
Body Material: 3-Ply Maple/Poplar/Maple Mahogany w/ Maple Cap
Bridge: Lightweight Aluminum Stop Bar TOM & Tailpiece
Neck
Neck Joint: Set Set
Tuners: Kluson Waffleback with Pearloid Tips Grover
Fretboard: Ebony Pau Ferro
Neck Material: Mahogany 3pc Maple
Decoration: 1950s Pattern Mother of Pearl Flag
Scale Size: 24.75" 25.5"
Shape: 50s Rounded Medium C Thin U
Frets: 22 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver 24 XL Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" 13.78"
Nut: Nylon Plastic
Nut Width: 42.9mm (1.688'') 48mm (1.89'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Custombucker Alnico III (Unpotted) (Humbucker / Passive) EMG 81-7H (Humbucker / Active)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Custombucker Alnico III (Unpotted) (Humbucker / Passive) EMG 60-7H (Humbucker / Active)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Bell Dome
Pickup Mods: None None
Volume Controls: 2 2
Tone Controls: 2 1