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Kramer Assault Plus
ESP E-II Horizon-III
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Playability
73
Sound
79
Build
61
Value
76
Score
71
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Playability
82
Sound
76
Build
78
Value
69
Score
79
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Kramer Assault Plus vs E-II Horizon-III

Reasons to Get
Kramer Assault Plus over E-II Horizon-III

Release Year
2018 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
K-Speed SlimTaper C vs Thin U
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Pickup Mods
Parallel Split vs None
Connects pickups in parallel to brighten tone
Volume Knobs
2 vs 1
More volume control
Nut Width
1.625'' (41.3mm) vs 1.654'' (42mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Bridge
Floyd Rose vs Fixed
Allows intense vibratos and techniques like Dive Bombs
Value Score
76 vs 69
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
ESP E-II Horizon-III over Kramer Assault Plus

Country of Manufacturing
Japan vs Indonesia
Built with higher quality standards
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 K-Speed SlimTaper C
Comfortable neck with more grip
Neck Joint
Neck-Through vs Set
Stronger neck and easier access to upper frets
Locking Tuners
Yes vs None
Easier to change strings
Nut Width
1.654'' (42mm) vs 1.625'' (41.3mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Strap Lock
Yes vs None
Protects your guitar from dropping by locking the strap
Bridge
Fixed vs Floyd Rose
Good sustain and needs no set-up

Other Key Differences
Kramer Assault Plus vs E-II Horizon-III

Bridge Pickup
Seymour Duncan JB SH-4 vs Seymour Duncan Custom-5
Different Bridge Pickup
Body Wood
Mahogany vs Alder
Different Body Wood
Neck Wood
Mahogany vs Maple
Different Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Maple vs Ebony
Different Fretboard Wood
Headstock
R6 vs 6
Different Headstock
Nut Material
Locking vs Bone
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Kramer Assault Plus vs E-II Horizon-III

Neck Pickup
Seymour Duncan Jazz SH-2
Same Neck Pickup
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
24
Same maximum octave
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm)
Same string tension and fret separation
Fretboard Radius
12'' (304.8mm)
Same fretboard comfortability
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Decorative Top
Flame Maple Veneer vs Flamed Maple
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns

Common Strengths

  • High-Quality Nut
  • Top Pickup Brand
  • Expensive Wood

Common Weaknesses

  • 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

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the ESP E-II Horizon-III is probably the better product overall with its final score of 79 compared to the Kramer Assault Plus's 71 score, although not by a lot.

The ESP E-II Horizon-III wins when it comes to playability, build quality. On the other hand, the Kramer Assault Plus has the upper hand when it comes to sound, value for the money.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel that the Kramer Assault Plus 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 E-II Horizon-III is the better choice.

The ESP E-II Horizon-III meets 6 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Kramer Assault Plus 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

Kramer Assault Plus
  • Comfortable shape
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners
  • Easy-to-use bridge

New Player Friendliness

ESP E-II Horizon-III
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Short scale

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.

Kramer Assault Plus Overview

  • From Kramer's 2018 Modern series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Flame Maple Veneer top
  • Mahogany body
  • Mahogany neck
  • Maple fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Seymour Duncan JB SH-4 (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Seymour Duncan Jazz SH-2 (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 2 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Floyd Rose 1000 Series Tremolo bridge
  • K-Speed SlimTaper C Set neck
  • 24 Medium Jumbo frets
  • Kramer black die cast mini 14:1 tuners
  • Compare Specs >

ESP E-II Horizon-III Overview

  • From ESP E-II's 2014 Horizon-III series
  • Made in Japan
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Flamed Maple top
  • Alder body
  • 3pc Maple neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Seymour Duncan Custom-5 (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Seymour Duncan Jazz SH-2 (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Gotoh TOM bridge
  • Thin U Neck-Through neck
  • 24 XL Jumbo frets
  • Gotoh Locking 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

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 Kramer Assault Plus

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 E-II Horizon-III

Ebony wood pattern used for guitar building
Ebony
Alder wood pattern used for guitar building
Alder

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.

Alder is the most popular wood that Fender uses in most of their guitars nowadays. Even though they say it's because of its balanced tone with an emphasis in the upper midrange, it probably is because it isn't too expensive, and it's also pretty lightweight—more than Mahogany. Find out more about Alder.

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 Kramer Assault Plus's and use them on any guitar:

We found the same or similar pickups to the ESP E-II Horizon-III's online:

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.

Only the Kramer Assault Plus comes with some kind of pickup modification: Parallel Split.

The Parallel Split feature allows it to split and connect some of the pickups in parallel. When wired in parallel, the result is a very bright tone. This is the wire technique used in most Stratocaster guitars, and it's what gives them their signature transparent and clear sound. This is because the pickups' inputs and outputs are wired together, which reduces the signal's travel distance to the output jack.

Kramer Assault Plus pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Kramer Assault Plus's switch options
ESP E-II Horizon-III pickups switch and push knobs diagram
ESP E-II Horizon-III'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: Kramer Assault Plus.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Kramer Assault Plus
Pickups 85
Sustain 70
Versatility 76
Tuning Stability 85
Sound 79
ESP E-II Horizon-III
Pickups 85
Sustain 85
Versatility 54
Tuning Stability 80
Sound 76

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 Kramer Assault Plus compares to the ESP E-II Horizon-III.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Kramer Assault Plus is built in Indonesia while the ESP E-II Horizon-III is made in Japan.

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.

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: ESP E-II Horizon-III

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 Kramer Assault Plus has 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.

On the other hand, the ESP E-II Horizon-III comes with a Bone nut. It's a type of nut found in high-quality instruments. They sound similar to Ivory since they give a lot of sustain and a bright sound (at least when striking open strings). The only problem they can run into is that you may get a bone piece that simply doesn't sound as well as others because that's just how natural materials are.

Winner: Tie.

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 Kramer Assault Plus's brige 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.

On the other hand, the ESP E-II Horizon-III's 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.

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: Kramer Assault Plus.

Tuners

The ESP E-II Horizon-III 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 Kramer Assault Plus has a locking nut, so it should have even better tune stability and doesn't need locking tuners.

Winner: ESP E-II Horizon-III.

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.

The Kramer Assault Plus has 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.

On the other hand, the ESP E-II Horizon-III comes with Neck-Through neck joint. This neck is a lot more resistant and lets builders give the neck joint a more comfortable shape for soloing at the upper frets. The disadvantage is that they're more expensive and that if you damage your neck, you can't simply replace it like with bolt-on necks.

Winner: ESP E-II Horizon-III.

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

Strengths & Weaknesses
Kramer Assault Plus
  • Expensive Wood
  • Locking Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Parallel Split Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • Retainer Bar
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
ESP E-II Horizon-III
  • Locking Tuners
  • Made in Japan
  • Expensive Wood
  • Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Neck-Through Build
  • Strap Lock
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio

Final Build Quality Scores

Kramer Assault Plus
Quality of materials 43
Features 70
Quality Control 70
Build Quality 61
ESP E-II Horizon-III
Quality of materials 65
Features 75
Quality Control 95
Build Quality 78

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

Kramer Assault Plus Nut Width
Kramer Assault Plus Nut Width
ESP E-II Horizon-III Nut Width
ESP E-II Horizon-III Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the ESP E-II Horizon-III has the wider nut with 42mm (1.654'') vs 41.3mm (1.625''). This is a 0.7mm (0.029'') difference

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

Scale Length

Kramer Assault Plus and ESP E-II Horizon-III'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 25.5".

This is the scale used in most Stratocasters. It's slightly longer than the typical 24.75'' size found in Les Pauls, and it's one of the main reasons why Stratocasters have such a bright sound in general. A longer scale also means that the strings will have higher tension. This will help you get lower action without suffering fret buzz, which will also be helpful when playing in lower tunings without having to increase your string gauge.

However, this also means that there will be more separation between frets, which can make it more difficult to play. Also, bending the strings will require more strengths due to the increased tension, but remember that a tremolo guitar will offset this difficulty.

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

Kramer Assault Plus Neck Profile
Kramer Assault Plus's neck profile
ESP E-II Horizon-III Neck Profile
ESP E-II Horizon-III'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 Kramer Assault Plus 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 E-II Horizon-III, 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

Kramer Assault Plus 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 Kramer Assault Plus and the ESP E-II Horizon-III 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 E-II Horizon-III favors large hands more than the Kramer Assault Plus. But it's still more comfortable for people with small hands, as you can see in the score meter below.

Kramer Assault Plus:
Big Hands
Small Hands
ESP E-II Horizon-III:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Kramer Assault Plus Frets Size
Kramer Assault Plus's Frets Size
ESP E-II Horizon-III Frets Size
ESP E-II Horizon-III's Frets Size

The ESP E-II Horizon-III has XL Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the Kramer Assault Plus'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

Kramer Assault Plus
Bending & Vibrato Ease 70
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 80
Playability 73
ESP E-II Horizon-III
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 90
Playability 82

Specs Side-by-Side

Kramer Assault Plus vs E-II Horizon-III
General Kramer Assault Plus E-II Horizon-III
Brand: Kramer ESP E-II
Year: 2018 2014
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: Indonesia Japan
Series: Modern Horizon-III
Colors: Brown Burst, Purple Burst Blue
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Mahogany Alder
Bridge: Floyd Rose 1000 Series Tremolo Gotoh TOM
Neck
Neck Joint: Set Neck-Through
Tuners: Kramer black die cast mini 14:1 Gotoh Locking
Fretboard: Maple Ebony
Neck Material: Mahogany 3pc Maple
Decoration: Black Dots Offset Blocks
Scale Size: 25.5" 25.5"
Shape: K-Speed SlimTaper C Thin U
Frets: 24 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver 24 XL Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" 12"
Nut: Locking Bone
Nut Width: 41.3mm (1.625'') 42mm (1.654'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Seymour Duncan JB SH-4 (Humbucker / Passive) Seymour Duncan Custom-5 (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Seymour Duncan Jazz SH-2 (Humbucker / Passive) Seymour Duncan Jazz SH-2 (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Dome Dome
Pickup Mods: Parallel Split None
Volume Controls: 2 1
Tone Controls: 1 1