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Kramer The 84
ESP LTD M-1000 Multi-Scale
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Playability
70
Sound
77
Build
60
Value
74
Score
69
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Playability
82
Sound
80
Build
77
Value
80
Score
80
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Kramer The 84 vs LTD M-1000 Multi-Scale

Reasons to Get
Kramer The 84 over LTD M-1000 Multi-Scale

Release Year
2021 vs 2020
From a more recent year
Type of Frets
Medium Jumbo vs XL Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Scale Length
25.5" vs 26.5" to 25.5"
Easier to adapt to
Neck Profile
K-Speed SlimTaper C vs Thin U
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Pickup Mods
Parallel Split vs Coil Split
Connects pickups in parallel to brighten tone
Pickups
H vs HH
Hum-free with more right hand freedom and sustain
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
Fretboard Radius
12'' (304.8mm) vs 13.78'' (350mm)
More curved fretboard helpful to play chords without muting strings

Reasons to Get
ESP LTD M-1000 Multi-Scale over Kramer The 84

Decorative Top
Flamed Maple vs None
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns
Fret Material
Stainless Steel vs Nickel Silver
Best fret material that will last forever
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
Scale Length
26.5" to 25.5" vs 25.5"
Less fret buzz with less string stiffness
Neck Profile
Thin U vs K-Speed SlimTaper C
Comfortable neck with more grip
Pickup Mods
Coil Split vs Parallel Split
Splits humbuckers into single coil pickups
Switch Positions
3 vs 0
More tone options
Tone Knobs
1 vs 0
More tone control
Pickups
HH vs H
High output without hum
Number of Frets
24 vs 22
Allows to reach higher notes
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
Bridge
Fixed vs Floyd Rose
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Fretboard Radius
13.78'' (350mm) vs 12'' (304.8mm)
Flatter fretboard makes it easier to play single notes and bend
Value Score
80 vs 74
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Kramer The 84 vs LTD M-1000 Multi-Scale

Bridge Pickup
Seymour Duncan JB SH-4 vs Seymour Duncan Nazgul
Different Bridge Pickup
Body Wood
Alder vs Mahogany
Different Body Wood
Fretboard Wood
Maple vs Ebony
Different Fretboard Wood
Nut Material
Locking vs Bone
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Kramer The 84 vs LTD M-1000 Multi-Scale

Neck Wood
Maple
Same Neck Wood
Headstock
6
Same Headstock
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Volume Knobs
1
Same volume control
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Neck Joint
Bolt-On
Allows you to detach and swap the neck

Common Strengths

  • High-Quality Nut
  • High-Quality Frets
  • Top Pickup Brand

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Weight Relief
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • From a High-Quality-Standards Country
  • 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 ESP LTD M-1000 Multi-Scale is probably the better product overall with its final score of 80 compared to the Kramer The 84's 69 score, which is a significant difference.

The ESP LTD M-1000 Multi-Scale wins when it comes to sound, playability, build quality, value for the money. This means that it wins over the Kramer The 84 in every aspect.

However, there's still a reason to choose the Kramer The 84 instead. If you got small hands, you'll probably feel that the Kramer The 84 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 LTD M-1000 Multi-Scale is the better choice.

The ESP LTD M-1000 Multi-Scale meets 6 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Kramer The 84 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 The 84
  • Comfortable shape
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners
  • Easy-to-use bridge

New Player Friendliness

ESP LTD M-1000 Multi-Scale
  • 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 The 84 Overview

  • From Kramer's 2021 Original series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Alder body
  • Hard Maple with Walnut Skunk Stripe neck
  • Hard Maple fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Seymour Duncan JB SH-4 (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 0 tone Dome knobs
  • Floyd Rose 1000 Series Tremolo bridge
  • K-Speed SlimTaper C Bolt-On neck
  • 22 Medium Jumbo frets
  • Mini Die Cast tuners
  • Compare Specs >

ESP LTD M-1000 Multi-Scale Overview

  • From ESP LTD's 2020 M series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 26.5" to 25.5"'' scale
  • 13.78" Fretboard Radius
  • Flamed Maple top
  • Mahogany body
  • 5pc Maple/Purple Heart neck
  • Macassar Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Seymour Duncan Nazgul (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Seymour Duncan Sentient (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Hipshot w/ String Thru bridge
  • Thin U Bolt-On neck
  • 24 XL Jumbo Stainless Steel frets
  • LTD Locking tuners
  • Weight between 6.25lbs (2.8kgs) and 6.55lbs (3kgs)
  • 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 The 84

Alder wood pattern used for guitar building
Alder

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.

Woods Used in the ESP LTD M-1000 Multi-Scale

Ebony wood pattern used for guitar building
Ebony
Mahogany wood pattern used for guitar building
Mahogany

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.

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.

Winner: ESP LTD M-1000 Multi-Scale.

Pickup Configuration

The Kramer The 84 has an H configuration while the ESP LTD M-1000 Multi-Scale has HH pickups.

A single H pickup gives you the advantage of having a little longer sustain (all other things being equal) because there will be less magnetic fields from other pickups affecting the strings' vibration. However, they also give you the least versatility because you won't have other pickups at different distances from the bridge to create different tones. A single humbucking pickup is used for noiseless high output, which is used mainly for Hard Rock genres.

On the other hand, 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 Kramer The 84 has a slight sound quality advantage when taking into account other factors like the type of pickups, magnet, position, etc.

You can purchase similar pickups to the Kramer The 84's and use them on any guitar:

We found the same or similar pickups to the ESP LTD M-1000 Multi-Scale'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: Kramer The 84.

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

The ESP LTD M-1000 Multi-Scale gives you 3 switch options while the Kramer The 84 gives you 0. This means that the ESP LTD M-1000 Multi-Scale gives you more options to find the right pickup combination for the type of sound you want to achieve

Both give you different pickup mod options.

The Kramer The 84 offers 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.

On the other hand, the ESP LTD M-1000 Multi-Scale comes with the following: 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.

The Kramer The 84 doesn't come with pickup switching options.

ESP LTD M-1000 Multi-Scale pickups switch and push knobs diagram
ESP LTD M-1000 Multi-Scale'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 LTD M-1000 Multi-Scale.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Kramer The 84
Pickups 90
Sustain 70
Versatility 62
Tuning Stability 85
Sound 77
ESP LTD M-1000 Multi-Scale
Pickups 85
Sustain 85
Versatility 69
Tuning Stability 80
Sound 80

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 The 84 compares to the ESP LTD M-1000 Multi-Scale.

Country of Origin

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

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: 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 Kramer The 84 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 LTD M-1000 Multi-Scale 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.

In this comparison, the ESP LTD M-1000 Multi-Scale is the only one that has stainless steel frets. These frets will basically last for the entire life of the guitar. They will never need polishing nor replacement. And not only that, but some people also notice that bending and vibratos are much easier to perform when they upgrade to stainless steel.

Winner: ESP LTD M-1000 Multi-Scale.

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 The 84'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 LTD M-1000 Multi-Scale'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 The 84.

Tuners

The ESP LTD M-1000 Multi-Scale 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 The 84 has a locking nut, so it should have even better tune stability and doesn't need locking tuners.

Winner: ESP LTD M-1000 Multi-Scale.

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 Bolt-On neck joint. This neck is joined to the body by 4 bolts that you can simply unscrew. This allows you to replace the neck or take it off for travel. It's the most common and cheapest way to build a guitar.

Winner: Tie.

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

Strengths & Weaknesses
Kramer The 84
  • Locking Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Parallel Split Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • Retainer Bar
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No Expensive Woods
  • 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 LTD M-1000 Multi-Scale
  • Stainless Steel Frets
  • Locking Tuners
  • Expensive Wood
  • Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Coil Split Pickups
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Kramer The 84
Quality of materials 41
Features 70
Quality Control 70
Build Quality 60
ESP LTD M-1000 Multi-Scale
Quality of materials 85
Features 70
Quality Control 75
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

Kramer The 84 Nut Width
Kramer The 84 Nut Width
ESP LTD M-1000 Multi-Scale Nut Width
ESP LTD M-1000 Multi-Scale Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the ESP LTD M-1000 Multi-Scale 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 LTD M-1000 Multi-Scale, 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 The 84's Scale Length
Kramer The 84's Scale Length
ESP LTD M-1000 Multi-Scale's Scale Length
ESP LTD M-1000 Multi-Scale'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.

In this case, the ESP LTD M-1000 Multi-Scale features a multi-scale of 26.5" to 25.5" while the Kramer The 84 has a regular scale of 25.5".

A multi-scale fingerboard incorporates two scale lengths at the same time. This is present in some instruments with long scale to give a different tension to the lower strings than the higher strings. The thickest strings need more tension to avoid fret buzz (especially when tuned low), so the scale is longer for these strings, while the thinnest strings will need less tension (because they have a lower gauge), so they have a shorter scale to reduce stiffness for bends.

It can feel awkward if you've never played a multi-scale because the frets will have more separation for the higher strings, but a lot of people love their versatility.

On the other hand, the Kramer The 84's 25.5" regular scale means it has a fixed scale for all the strings.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 The 84 Neck Profile
Kramer The 84's neck profile
ESP LTD M-1000 Multi-Scale Neck Profile
ESP LTD M-1000 Multi-Scale'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 The 84 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 M-1000 Multi-Scale, 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 The 84 Fingerboard Radius
Kramer The 84's Fingerboard radius
ESP LTD M-1000 Multi-Scale Fingerboard Radius
ESP LTD M-1000 Multi-Scale'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 Kramer The 84's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the ESP LTD M-1000 Multi-Scale'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 M-1000 Multi-Scale.

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 M-1000 Multi-Scale favors large hands more than the Kramer The 84. But it's still more comfortable for people with small hands, as you can see in the score meter below.

Kramer The 84:
Big Hands
Small Hands
ESP LTD M-1000 Multi-Scale:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Kramer The 84 Frets Size
Kramer The 84's Frets Size
ESP LTD M-1000 Multi-Scale Frets Size
ESP LTD M-1000 Multi-Scale's Frets Size

The ESP LTD M-1000 Multi-Scale has XL Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the Kramer The 84'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 The 84
Bending & Vibrato Ease 70
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 70
Playability 70
ESP LTD M-1000 Multi-Scale
Bending & Vibrato Ease 90
Chord Playability 75
Solo Playability 80
Playability 82

Specs Side-by-Side

Kramer The 84 vs LTD M-1000 Multi-Scale
General Kramer The 84 LTD M-1000 Multi-Scale
Brand: Kramer ESP LTD
Year: 2021 2020
Configuration: H HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: Indonesia Indonesia
Series: Original M
Colors: White, Blue, Green, Red, White Matte Black
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Alder Mahogany
Bridge: Floyd Rose 1000 Series Tremolo Hipshot w/ String Thru
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: Mini Die Cast LTD Locking
Fretboard: Hard Maple Macassar Ebony
Neck Material: Hard Maple with Walnut Skunk Stripe 5pc Maple/Purple Heart
Decoration: Dot (Double Dots on 12th fret) Offset Dots
Scale Size: 25.5" 26.5" to 25.5"
Shape: K-Speed SlimTaper C Thin U
Frets: 22 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver 24 XL Jumbo Stainless Steel
Fretboard Radius: 12" 13.78"
Nut: Locking Bone
Nut Width: 41.3mm (1.625'') 42mm (1.654'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Seymour Duncan JB SH-4 (Humbucker / Passive) Seymour Duncan Nazgul (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Seymour Duncan Sentient (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 0 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Dome Dome
Pickup Mods: Parallel Split Coil Split
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 0 1