ESP LTD SN-1000 Evertune Koa - Overview and Best Prices

ESP LTD SN-1000 Evertune Koa Review
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  • 3 Prices - New from $1,689 >
  • From ESP LTD's 2024 SN series
  • Made in Japan
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" to 16" Fretboard Radius
  • Koa top
  • Mahogany body
  • Maple neck
  • Macassar Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Seymour Duncan Custom 14 (ESP Exclusive) (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Seymour Duncan APH-1N (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 5-way Switch
  • Evertune (F model) bridge
  • Thin U Bolt-On neck
  • 22 XL Jumbo Stainless Steel frets
  • Grover tuners
  • Side-By-Side Comparison
Show Specs
ESP LTD SN-1000 Evertune Koa Specifications
ESP LTD SN-1000 Evertune Koa
General
Brand: ESP LTD
Year: 2024
Configuration: HH
Strings: 6
Made in: Japan
Series: SN
Colors: Natural
Left-Handed Version: No
Body
Top: Koa
Type: Solid Body
Body Material: Mahogany
Bridge: Evertune (F model)
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On
Tuners: Grover
Fretboard: Macassar Ebony
Neck Material: Maple
Decoration: Dots
Scale Size: 25.5"
Shape: Thin U
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.787'' (20mm) - 12th Fret: 0.866'' (22mm)
Frets: 22 XL Jumbo Stainless Steel
Fretboard Radius: 12" to 16"
Nut: Plastic
Nut Width: 42mm (1.654'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickups: Seymour Duncan Custom 14 (ESP Exclusive) (Humbucker / Passive)
Neck Pickup: Seymour Duncan APH-1N (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 5
Knobs: Dome
Pickup Mods: Coil Split
Volume Controls: 1
Tone Controls: 1
Hardware
Strap Lock: No
Hardware Color: Black
Show Diagram
ESP LTD SN-1000 Evertune Koa pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
ESP LTD SN-1000 Evertune Koa's switch options

Our Scores and Tone Evaluation

Playability 73
Sound 83
Build quality 78
Value for money 73
Overall Score 78
Tone Evaluation
  • Heavy Metal
  • Hard Rock
  • Jazz
  • Blues
  • Funk
  • Country
Strengths & Weaknesses
ESP LTD SN-1000 Evertune Koa
  • Stainless Steel Frets
  • Made in Japan
  • Expensive Wood
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Coil Split Pickups
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No Locking Tuners
  • No High-Quality Nut
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Price Overview

Its average competitor's price is $2240, which means that the ESP LTD SN-1000 Evertune Koa is around 25% cheaper than the competition. This takes into account all instruments of the same category in our database with 6 strings and Evertune bridge that are made in Japan.

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User Reviews & Feedback

Not all instruments are created equally. That's why it's important to have different opinions. Here's what our users who have played this instrument say. If you've played it before, help others by voting below!

Weight

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Tuning stability

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Neck speed (thickness)

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Neck access to high frets

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Neck profile shape

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Fret edges

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Pickups noise

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Pickups power

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Hand Size Comfortability

After taking into account the neck profile, scale size, fretboard radius, and nut width, we can conclude that the ESP LTD SN-1000 Evertune Koa's construction favors people with relatively small hands.

Nevertheless, this comes down in the end to personal preference. Make sure you test this guitar—or another one with similar characteristics—before buying.

Big Hands
Small Hands

Beginner Friendliness

The ESP LTD SN-1000 Evertune Koa meets 5 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, which means that it's a good guitar to start with as a complete beginner. 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 to get used to.

New Player Friendliness

ESP LTD SN-1000 Evertune Koa
  • Comfortable shape
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners
  • Easy-to-use bridge

Videos

LTD LE-1000 Evertune Koa Demo
ESP Guitars: LTD Deluxe SN-1000HT Fire Blast & SN-1000 EverTune Demo by Jamie Hunt & Pat Heath
ESP Guitars: 2023 NAMM Show - LTD Deluxe SN Series Spotlight
SNAMM '15 - ESP Guitars LTD SN-1000W TSB-F, EC-1000 Koa, M-1000 Koa, & H-1007 B Demos
TE-1000 Evertune Demo & Walkthrough
Unreleased Counterparts Riff - LTD TE-1000 EverTune
ESP Guitars: 2023 NAMM Show - LTD Deluxe TE Series Spotlight
ESP LTD EC-1000 Koa Electric Guitar Demo by Sweetwater
Shocking Review ESP LTD Deluxe SN-1000FR

Playability

Scale Length

Scale length is the distance the strings will span between the bridge and the nut. It can tell you a lot about the overall playability and tone of the instrument. A longer scale length means longer distance between frets, brighter tone and more string tension—which means lower action, but more difficult bending of the strings.

Here's the ESP LTD SN-1000 Evertune Koa's 25.5" scale length compared to other common sizes:

ESP LTD SN-1000 Evertune Koa Scale Length Comparison
ESP LTD SN-1000 Evertune Koa's scale length (at the top) compared to other popular sizes

This is the same scale length used in Stratocaster guitars, and it's one of the main reasons they have such a bright sound. It's considered a long scale when compared to most non-baritone guitars.

Since the distance between bridge and nut is relatively long, you'll need to give the strings more tension to get them in tune. This higher tension will allow for a couple of things. First, you can get a lower action (get the strings closer to the fretboard) because the strings won't 'wiggle' too much when pluck and won't cause fret buzz. This can allow you to use lower tunings without increasing your string gauge, and it will make it easier to press down the strings fast.

However, the frets will also have a wider separation between each other, which can make it harder to play, especially if you got small hands. The higher tension will also make the strings feel stiffer, so bending will require more strength.

More with the same scale length:

Neck Profile

ESP LTD SN-1000 Evertune Koa Neck Profile
ESP LTD SN-1000 Evertune Koa's neck profile

The neck profile tells you the thickness (neck depth) and shape in cross section. Every difference will completely change the feeling and comfortability of the neck. This is a highly subjective thing, but most players indeed prefer certain types of necks (like Cs and Ds) because they feel nice in most hands.

The ESP LTD SN-1000 Evertune Koa's neck thickness is approximately 0.787'' (20mm) at the first fret, and 0.866'' (22mm) at the twelfth.

These measurements were taken either from the official ESP LTD website, or, in case this information wasn't provided, by researching multiple online marketplaces and forums where owners of this model have posted their measurements.

It has a U type neck. This shape usually has more 'shoulders' than a C neck. It's great for guitarists who love the feel of a vintage neck. Most of them are thick, which makes it better for people with big hands. However, some of them can be thin like a C neck but with more mass to the sides for a better grip.

More for different hand sizes

Fretboard Radius

When it comes to fingerboard radius, personal preference will dictate which one is better for you. However, most people seem to agree that a more curved (lower) radius will make it easier to play chords while a less curved (higher) radius is better for soloing and bending.

ESP LTD SN-1000 Evertune Koa Fretboard Compound Radius
ESP LTD SN-1000 Evertune Koa's Compound Fretboard Radius

The ESP LTD SN-1000 Evertune Koa has a compound fingerboard radius of 12" to 16".

A compound radius is the best you can get because you'll get the best of both worlds. It starts curved at the nut, but it flattens as you get closer to the body. This means that you'll get great comfortability for chords on the first few frets, but also a flatter fretboard for playing solos without problems on the higher frets.

More with the same fretboard radius:

Playability compared to main competitors

25.5'' Scale Length
U Neck Profile
1.654'' Nut Width
Compound Fretboard Radius
25.512'' Scale Length
C Neck Profile
1.654'' Nut Width
Compound Fretboard Radius
25.512'' Scale Length
C Neck Profile
1.654'' Nut Width
Compound Fretboard Radius
25.5'' Scale Length
U Neck Profile
1.654'' Nut Width
12'' Fretboard Radius
24.6'' Scale Length
U Neck Profile
1.688'' Nut Width
12'' Fretboard Radius

Nut Width

ESP LTD SN-1000 Evertune Koa Nut Width
ESP LTD SN-1000 Evertune Koa Nut Width

The ESP LTD SN-1000 Evertune Koa has a nut width of 42mm (1.654''). This is considered a narrow width for a 6-string guitar. This means that this guitar will have a narrower string separation at the nut, which will affect your fretting hand.

If you are a player with big hands, you might find it difficult to play chords without muting strings. However, this is good for players who have smaller hands, as it will allow them to reach each string more easily at the nut.

Frets

The ESP LTD SN-1000 Evertune Koa has 22 frets. Even though 24 frets has become really popular, there's still a good reason to get fewer frets; the pickup at the neck position will be further away from the bridge. This makes the neck pickup achieve a warmer tone. You might want this if you're playing Jazz or similar genres.

However, if you don't care about the warmer neck pickup, more frets will always be better. It's always nice to have the option to play higher notes if you want to.

Finally, these are stainless steel frets. They're the best fretwire available. This means you won't need to change your frets since they should last as long as your guitar. Some people also feel easier bendings after swapping to stainless steel.

More with stainless steel frets:

Fret Size

ESP LTD SN-1000 Evertune Koa Fret Size Comparison
ESP LTD SN-1000 Evertune Koa's fret size (in orange) compared to other popular sizes

Finally, let's talk about fret size. Some people prefer tall frets because it's easier to press the strings and perform bends since there's less friction against the fretboard. On the other hand, some people like shorter frets because they like to touch the fretboard when playing, or because they got heavy hands and tend to press too much on the string and alter the of the note pitch accidently.

The ESP LTD SN-1000 Evertune Koa's frets are XL Jumbo size. These are extra-large frets, which are perfect for people who truly want the least resistance for techniques like vibrato, bending, tapping, and just playing fast in general. You won't be able to feel the fretboard with these frets, so if you press too hard you'll get the notes out of pitch. It might take a while to get used to them because of this.

More with the same type of frets:

Playability Score

Bending & Vibrato Ease 70
Chord Playability 80
Solo Playability 70
Playability 73

Tone

Wood will have little influence in the final tone of an electric guitar or bass. Instead, the hardware, especially the pickups, will be the most important thing to look at. Bur first, let's see the quality of the wood.

Wood

Mahogany wood pattern used for guitar building
Mahogany Body
Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Maple Neck
Ebony wood pattern used for guitar building
Ebony Fretboard

Mahogany Body: This is the type of wood found in many top-of-the-line guitars, so that's a positive point for the build quality. This red-looking wood Mahogany is found in Africa and Central America and has great sustain and a warm tone due to its high density. The downside about this type of wood is that it's relatively heavy.

Maple Neck: This is one of the most popular types of wood used in all kinds of guitars. It's heavy, strong and compact, which makes it great for necks. However, it's also used for fretboards, bodies and tops due to its light color, resistance and beautiful patterns. When it comes to tone, it highlights the mid and high frequencies.

Ebony Fretboard: This is one of the most expensive woods there is, which is why it's mostly used for fretboards. It is dense, heavy, highly resistant and comes in a really dark color that gives any guitar a classy touch. Tone wise, it helps the high side of the spectrum and provides good sustain.

More made with the same wood:

Pickups

This guitar comes with pickups from one of the top brands: Seymour Duncan. So you can expect well built pickups with great sound that shouldn't need an upgrade anytime soon.

These are passive pickups, so you can expect a rounder sound and a moderade level of output.

The ESP LTD SN-1000 Evertune Koa's configuration is HH. With this pickup combination, you'll get warmer tones and more output than using single coils. Humbucker pickups cancel the noise that single-coil suffer from, which also results in a warmer tone. This pickup combination isn't only for high-gain music like Hard Rock or Heavy Metal. Their warmness is also popular for Jazz, Indie, R&B, Blues and more.

More with the same pickups

22 Frets
Evertune Bridge
Seymour Duncan Custom 14 (ESP Exclusive) Bridge Pickup
Seymour Duncan APH-1N Neck Pickup
24 Frets
Tremolo Bridge
Seymour Duncan Full Shred SH-10B Bridge Pickup
Seymour Duncan APH-1N Neck Pickup
24 Frets
Tremolo Bridge
Seymour Duncan Full Shred SH-10B Bridge Pickup
Seymour Duncan APH-1N Neck Pickup
24 Frets
Tremolo Bridge
Seymour Duncan Full Shred SH-10B Bridge Pickup
Seymour Duncan APH-1N Neck Pickup
24 Frets
Tremolo Bridge
Seymour Duncan Full Shred SH-10B Bridge Pickup
Seymour Duncan APH-1N Neck Pickup

Versatility

It gives you a good amount of tone options with its 5-way switch. You can use it to choose at least 5 different pickup combinations.

It has a Coil Split option. It allows you to 'split' or turn off pickup coils to get even more tones in combination with the pickup selector. When used with humbucker pickups, it'll reduce the output and increase their clarity, turning them essentially into single-coil pickups.

What music genre is it good for?

As a 6 strings, Solid Body guitar with HH configuration and Passive pickups, we'd recommend it for genres like Hard Rock or similar. However, you can use almost any guitar for any genre. This is just the typical type of music for this particular one.

Sound Score

Pickups 90
Sustain 75
Versatility 67
Tuning Stability 100
Sound 83

Build Quality

Country of Origin

Knowing where the instrument is produced is a good way to know how well it's built. Some manufacturing countries are known for having higher quality standards. For example, most expensive instruments are made in the US or Japan, but there are some exceptionally great countries—like South Korea—that are building a good reputation.

The ESP LTD SN-1000 Evertune Koa is made in Japan. You should expect a high-quality guitar with excellent quality control. It can be compared to guitars made in the US, which is why they're also expensive.

Bridge

Evertune (F model): This type of bridge is designed to keep your guitar in tune and with perfect intonation no matter how much you bend the strings. The disadvantage is that it's not a cheap bridge, and if your playing style involves many subtle vibratos, you might not like that it lacks a bit of sensitivity. But most guitarists are okay with this as long as they don't have to tune a guitar ever again.

More with the same type of bridge:

Nut Material

Another important thing to analyze is the nut material, as it's one of the most important aspects that can affect the sound and playability of your guitar. A well-cut nut will make sure it stays in tune and will make it more comfortable to play.

In this case, the ESP LTD SN-1000 Evertune Koa 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.

Neck Joint

The neck joint is the part where the neck of the guitar meets the body. There are three main techniques to attach both parts together: Set-In, Bolt-On and Neck-Through. The latter two provide different advantages, although neck-throughs are the most expensive.

This guitar has a Bolt-On neck joint. Even though this type of neck was looked down upon for a long time, nowadays bolt-on necks are well built and provide just as much sustain as any other join method. First of all, it's cheap to make because it consists of simply 4 bolts that attach the neck to the body. And you can travel with the guitar more easily, swap out the neck if you damage it, or upgrade to a more comfortable neck later on.

More with the same build:

Build Quality Score

Quality of materials 80
Features 65
Quality Control 90
Build Quality 78