Best ESP Guitars With EMG 81 Pickups in 2024

Here you'll find the best ESP guitars with EMG 81 pickups.

After comparing the 2000+ guitars in our database, these are the best scoring ones with these characteristics. You can use our filters to the left to narrow down these results, or click on "Compare" to get a deep comparison between them. Our automated scoring system takes into account the ratings from ours users who own the guitar, and dozens of parameters to determine the build quality, playability, pickups quality, value for money, and more.

There are affiliate links on this page that may earn us a commission if you purchase after clicking. We are members of the Amazon Associates Program, and many others. However, we compare each guitar against each other under the same parameters, so this doesn't influence our scoring.

1. ESP Gary Holt EC

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ESP Gary Holt EC
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Reverb logoMusician's Friend logoSweetwater logo
Playability 78
Sound 81
Build quality 77
Value for money 64
Overall Score 79

What our users think

  • Pickups noise: Noiseless (9 votes)
  • Pickups power: Clean (5 votes)
Own it? Share your opinion
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Reverb logoMusician's Friend logoSweetwater logo
  • 3 Prices - New from $7,699 >
  • From ESP's 2015 Signature series
  • Made in Japan
  • 6 strings
  • 24.75"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Maple top
  • Mahogany body
  • 1Pc Mahogany neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: EMG 81 (Humbucker/Active)
  • Neck pickup: EMG 89R (Humbucker/Active)
  • 2 volume and 0 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Floyd Rose Original bridge
  • Thin U Set neck
  • 22 XL Jumbo frets
  • Gotoh tuners
  • See all specs and compare >
Show all Specs
  • 3 Prices - New from $7,699 >
  • From ESP's 2015 Signature series
  • Made in Japan
  • 6 strings
  • 24.75"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Maple top
  • Mahogany body
  • 1Pc Mahogany neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: EMG 81 (Humbucker/Active)
  • Neck pickup: EMG 89R (Humbucker/Active)
  • 2 volume and 0 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Floyd Rose Original bridge
  • Thin U Set neck
  • 22 XL Jumbo frets
  • Gotoh tuners
  • See all specs and compare >
Strengths & Weaknesses
ESP Gary Holt EC
  • Made in Japan
  • Expensive Wood
  • Locking Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Coil Split Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • Retainer Bar
  • Strap Lock
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio

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2. ESP RZK-II Burnt

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ESP RZK-II Burnt
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Reverb logoSweetwater logo
Playability 80
Sound 78
Build quality 77
Value for money 63
Overall Score 78

What our users think

  • Pickups noise: Noiseless (9 votes)
  • Pickups power: Clean (5 votes)
Own it? Share your opinion
FIND IT ON:
Reverb logoSweetwater logo
  • 2 Prices - New from $7,999 >
  • From ESP's 2010 Signature series
  • Made in Japan
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Alder body
  • 3pc Maple neck
  • Rosewood fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: EMG 81 (Humbucker/Active)
  • Neck pickup: EMG 81 (Humbucker/Active)
  • 1 volume and 0 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Floyd Rose Original bridge
  • Thin U Neck-Through neck
  • 24 XL Jumbo frets
  • Gotoh tuners
  • See all specs and compare >
Show all Specs
  • 2 Prices - New from $7,999 >
  • From ESP's 2010 Signature series
  • Made in Japan
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Alder body
  • 3pc Maple neck
  • Rosewood fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: EMG 81 (Humbucker/Active)
  • Neck pickup: EMG 81 (Humbucker/Active)
  • 1 volume and 0 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Floyd Rose Original bridge
  • Thin U Neck-Through neck
  • 24 XL Jumbo frets
  • Gotoh tuners
  • See all specs and compare >
Strengths & Weaknesses
ESP RZK-II Burnt
  • Made in Japan
  • Expensive Wood
  • Locking Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Neck-Through Build
  • Tremolo
  • Retainer Bar
  • Strap Lock
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio

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3. ESP KH Demonology

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ESP KH Demonology
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Sweetwater logo
Playability 80
Sound 79
Build quality 75
Value for money 63
Overall Score 78

What our users think

  • Pickups noise: Noiseless (9 votes)
  • Pickups power: Clean (5 votes)
Own it? Share your opinion
FIND IT ON:
Sweetwater logo
  • From ESP's 2017 Signature series
  • Made in Japan
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Alder body
  • 3pc Maple neck
  • Rosewood fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: EMG 81 (Humbucker/Active)
  • Neck pickup: EMG 60 (Humbucker/Active)
  • 2 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Floyd Rose Original bridge
  • Extra Thin U Neck-Through neck
  • 24 XL Jumbo frets
  • Gotoh tuners
  • See all specs and compare >
Show all Specs
  • From ESP's 2017 Signature series
  • Made in Japan
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Alder body
  • 3pc Maple neck
  • Rosewood fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: EMG 81 (Humbucker/Active)
  • Neck pickup: EMG 60 (Humbucker/Active)
  • 2 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Floyd Rose Original bridge
  • Extra Thin U Neck-Through neck
  • 24 XL Jumbo frets
  • Gotoh tuners
  • See all specs and compare >
Strengths & Weaknesses
ESP KH Demonology
  • Made in Japan
  • Expensive Wood
  • Locking Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Neck-Through Build
  • Tremolo
  • Retainer Bar
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

All Prices

    4. ESP KH-2 Vintage

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    ESP KH-2 Vintage
    FIND IT ON:
    Reverb logoSweetwater logo
    Playability 80
    Sound 79
    Build quality 75
    Value for money 63
    Overall Score 78

    What our users think

    • Pickups noise: Noiseless (9 votes)
    • Pickups power: Clean (5 votes)
    Own it? Share your opinion
    FIND IT ON:
    Reverb logoSweetwater logo
    • 2 Prices - New from $6,002.62 >
    • From ESP's 2001 Signature series
    • Made in Japan
    • 6 strings
    • 25.5"'' scale
    • 12" Fretboard Radius
    • Alder body
    • 3pc Maple neck
    • Rosewood fretboard
    • Bridge pickup: EMG 81 (Humbucker/Active)
    • Neck pickup: EMG 60A (Humbucker/Active)
    • 2 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
    • 3-way Switch
    • Floyd Rose Original bridge
    • Extra Thin U Neck-Through neck
    • 24 XL Jumbo frets
    • Gotoh tuners
    • See all specs and compare >
    Show all Specs
    • 2 Prices - New from $6,002.62 >
    • From ESP's 2001 Signature series
    • Made in Japan
    • 6 strings
    • 25.5"'' scale
    • 12" Fretboard Radius
    • Alder body
    • 3pc Maple neck
    • Rosewood fretboard
    • Bridge pickup: EMG 81 (Humbucker/Active)
    • Neck pickup: EMG 60A (Humbucker/Active)
    • 2 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
    • 3-way Switch
    • Floyd Rose Original bridge
    • Extra Thin U Neck-Through neck
    • 24 XL Jumbo frets
    • Gotoh tuners
    • See all specs and compare >
    Strengths & Weaknesses
    ESP KH-2 Vintage
    • Made in Japan
    • Expensive Wood
    • Locking Nut
    • Top Brand Pickups
    • Neck-Through Build
    • Tremolo
    • Retainer Bar
    • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
    • No Locking Tuners
    • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
    • No Weight Relief
    • No Luminescent Inlay
    • No Compound Radius Fretboard
    • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
    • No Strap Lock

    All Prices

    5. ESP Jeff Hanneman

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    ESP Jeff Hanneman
    FIND IT ON:
    Sweetwater logo
    Playability 80
    Sound 79
    Build quality 74
    Value for money 63
    Overall Score 78

    What our users think

    • Pickups noise: Noiseless (9 votes)
    • Pickups power: Clean (5 votes)
    Own it? Share your opinion
    FIND IT ON:
    Sweetwater logo
    • From ESP's 2010 Signature series
    • Made in Japan
    • 6 strings
    • 25.5"'' scale
    • 15.75" Fretboard Radius
    • Alder body
    • 3pc Maple neck
    • Ebony fretboard
    • Bridge pickup: EMG 81 (Humbucker/Active)
    • Neck pickup: EMG 85 (Humbucker/Active)
    • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
    • 3-way Switch
    • Kahler 2315 bridge
    • Extra Thin U Neck-Through neck
    • 24 XL Jumbo frets
    • Gotoh tuners
    • See all specs and compare >
    Show all Specs
    • From ESP's 2010 Signature series
    • Made in Japan
    • 6 strings
    • 25.5"'' scale
    • 15.75" Fretboard Radius
    • Alder body
    • 3pc Maple neck
    • Ebony fretboard
    • Bridge pickup: EMG 81 (Humbucker/Active)
    • Neck pickup: EMG 85 (Humbucker/Active)
    • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
    • 3-way Switch
    • Kahler 2315 bridge
    • Extra Thin U Neck-Through neck
    • 24 XL Jumbo frets
    • Gotoh tuners
    • See all specs and compare >
    Strengths & Weaknesses
    ESP Jeff Hanneman
    • Made in Japan
    • Expensive Wood
    • Locking Nut
    • Top Brand Pickups
    • Neck-Through Build
    • Tremolo
    • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
    • No Locking Tuners
    • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
    • No Weight Relief
    • No Luminescent Inlay
    • No Compound Radius Fretboard
    • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
    • No Retainer Bar
    • No Strap Lock

    All Prices

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