ESP and LTD setup specs
ESP publishes one set of setup numbers for all its ESP and LTD guitars, in its owner’s manual. Here they are by guitar type, in millimetres and inches.
- Neck relief
- 0.3–0.5 mm (.010"–.020").010"–.020" (0.3–0.5 mm)
- Fret the low or high E at the 1st and about the 16th fret, then tap the string at frets 7 to 9. ESP: “usually plenty of bow”.
- Truss rod
- 1/4 turn at most
- Per adjustment, then let the neck settle and re-check.
- Factory strings, 6-string non-trem
- 46/36/26/17/13/10
Minimum string height
At the 12th fret, top of fret to bottom of string, on the two outside strings. ESP says going lower than this is not recommended.
| Guitar type | Bass side | Treble side |
|---|---|---|
| 6-string guitar | 2.0 mm (5/64")5/64" (2.0 mm) | 1.5 mm (1/16")1/16" (1.5 mm) |
| Baritone or 7-string | 2.5 mm (3/32")3/32" (2.5 mm) | 1.5 mm (1/16")1/16" (1.5 mm) |
| 8-string guitar or baritone | 2.8 mm (7/64")7/64" (2.8 mm) | 1.5 mm (1/16")1/16" (1.5 mm) |
| Acoustic | 3.2 mm (1/8")1/8" (3.2 mm) | 2.0 mm (5/64")5/64" (2.0 mm) |
| 4-string bass | 2.8 mm (7/64")7/64" (2.8 mm) | 2.0 mm (5/64")5/64" (2.0 mm) |
| 5, 6 or 8-string bass | 3.2 mm (1/8")1/8" (3.2 mm) | 2.0 mm (5/64")5/64" (2.0 mm) |
Maximum bridge pickup height
Top of the pickup to bottom of the string, held down at the last fret. Active pickups pull less and can sit closer.
| Instrument | Bass side | Treble side |
|---|---|---|
| Guitar | 2.5 mm (3/32")3/32" (2.5 mm) | 1.5 mm (1/16")1/16" (1.5 mm) |
| Bass | 3.5 mm (9/64")9/64" (3.5 mm) | 2.5 mm (3/32")3/32" (2.5 mm) |
- ESP gives no per-model radius, scale length or nut width in the manual; check your model’s spec sheet for those.
- ESP recommends a first setup by a repair shop.
Source: ESP owner’s manual (version 1.3), checked 2026-11-12.
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