LP style guitars

[1ArmyGuitar]

So I am back at it on MM and moving along well, and surprisingly I have retained alot of which I thought I might have forgotten. Well my goal was after learning play fairly well to move up to a better guitar. Well I just sold my RG2EX to a guy wanting to learn with some other gear and got enough that the wife gave me the green light to move on to a new guitar. But here is the dilema, I have no access to any of the ones I am considering but they all have killer reviews, they are the Michael Kelly Patriot Series, the Schecter Solo 6 series, and the ESP Eclipse line up.
Of those 3 some have active PU's, passive, setnecks, bolt ons, different finishes, etc........... anybody played the 3, and what are your opinions? The few that have caught my eye right now are,

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Schecter-Gu ... 1480446.gc

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Michael-Kel ... 1176881.gc

http://www.guitarcenter.com/ESP-LTD-EC- ... 1435799.gc

I am not sure about active PU's being new to the game, and not having a tube amp, but not sure if that makes a difference. Any others I may have missed let me know. But out of those I am leaning towards the MK Patriot the most. Thanks in advance!

[Danimal]

That Michael Kelley does look like the sweetest deal with the through body strings and direct mount pickups. That's definitely the one I'd choose.

[ElectricEye]

If you can test them out get the one that feels the best to you. They all look pretty good.

I've only played the Schecter and the ESP. I like the Schecter better because it's more comfortable for me. I find ESPs are too neck heavy for me.

[weldfish]

I would go for the Michael Kelly.

[surfdog]

Well, for ME...I'm not a huge fan of active PUs so that would rule out the Schecter. Though I might have a look at the Solo-6 or Damien models...

The Michael Kelly is nice...BUT...I don't really care for volume controls pulling double duty. I can live with a single tone control...but I'd rather have more than one volume control. It isn't always a deal breaker...but given the choice, I want more control instead of less.

So for ME...of THOSE three the ESP is winning.

You might also want to have a look at the Dean Soltero or Cadillac. They're both are offered in several "flavours" but here's a couple of links anyway.
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Dean-Solter ... 1442093.gc
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Dean-Solter ... 1442093.gc
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Dean-Cadill ... 1169012.gc

FWIW, I like the Caddy more than the Soltero...

[1ArmyGuitar]

I think I may have just scored a sweet deal on this

http://www.guitarcenter.com/ESP-LTD-Del ... 1149002.gc

In Vintage Black!

[zerorepublic]

I actually used to have an EC-1000 in Black. It was the nicest guitar I ever had. Fast neck, nice looks, tone was sweet too. It didn't have EMGs though, Seymour Duncans. I didn't think I'd be too thrilled about gold hardware either, until I opened its hardshell case. I liked it, except something was up with the bridge so as I would palm mute, I'd break the the low E or A. It was a pain it the neck, and I'd file the bridge sometimes, hoping it would work, but up to the point it got stolen, it always was really easy to break strings. Now I have a Les Paul Faded Studio, and now this is the nicest guitar I've ever had. If you haven't picked up that EC-1000 yet, you might really want to check out Gibson's Faded Series. I got the Faded Brown Les Paul Studio, but it more looks like a transparent, or natural finish. AMS doesn't even check your credit if you do the 3 easy payment plan... something to ponder anyway.

http://www.americanmusical.com/Item--i-GIB-LPST-LIST

[dougmarksstudent_]

Yea I'd also strongly consider the Gibson Les Paul studio line up. I also like to use American Musical to buy my gear. I love the 3-pay and 5-pay options. I've spent a lot of money with them in the past few years because they will ship you the gear up front and allow you to do the pay plans. I'm just about to get a new amp any day now from them.

[jlogicalor]

the 5 pay system is pretty awesome