Dark and Stormy

ESP GUITARS LTD DELUXE SN-1000HT FIRE BLAST

- Paul Riario

YOU’VE PROBABLY HEARD the saying, “The definition of ‘insanity’ is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” And while this notion is consistently true for many common-sense things, it appears this doesn’t apply to the insane amount of Superstrat designs being churned out year after year. Without sounding cynical, I’m always floored as to how guitar builders have been able to turn the idea of a Superstrat “over and over again” on its head with undeniably impressive results. This is very much how I felt upon seeing the LTD Deluxe SN-1000HT Fire Blast, part of ESP Guitars' “New for 2022” collection of instruments. As a certifiable Superstrat addict, I requested this guitar because of its intense looks, so yes, I totally “judged a book by its cover” — to coin yet another phrase — before I was even able to play it. But after spending time with it, I can say the LTD Deluxe SN1000HT Fire Blast is as wickedly tremendous as it appears in both sight and sound.