The ESP LTD Viper-400 is a set-neck, double-cutaway mahogany guitar with a Tune-O-Matic bridge and a separate stopbar tailpiece, the same two-piece setup as a Gibson-style single-cut.
14 mods reviewed: 6 drop-in, 6 need verification, 2 need modification.
The ESP LTD Viper-400 is a set-neck, double-cutaway mahogany guitar with a Tune-O-Matic bridge and a separate stopbar tailpiece, the same two-piece setup as a Gibson-style single-cut. Grover tuners and a pau ferro fretboard round out the build. Pickups are either EMG active or Seymour Duncan passive depending on the specific finish, so it's worth checking which one you've got before shopping for an upgrade.
Tailpiece
Stopbar
String spacing
52.4mm (2-1/16")
Scale length
24.75" (629mm)
Tuner hole size
10mm (25/64")
Nut width
42mm (1.654")
Bridge mounting spacing
73.8mm (2.91")
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Gotoh's own listing names this as the OEM bridge on ESP and LTD guitars specifically, matching this guitar's confirmed spacing.
Gotoh's own product listing for this exact bridge explicitly names it as the OEM bridge on ESP and LTD guitars, matching this guitar's confirmed 73.8mm post spacing directly.
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A Nashville-spec bridge option, but ESP's exact stud spec has not been confirmed to match. Measure before ordering.
Guitar ships with a Tune-O-Matic bridge, ESP's exact stud spec has not been independently confirmed to match Gibson-spec Nashville.
Help confirm this fit
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View at ReverbSaddle sets for Tune-o-matic bridges are matched to the specific bridge, and we have not confirmed which one fits this guitar yet. Check the stamp on the underside of your bridge, or hold off until we have, before buying.
Graph Tech TUSQ saddle sets are matched to a specific bridge stamp, not universal across Tune-o-Matic bridges (confirmed via Graph Tech's own fitment guide). This guitar's exact bridge stamp has not been checked against Graph Tech's fitment chart, so the correct SKU is not yet confirmed. Graph Tech sell stamp-matched saddle SKUs rather than one universal set. Two separate things are unresolved on this guitar. It may carry a TonePros-branded bridge, which uses its own locking saddle screws, and whether standard TUSQ saddles work with that locking mechanism at all is unclear. The bridge stamp itself has also not been identified. Until both are settled there is no confident SKU to recommend here.
Help confirm this fit
Should fit closely based on this guitar's confirmed post spacing, though the exact tolerance hasn't been cross-checked. A locking upgrade over the stock bridge.
TonePros markets the NVR2 as their Nashville-spec locking retrofit. This guitar's confirmed post spacing (73.8mm) sits close to Nashville spec, but has not been specifically cross-checked against this locking bridge's own tolerances.
Help confirm this fit
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View at AmazonThis guitar ships with either active or passive pickups depending on finish and year. This passive set fits the standard route, but if your guitar has the active wiring, you will need to remove that setup first, not just swap the pickups. You will need to solder it in.
This guitar ships with either active EMG or passive Seymour Duncan pickups depending on finish and year. This passive set fits the standard humbucker route either way, but if your unit has the active EMG wiring, installing this means removing that active wiring and battery setup first.
Help confirm this fit
This guitar ships with either active or passive pickups depending on finish and year. This active set only plugs straight in if your specific guitar has the active wiring already, check what you have before buying.
This guitar ships with either active EMG or passive Seymour Duncan pickups depending on finish and year. This active EMG set only plugs straight in without rewiring if your specific unit has the active EMG wiring, check which pickups you actually have before buying.
Help confirm this fit
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View at AmazonThis guitar ships with either active or passive pickups depending on finish and year. Either way, this Fishman set needs its own dedicated wiring, not a straight swap into whatever your guitar currently has.
This guitar ships with either active EMG or passive Seymour Duncan pickups depending on finish and year. Fishman's active wiring connector is not cross-compatible with EMG's, so this set means a real rewire regardless of which stock configuration your unit has, either replacing passive wiring for an active setup, or swapping one brand's active harness for another's.
Help confirm this fit
£349.00 at Andertons
View at AndertonsShould swap straight into the existing tuner holes, no reaming needed.
Standard Gibson-style set-neck single-cut with Grover tuners on a 10mm hole.
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Should swap straight into the existing tuner holes, no reaming needed.
Standard Gibson-style set-neck single-cut with Grover tuners on a 10mm hole.
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Grover's Rotomatics are built for 10mm holes, which is what this guitar has. It already ships with Grover tuners, so this is a direct like-for-like swap.
The Viper 400 has a 3-per-side headstock drilled at 10mm and leaves the factory with Grover tuners already fitted, so this is a like-for-like replacement of the stock part.
£129.99 at Andertons
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Should swap straight into the existing tuner holes, no reaming needed.
Standard Gibson-style set-neck single-cut with Grover tuners on a 10mm hole.
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View at AmazonKluson's Revolution uses a screw-in bushing sized for 10mm holes, which is what this guitar has. No reaming needed.
The Viper 400 has a 3-per-side headstock drilled at 10mm and ships with Grover tuners. Kluson's Revolution uses a screw-in hex bushing built for a 10mm peghole, so it threads into the existing holes.
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This tuner is sized for vintage tuner holes, not the modern holes on this guitar. You'll need Gotoh's conversion bushings, sold separately, to fit it.
This tuner is vintage-hole spec (8.73 to 8.8mm), not the modern 10mm hole this guitar actually has. Gotoh sells conversion bushings separately for exactly this situation. Not a direct swap, but not a drilling job either, it is a bushing change.
Help confirm this fit
A real modification, not a drop-in. New holes go in the guitar, best left to someone experienced or a tech.
This guitar ships with a fixed stop bar, not a vibrato. Direct-mounting a Bigsby means new holes in the top.
Help confirm this fit
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View at AmazonIf you have fitted any of these to this ESP LTD Viper 400, tell us what you found and we'll update the data.
