The ESP E-II M-II Black Natural Burst doesn't show up at a discount very often. It's a set-thru, Japan-built superstrat loaded with Bare Knuckle Aftermath pickups, a Floyd Rose Original SE, and Gotoh locking tuners — the kind of spec sheet that usually means full price, no exceptions. So when a B-Stock unit lands at $3,359.20 instead of $4,199.00, the obvious question is: what's the catch?

Short answer: probably not much. Here's what we know about the instrument, what B-Stock actually means in this context, and who this guitar is genuinely built for.

View the ESP E-II M-II Black Natural Burst Guitar B-Stock Product Page

What You're Getting for $3,359.20

The E-II M-II is part of ESP's E-II line — guitars built in Japan to professional specs, positioned between the import LTD series and ESP's own Japan Originals. The M-II specifically is ESP's double-cutaway superstrat platform, and this quilted maple top version in Black Natural Burst is one of the more visually striking configurations in the line.

But the looks aren't the point. The spec list is:

• Construction: Set-thru (not bolt-on, not neck-thru — set-thru hits a middle ground: better upper-fret access than bolt-on, slightly more acoustic resonance than a purely glued joint)
• Body: Alder with quilted maple top
• Neck: 3-piece maple, Thin U contour
• Fingerboard: Ebony, 12" radius (305mm), 24 extra-jumbo stainless frets
• Nut: Locking, 42mm (1.65") width
• Tuners: Gotoh locking
• Bridge: Floyd Rose Original SE
• Pickups: Bare Knuckle Aftermath (neck and bridge), passive, Black Battleworn direct mount
• Controls: Volume / Tone with coil split / 3-way switch
• Hardware color: Gold
• Strings: Elixir Nanoweb Super Light (.009–.042)
• Includes: MH Guitar Form Fit Hardshell Case

A few of those deserve more than a bullet point.

The Bare Knuckle Aftermaths

Bare Knuckle pickups are a meaningful spec — not a marketing add-on. The Aftermath is a high-output passive humbucker designed specifically for extended-range and modern metal playing: tight low end, clear attack, detailed mids that don't turn to mush under gain. Having them in both positions means the neck pickup isn't an afterthought. The coil split on the tone knob gives you some usable clean territory, though this guitar is clearly optimized for high-gain work.

The Floyd Rose Original SE

The Floyd Rose Original SE is a licensed Floyd Rose — not the full Original, but close. It uses the same geometry and locking nut system; the materials and tolerances are slightly below the Original in the hierarchy. For most gigging players it performs reliably. If you're a player who does extreme dive-bomb technique constantly for years, you may eventually want to swap in a full Floyd Rose Original — but that's a long-term upgrade, not an immediate problem.

Combined with the Gotoh locking tuners and locking nut, tuning stability on this guitar is excellent out of the box.

The Scale, Radius, and Neck Feel

A 25.5" scale (648mm) gives you the tension and articulation that players who grew up on Fender-style guitars will recognize. The 12" fingerboard radius (305mm) is flatter than vintage-spec fenders — less chord-friendly curvature, more lead-playing flatness, which suits the guitar's clear purpose. The Thin U neck contour is fast and low-profile — if you're used to LTD's Thin U shape, this is the same idea at Japanese manufacturing tolerances.

The ebony fingerboard is worth noting. Ebony is denser and harder than rosewood, which contributes to a snappier attack and brighter upper-register response. It also holds up well over time and doesn't require conditioning the way some rosewood boards do.

What B-Stock Actually Means Here

B-Stock guitars at this price point are almost always cosmetically flawed units — a small scuff, a minor finish inconsistency, a handling mark from shipping or inspection. They're not guitars that failed quality control for playability or structural reasons; ESP wouldn't sell those at any grade.

The specific blemish on this unit will be noted in the listing photos. Look at those photos carefully — and think about where the mark actually is. A small scratch on the back of the body near the strap button is not a guitar you're going to see or feel while playing. A significant finish crack near the neck joint is a different story.

At $840 off MAP, you're getting meaningful money back for what is statistically likely to be a cosmetic imperfection you won't think about after the first week of owning the guitar.

Who This Guitar Is Actually For

The E-II M-II is a working musician's guitar in an instrument tier that also gets bought by serious collectors. That matters for how you evaluate the B-Stock question.

If you're a gigging guitarist who plays modern metal, hard rock, or anything that benefits from high-output passives and a reliable trem system — this is the use case this guitar was designed for. The Bare Knuckle Aftermaths, Floyd Rose SE, and stainless frets are all gig-ready, low-maintenance choices. The B-Stock discount makes obvious sense here: you're not preserving mint condition, you're playing the instrument.

If you're buying for the quilted maple top — you want the visual impact of the Black Natural Burst finish as part of the appeal — look closely at the B-Stock listing photos before committing. A blemish on the top itself matters more to you than it does to a player who's mostly looking at the fretboard.

If you're primarily a collector who wants a sealed, mint-condition instrument for long-term value, pay the $840 and buy new. That's a real trade-off and we'd rather say it plainly.

The Honest Trade-Offs

This is not a guitar without considerations. A few things worth naming:

• The Floyd Rose system has a learning curve. If you've never owned a double-locking trem, string changes and setup adjustments take longer than a fixed bridge or even a standard tremolo. If that's new territory, factor it in — it's not a dealbreaker, but it's real.
• The Aftermath pickups are high-output and voiced for gain. They clean up reasonably well with the volume knob rolled back, and the coil split adds some versatility, but if your primary playing is clean or lightly overdriven, there are better-suited instruments at this price point.
• Gold hardware shows wear over time more visibly than chrome or black. Purely aesthetic, but worth knowing if it matters to you.

Our Take

The E-II M-II Black Natural Burst is a genuinely capable professional guitar — Japan-built, spec'd for modern high-gain playing, with Bare Knuckle pickups that alone retail for several hundred dollars. At $4,199.00 new it sits in a competitive tier; at $3,359.20 B-Stock it's a significantly more compelling buy.

Check the listing photos for the specific blemish. If it's cosmetic and away from the playing surface, this is close to a straightforward decision for the right player. If the mark is on the quilted top and the finish is a big part of why you want this guitar, decide accordingly.

For a gigging musician who wants professional-grade components, a reliable trem system, and doesn't need the certificate of perfect cosmetic condition — this B-Stock unit does exactly what it promises at a price that's harder to find on this instrument.

View the ESP E-II M-II Black Natural Burst Guitar B-Stock Product Page

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between the Floyd Rose Original SE and a full Floyd Rose Original?

The Floyd Rose Original SE is a licensed version of the Floyd Rose system — same locking nut and saddle geometry, but built to slightly lower material tolerances than the full Floyd Rose Original. For most players, including regular gigging use, the SE performs reliably and holds tune well, especially paired with the Gotoh locking tuners on this guitar. If you're doing extremely aggressive dive-bomb technique over many years, you may eventually want to upgrade to a full Floyd Rose Original, but it's a long-term consideration, not an out-of-the-box issue.

Are Bare Knuckle Aftermath pickups passive or active, and what genres do they suit?

The Bare Knuckle Aftermath pickups in this guitar are passive — no battery required. They're high-output humbuckers voiced specifically for modern high-gain playing: tight, articulate low end and clear attack that holds definition under heavy distortion. They're a strong match for modern metal, djent, and hard rock. The coil split on the tone control adds some single-coil-style versatility for cleaner tones, though the guitar's overall character is optimized for gain.

Does a B-Stock guitar from ESP come with the same warranty?

B-Stock designation refers to cosmetic condition, not structural or functional defects. For warranty specifics on this unit, confirm the details with us directly at the time of purchase — warranty terms can vary depending on how the B-Stock unit was graded and processed. What we can tell you is that ESP B-Stock guitars are not instruments that failed playability or structural QC; they're cosmetically imperfect units that play and function as intended.

Is a 12" fingerboard radius good for lead playing?

Yes — a 12" radius (305mm) is on the flatter end of the spectrum, which reduces the curvature across the fretboard. Flatter radii are generally preferred for lead playing and bending because notes are less likely to fret out when you push a string across the board. It's less forgiving for open chord voicings than a rounder vintage-style radius, but for the style of playing this guitar is built for — fast leads, single-note runs, heavy riffing — it's the right choice.