The Hunt: One Guitar Among Thousands
When it comes to finding the perfect guitar, every player knows the journey can be as personal and painstaking as crafting the tone itself. For me, the search for a new number one fiddle became an obsessive hunt — and it paid off in full. I present to you: The EC Evil Wood.
The ESP LTD EC-1000 Burl Poplar isn’t just a workhorse — it’s a visual statement. Every single model features a completely unique grain pattern thanks to the unpredictable beauty of burl wood. No two are alike. Knowing this, I made it my mission to audition every available EC-1000 Burl Poplar across the country — from online dealers to direct calls with ESP HQ in California.
After 15+ evaluations, I struck gold. The Music Loft in Wilmington, NC had what was undeniably the most stunning EC-1000 in the U.S. Huge thanks to Chase O’Neal for his time, patience, and helping seal the deal.
Under the Hood: Hellbender Fury
Out of the box, the guitar came loaded with a Seymour Duncan Pegasus/Sentient set — easily the best stock pickups I’ve received from any manufacturer. But as any tone chaser knows, there’s always another level.
Enter: the MojoTone Bill Kelliher Hellbender Humbucker Set.
Inspired by the Mastodon guitarist’s crushing yet articulate tone (RIP Brent), this pickup set delivers both bite and bloom:
- Bridge: 19K resistance with an Alnico 5/Ceramic magnet blend — searing highs, focused mids, and tight lows.
- Neck: 11K with Alnico 2/Ceramic blend — warm and dynamic, perfect for fluid leads or soulful clean passages.
While I usually opt for MojoTone’s Magnum zebra set, the Hellbenders brought a new tonal palette that’s both aggressive and nuanced.
Wiring: Built for the Stage
Electronics can make or break a guitar’s live versatility. For the Evil Wood, I made several key upgrades:
- Dual Independent Volume Controls: Each humbucker now has its own volume knob. This allows me to cut the neck pickup entirely, creating a built-in killswitch. It’s a live performance trick I’ve come to rely on.
- Tone Control: Hardwired to full — because I never roll it back.
- Mini Toggle Coil-Split: With a flip, I can summon glassy single-coil tones. In the neck or middle position, I get lush, Strat-like cleans — I like to call them “Pink Floyd” tones — perfect for dynamic range.
Craftsmanship: Precision by Linker Guitars
Big thanks to Franklin at Linker Guitars (Denver, NC) — a luthier with a global reputation for excellence. His meticulous work on the wiring and setup brought the entire vision to life. The guitar now plays like an extension of thought — clean, fast, and deadly accurate.
Strings: Custom SIT 6 from a 7
Running a modified 7-string set from my longtime partners at SIT Strings — tailored for my go-to tuning: CGCFAD.
Gauges: .064 – .046 – .036 – .017 – .013 – .010
The .064 keeps the low C tight and punchy, while the lighter top end stays fast and expressive. Perfect balance for heavy riffing and melodic work alike.
Final Thoughts: My New #1
The EC Evil Wood isn’t just another guitar. It’s a culmination of months of hunting, years of tone shaping, and a lifetime of passion. With its show-stopping looks, monstrous Hellbender pickups, and stage-ready electronics, this is now my main axe — the kind of guitar that doesn’t just play music, it commands it.
Hello, my name is Justin Driscoll and I call the wonderful state of North Carolina home. I might have taken your photo at some point or met you at a Rock N Roll show? However, I also have many other facets of my life I am passionate about. I started this site to talk about some of those things.
Whether it be guitars, guitar gear, Harley’s, Jeep stuff, photography, vinyl or travels, I’ll be on here to chat about it.
Stay Weird, Stay Creative!