ESP LTD EC-256FM Cobalt Blue

I already own an LTD EC-1000 deluxe in vintage black, so I can make some direct comparisons between this EC-256 and the 1000 that costs more than twice the price.
I am very happy with the 256 I received. Neck and frets are good and I love the neck profile of the ec series. Pups are decent enough that I am not very tempted to upgrade them any time soon. Overall a great guitar well worth its price tag.
Compared against the 1000 , I would say this: If the 256 is what your budget dictates, then go for it and you will love it.
IF you are on the fence about saving/ spending more, then go for a ec-1000 and you will have a pro level instrument. Spec wise they don't seem so different but once in hand, the level of the ec-1000 is undeniable. This isn't a knock against the 256 either, only a prop for the 1000. Either way, you will rock!

For context I'm not an experienced guitar player and I can only compare this to a cheap Yamaha Pacifica I had, and a vintage Stratocaster (which wasn't mine). This is now my only guitar, and feels and sounds better than the above two. (To be fair to the strat, it probably needed some TLC.) The action was set quite high out of the box so I have lowered it a bit (and re-did the intonation). The bridge is easy to adjust. The fretboard just feels easy and comfortable to play, and it looks great. Sound-wise, it sounds thick, mellow, very pleasing. I'm very happy with it and will not buy another guitar soon.

It lost one star for quality because the coil split knob is a bit dodgy and sometimes the audio cuts out when you pull the knob out. It's probably a simple case of cleaning the contacts there but I haven't bothered with it since I mostly use it in humbucker mode anyway.