They've had a few big "Metal" endorsements like George Lynch, the guys from Metallica, Kerry King from Slayer off and on (he keeps jumping back and forth with BC Rich). A lot of what they offered was a Hot-Rodded Superstrat design, a Floyd Rose humbuckered Strat. They had a few Gibson inspired designs like the Eclipse (LP) and the now discontinued Explorer. They were a Japanese alternative to Fender or Gibson, like Ibanez. It seemed their target demographic was the metal market, however Ron Wood had (still has) a signature Telecaster model. I've never seen him play one though (see, James L, you can have your Warmoth and endorsement too). It of course wasn't called a Telecaster. More often than not, ESPs were EMG equipped.
15 years ago, the ESPs were high dollar and rarely seen. LTD was their economy version, like comparing Gibson and Epiphone, or Fender and Squier. No one would be caught dead on LTD, it was a low-rent ESP. If an ESP had a set neck and active pickups, the LTD version would be bolt-on with passives. In the last few years, the LTDs are more prevalent being more visible with the "famous" players.
There's nothing particularly special about them, not horrible either. ESP has a custom shop. In '97, I submitted an order for a bid. It was an Alder bodied, Floyd Rosed, EMG 81 & 85 equipped Telecaster (when they still offered one), solid black with a white pickguard. Think of a Jim Root signature Tele with a Floyd Rose. They wanted $2,300.00! Ouch!