ESP Signature Series guitars
Everyone wants to sound like the pros, and ESP makes that possible with their signature series of electric guitars. Each ESP signature series guitar is based on the preferences of some of the biggest names in rock and metal. Both James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett from Metallica have been big fans of ESP over the years, and they’ve each designed several ESP signature models to help you rock as hard as they do. For heavy rhythm and lead parts, James Hetfield designed three ESP signature models to keep you rocking:
Ready to shred ridiculous solos? Kirk Hammett has designed six ESP signature guitars of his own for incredible playability and lightning-fast speed. Your leads will never sound better!
Of course, the members of Metallica aren’t the only artists to design an ESP signature guitar. Other incredible musicians have worked with the master builders at ESP, including Deftones guitarist Stephen Carpenter. Lay down heavy riffs and wild leads with Carpenter’s signature models that come in seven- and eight-string configurations: ESP SC-607 and ESP SC-608B.
ESP basses
Just like their guitar counterparts, ESP bass guitars are built to lay down a heavy rocking foundation for any band. They’re built with all the same quality components ESP is known for to make sure they’re comfortable, fast, and ready to rock at a moment’s notice.
With gorgeous natural tonewood, monster bass pickups, and comfortable neck, the ESP B-Series basses look and feel as good as they sound. The ESP LTD B-206SM is the six-string variant of the B-Series bass. With its incredible looks and tone, you’d think it’d cost way more than it really does…
For bassists who like more traditional looks and feel, the ESP LTD AP Series of bass guitars should be right up your alley. They take classic electric bass looks and pack it with ESP hardware for the best performance possible. The ESP LTD AP-4 is the four-string model in the AP series, but they also come in five string variants.
Take it back to yesteryear with the vintage design of the ESP LTD GB Series. Although these basses might look antique, they have all the modern performance and power ESP is known for. Check out the ESP LTD GB-4 bass guitar to see how vintage and modern blend together into one incredible package!
ESP guitar and bass cases
You don’t want your amazing EPS guitar or bass to get hurt on the road. Keep your axe protected with ESP-branded cases. ESP gigbags and hardshell cases are designed to fit your specific ESP instrument model for the snuggest, most protective fit possible.
History of ESP
How did ESP become a household name in the world of hard rock and metal? The story begins in Tokyo, Japan back in 1975.
A man named Hisatake Shibuya opened a shop called Electric Sound Products that specialized in custom replacement parts for guitars. Naturally, he shortened the name of the shop to ESP.
As the company grew, Shibuya expanded his shop to a loft in downtown New York in 1983. He started making custom guitars and instruments for local New York artists and quickly developed a following with popular artists like Vinnie Vincent and Bruce Kulick of KISS (at the time), Vernon Reid from Living Colour, and Ronnie Wood of The Rolling Stones.
ESP guitar bodies and necks were so good that other major brands started using them in their own designs. ESP began supplying necks and bodies to Schecter, DiMarzio, and Kramer guitars.
In 1985, popular metal shredder George Lynch walked into the ESP shop in Tokyo for some replacement parts on his guitar. Instead, he ended up developing a completely custom guitar from the ground up. This became the first ESP signature model, the George Lynch Kamikaze. It wasn’t long after this that ESP started releasing guitar and bass models under their own name, including the M1 series, Horizon Custom, MI Custom, and the Surveyor Bass.
Always expanding, ESP moved from its little New York loft to a more central location on 48th Street with other music stores. Not only did they expand their sales, but ESP also started to expand their product line with even more signature series, more standard series, and even a Custom Shop series.
In 1993, seeing how the music industry was changing, ESP moved its U.S. headquarters from New York City to Los Angeles. They opened a new shop right on the Sunset Strip, at the heart of the California music scene. It was here that ESP introduced the more affordable Korean and Indonesian-made LTD lines, which quickly blew up in popularity.
Many of ESP’s designs were basically customized and hot-rodded versions of popular guitars at the time, like the Gibson Explorer, Fender Stratocaster, and Fender Telecaster models. The ESP EXP/MX (which was based on the Gibson Explorer) shot to fame when a little band called Metallica rose to fame in the early ‘90s, with frontman James Hetfield wielding the Explorer lookalike.
Naturally, Gibson wasn’t a fan of any brand copying their designs, so they filed a lawsuit against ESP — similar to what happened to Ibanez. By the end of the 1990s, ESP redesigned their models to be completely unique in the guitar industry.
ESP continued to be at the forefront of the hard rock and metal scene throughout the 2000s and all the way through to today. Musicians like Dave Mustaine (Megadeath), Alexi Laiho (Children of Bodom), Jeff Hanneman (Slayer), and more all have used ESP guitars at some point in their careers.
In 2015, ESP officially began distributing Takamine guitars in the U.S., expanding their acoustic line and ensuring musicians can have a quality and playable guitar, even if they don’t want to plug into an amp.
ESP’s dedication to quality build materials and supreme playability make them a mainstay for both amateur guitarists and professionals alike. When you’re ready to shred, grab an ESP and hold on tight. You’re in for a wild ride!
