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ESP Guitars

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The ESP Guitar Company (Electric Sound Products), located in North Hollywood, California, is a prominent manufacturer of electric guitars and basses.

History

In 1975, Hisatake Shibuya opened a shop in Tokyo, Japan called Electric Sound Products, or ESP. It provided custom replacement parts for hot-rod guitars. In 1976, ESP gained a reputation as a provider of high-quality replacement parts. At this time, ESP also began crafting guitars under the ESP and Navigator brand in the Japanese market.

ESP replacement parts were first introduced into the US in 1983. ESP began crafting custom intruments for local New York artists between 1984 and 1985. Among these artists were Page Hamilton of Helmet, Vernon Reid of Living Colour, Bruce Kulick of KISS, and Ron Wood of The Rolling Stones. At this time, ESP also introduced the 400 Series as the first production line distributed in the US.

In 1986, George Lynch discovered ESP while on tour in Tokyo. Lynch walked into an ESP shop looking for a replacement neck and learned that ESP also built custom guitars. As a result, his famous Kamikaze was made. ESP soon introduced the M1 Standard, MI Custom, Horizon Custom, and the Surveyor bass into the market.

In 1987, Kirk Hammett of Metallica discovered ESP and made his ESP KH-2 which was later released as a signature model in 1989. At this time, ESP released George Lynch's Kamikaze as its first signature model. ESP based its headquarters in a loft in downtown New York City on 19th Street. In 1989, the headuqarters were moved to 48th Street near the famous music stores.

Between 1990 and 1992, ESP expanded its Signature Series as well as its standard product line. The US replacement parts business was discontinued in order to switch focus solely on the guitar and bass line as well as the custom shop.

In 1993, ESP moved its headquarters again but this time it was relocated to Los Angeles. There, ESP opened an office on Sunset Blvd. in Hollywood. In 1996, LTD was created to produce ESP's high-quality products in a more affordable line of production. LTD grew in popularity and became a noteworthy brand among many artists throughout the years following its creation.

In 2002, ESP was ranked among the music industry's fastest growing companies. ESP introduced its Xtone line, beginning with the semi-hollow Paramount Series. In 2005, ESP celebrated its 30th Anniversary and released James Hetfield's "Truckster" into its Signature Series.

Manufacturing operations

In 1996, ESP started a new brand, the LTD. The LTD guitars are similar to ESP guitars and more affordable. The 300 series LTDs are made on an assembly line in Korea whereas the series below 300 are made in Indonesia. LTDs are made out of cheaper materials than ESPs and ESPs use better quality hardware. The custom ESPs are handcrafted in Japan while the standard ESPs are made in factories in Japan.

Popularity

ESP found fame by providing guitars for guitarists who went on to become leading exponents of thrash metal music in the 1980s, including Slayer, Megadeth and Metallica. As a result of these endorsements, ESP has gone to become one of the most popular suppliers of guitars for use in (usually) heavy metal music. They have, however, introduced signature guitars from other artists such as Ron Wood (guitarist in The Rolling Stones).

Models

Artists

A number of popular musicians play ESP guitars, mostly from the genres of rock and heavy metal including:

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