ESP Guitars
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
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- ESP AX Series
- ESP Custom Series
- ESP Deluxe Series
- ESP EC Series
- ESP EX Series
- ESP EXP Series
- ESP Forest Series
- ESP Horizon Series
- ESP Hybrid Series
- ESP Mirage Series
- ESP MH Series
- ESP MHNT Series
- ESP Standard Series
- ESP V Series
- ESP VIPER Series
- ESP Xtone Series
- ESP LTD PA-1
- ESP LTD PC-1
- ESP LTD PC-1V
- ESP LTD PC-2
- ESP LTD PC-2V
- ESP LTD PS-1
- ESP LTD PS-1V
- ESP LTD PS-2
- ESP LTD PS-2V
- ESP 2005 30th Anniversary Series
- ESP Eclipse 30th Custom
- ESP KH-2 30th Custom
- ESP B Series
- ESP J Deluxe Series
- ESP LTD J-1004
- ESP LTD J-1005
- ESP Surveyor Series
- ESP Surveyor-II
- ESP LTD Surveyor-400
- ESP Signature Series
- ESP Artist Series
- ESP Original Series
- ESP 400 Series
- ESP Edwards Series
- ESP Grass Roots Series
- ESP Italia Series
- ESP Lakland Series
- ESP Navigator Series
- ESP SV Series
- ESP Junior
- ESP Junior II
Artists
A number of popular musicians play ESP guitars, mostly from the genres of rock and heavy metal including:
- James Hetfield of Metallica
- Kirk Hammett of Metallica
- Dave Mustaine of Megadeth
- Michael Amott of Arch Enemy and Spiritual Beggars
- George Lynch of Dokken and Lynch Mob
- Jules Hodgson of KMFDM and PIG
- Khalid Ilahi of Beyond Shadows
- Buckethead
- Ron Wood of The Rolling Stones
- Glen Drover of Megadeth
- Max Cavalera of Soulfly
- Stephen Carpenter of the Deftones
- Steve DiGiorgio of Sadus, Death and Testament
- Page Hamilton of Helmet
- Jeff Hanneman of Slayer
- Tom Araya of Slayer
- Roope Latvala of Children of Bodom
- Henkka Blacksmith of Children of Bodom
- Alexi Laiho of Children of Bodom
- Chino Moreno of the Deftones
- Josh Partington of Something Corporate
- Martin Powell of Cradle of Filth
- Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails
- Richard Z. Kruspe of Rammstein
- Michael Romeo of Symphony X
- André Olbrich of Blind Guardian
- Marcus Siepen of Blind Guardian
- Bjorn Gellote of In Flames
- Jesper Strömblad of In Flames
- Benjamin Weinman of The Dillinger Escape Plan
- Tetsuya Ogawa of L'Arc~en~Ciel
- Kaoru of Dir en grey
- Die of Dir en grey
- Toshiya of Dir en grey
- Alexander Kuoppala formerly of Children of Bodom
- Balsac the Jaws of Death of GWAR
- Flattus Maximus of GWAR
- Beefcake the Mighty of GWAR
- Ahrue Luster of Ill Nino
- Emppu Vuorinen of Nightwish
- Dan Jacobs of Atreyu
- Travis Miguel of Atreyu
- Daniel Daponde of The Acacia Strain
- D.L. Laskiewicz of The Acacia Strain
- Jack Strong of The Acacia Strain
- Captain Sensible of The Damned
- Kelly Hayes of Cold / Allele
- Thomas Erak of The Fall of Troy
- Timo Tolkki of Stratovarius
- Miyavi of Dué Le Quartz
- Baba Ikuzo of Dragon Ash
- Justin Sane of Anti-Flag
- Masaru Sakurai of The Alfee
- Kōnosuke Sakazaki of The Alfee
- Toshihiko Takamizawa of The Alfee
- Sugizo ex-Luna Sea
- J ex-Luna Sea
- INORAN ex-Luna Sea
- Anchang(Koji Ando) of Sex Machineguns
- Circuit.V.Panther(Yoshikazu Yahiro) of Sex Machineguns
- Samurai.W.Kenjilaw(Kenjiro Murai) of Sex Machineguns and ex-Cali≠Gari
- Noisy of Dustar-3 and ex-Sex Machineguns
- Yuki of Dustar-3
- Mana of Moi Dix Mois and ex-Malice Mizer
- Akira Takasaki of Loudness
- Aiji of Pierrot
- Jun of Pierrot
- Kohta of Pierrot
- TORU xxx of Undown and guitarist for The Mad Capsule Markets
- Wednesday 13 of Frankenstein Drag Queens From Planet 13, Murderdolls and Wednesday 13
- Jun Senoue of Crush 40
- kazu of Kagerou
- Paul Landers of Rammstein
- The Demonstealer of Demonic Resurrection
- Scott Middleton of Cancer Bats
- Birgit Öllbrunner of Midnattsol
- Gus G. of Firewind