ESP occupies a significant place within the guitar fraternity. Despite a history not as aged as renowned Japanese brands such as Gibson or Fender, it leveraged its uniqueness to escalate the rock and metal music scene in the late 20th century and established itself as a guitar brand that has inspired myriad guitarists.
Many famous ESP artists hail from the USA, leading many to believe that ESP is entirely manufactured in the USA, creating a sense of synonymy with American rock and metal music. On the contrary, we invite you on a journey of discovery to reveal the mystique of ESP guitars. We will be escorting you into the realm of the ESP guitar brand from Japan, exploring its origins, popular high-end guitar models, and the traits that differentiate ESP guitars from other brands.
ESP Guitar Company: A Fleeting Glimpse into the Legend in Three Minutes
In the bustling and complex city of Tokyo in 1975, a modest establishment named “Electronic Sound Products” was quietly founded. This essential first step held the key to innovation in the world of musical instruments. Initially, the ESP Guitar Company was a small firm stocking spare parts for popular guitar brands. The founder, Hisatake Shibuya, likely never envisaged his establishment metamorphosing into a leading influencer in the guitar world.
The rapid ascension of ESP guitars is in part attributable to their robust foundation in manufacturing high-quality replacement and upgrade parts. Not only was the brand capable of swiftly making bespoke guitars from available parts, but they also excelled in precision and craftsmanship. The ESP Custom Shop rapidly burgeoned in popularity in Japan, owing to their clever and exquisite craftsmanship.
Let’s now peek into their proprietary guitar models, ESP Edwards and Navigator, perfect replicas of Fender Stratocaster and Gibson Les Paul designs. However, ESP guitars were never content merely being replicas. They earned a spot amongst leading electric guitar manufacturers worldwide due to their superior quality. Their competitive pricing further reflects their untiring pursuit of craftsmanship excellence and unparalleled quality.
Why ESP managed to seize global attention were their exclusive custom designs. As CEO Matt Masciandaro quoted in a 2020 Reverb interview, “Guitarists will pick the ESP Guitar Company when they want something different from standard guitars.” The ESP is the go-to place for artists with unique visions or concepts and crave a guitar that isn’t a standard Les Paul or Strat.
Birthplace of ESP Guitars: Global Stamp of Manufacturing
The ESP guitars narrative is a journey spanning two continents, and their production techniques have laid roots in America and Asia. Each ESP guitar series is like an individual set in a symphony, each with its distinct origin and character.
The affordable ESP guitars available in the market, such as ESP LTD EC-1000, are painstakingly assembled in Indonesian and Korean factories. This strategy significantly reduces cost and enables all guitarists to enjoy the musical feast that ESP offers at a more affordable cost. The ESP USA series is entirely handcrafted in California, these guitars not only carry the pride of American manufacturing but also the authentic Japanese craftsmanship of the brand. However, the ESP E-II series continues to be manufactured in Japanese factories, and the ESP Original series is crafted by artisans in Tokyo, representing the brand’s pinnacle of craftsmanship.
Let’s rewind to the mid-1990s, when ESP introduced the affordably priced LTD in the US market and decided to temporarily suspend exporting Japanese-made guitars to the USA. Focus shifted towards improving their USA-oriented product line and minimize the export costs on US artists from Japan. However, within less than a decade, ESP reintroduced Japanese models in the US market, keeping pace with the burgeoning demand for Japanese guitars.
Nowadays, not only can you find ESP’s USA-made guitars across many parts of the world, but also finely crafted Japanese models, alongside the ESP mass-produced guitars made in Indonesia and Korea.
ESP Guitars: An Epitome of Exquisite Craftsmanship
ESP’s high-end guitars draw parallels to traditional giants of the guitar world, such as Gibson and Ibanez. The former can be deemed true masterpieces, and here’s why they are praiseworthy:
Manufacturing Process
Japanese-made ESP guitars exhibit breathtaking quality crafted by the finest guitar builders worldwide. Known for their near-obsessive attention to detail, ESP craftspeople manifest perfectionist craftsmanship and richness of detail in crafting each unique, high-quality handmade guitar. Their extraordinary manufacturing quality, spanning the balance between traditional and modern woodworking technology and individual techniques, is evidence of their clever and exquisite craftsmanship.
Professional Style, People-friendly Prices
One quickly identifies the impressive price range of ESP guitars while browsing the market. They’ve made quality and innovation their crux without ignoring the needs of the masses of guitar enthusiasts. Whether a beginner or professional musician, ESP has the right fit for all.
The ESP LTD series offers guitar enthusiasts the iconic signature of the brand and contemporary designs at affordable prices. Those looking for the authentic, custom-made Japanese ESP guitars will find the mass models desirable; they ensure every guitarist can effortlessly enjoy the enthralling and superb sound characteristic of the ESP brand.
Hear it from the Experts!
Ever since establishing their first store in the USA, ESP has amassed a multitude of professional guitarists and prominent rock musicians. Numerous artists across various music genres opt for ESP guitars, primarily rock and metal musicians. They share a common pursuit for guitars – they desire distinct tonal qualities and crave eye-catching, unique, and individually designed guitars.
If our word doesn’t suffice and you believe we are exaggerating, then depend on the choice and performance of globally renowned ESP guitarists like Dave Murray of Iron Maiden, Stephen Carpenter of Deftones, Alexi Laiho of Children Of Bodom, and James Hetfield of Metallica.
ESP Series: A Glimpse into the Diverse World of Guitars
In the vast universe of ESP guitars, we’ve compiled a concise guide to demonstrate the diversity of their bestselling series:
ESP Original Series
Leading the ESP guitar lineup is unquestionably the ESP Original Series.
These guitars, a masterpiece of Japanese craftsmanship crafted for serious musicians who hold high regard for music, wood, parts, and aesthetics, don’t compromise. Every guitar regales the apex pursuit of exquisite craftsmanship and musical purity and pays homage to every musician’s dream.
ESP Custom Shop
The guitars from the ESP Custom shop are all handcrafted in Japan and not only reflect exquisite craftsmanship but also buyer individuality and preferences. ESP guarantees: “A custom-made ESP guitar can be tailored as an enhanced version of an existing model or designed entirely from scratch, embodying the ultimate vision of your dream guitar or bass.”
ESP USA Series
In 2014, the ESP USA Series bridged the Pacific, bringing the exceptional craftsmanship of ESP Originals to American shores. These Californian handcrafted guitars not only extend the superb quality of ESP’s peak instruments into new domains but also “continue the highly esteemed tradition of ESP craftsmanship in guitar manufacturing.”
ESP Standard Series/E-II Series
Formerly named the ESP standard series, the ESP E-II series guitars have become stars in the hearts of music lovers, faithfully reproducing the sound purity and visual aesthetics of the Original series. These factory-made guitars from Japan aim to offer excellent sound quality, playability, and innovative design concepts at friendlier prices to all music enthusiasts.
ESP LTD Series
The ESP Guitar Company is renowned for its handcrafted, exquisite craftsmanship. However, not all musicians can afford handmade guitars in these changing times. Thus, the LTD series came into existence – becoming the factory-realized wing of the ESP family that has garnered the recognition and admiration of several professionals. The ESP LTD series adheres to quality and aesthetics without compromising quality. They serve not only as the first pick for new ESP fans but also are suitable for beginners, intermediate players, and even professional musicians who love their flawless design.
ESP Acoustic Guitars
ESP, a name that has resonated throughout the metal music world for its ability to inspire guitarists to generate intense sounds, also offers a much broader range of instruments, encompassing acoustic guitars and bass guitars. Particularly noteworthy in the ESP LTD series are the ultra-thin LTD TL Piezo electric guitars, which unmistakably stand out from both traditional acoustic and electric guitars.
Harmonious Sound of Music and Craftsmanship
ESP is more than a brand; it’s a revolutionary method enabling guitarists to deploy and express their complete musical potential. From their birthplace in Japan, ESP has continuously experimented and intertwined different guitar parts to forge unique instruments that eclipse standardized guitar designs. Even their afterward introduced mass models, like the LTD series, stand apart from other cost-effective guitars due to their exceptional quality. This mirrors ESP’s unceasing drive for music and craftsmanship.
Although the ESP brand was only established in the mid-1970s, it has firmly etched its distinct soundprint into the history of music, which deepens with every new technological progress. From its nascent stages to establishing a loud name in the music world, ESP has ceaselessly propelled the possibilities of music with its spirit of continuous innovation, allowing every musician to play unforgettable melodies on the stage.
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