Who owns esp guitars

Tonewoods are an age-old source of debate amongst guitarists. Tone-purists argue that high-quality wood types are integral to creating a great tone, and enhancing the playability of the instrument.

Some guitarists, like Jack White, for example, prefer to use cheaper guitars that use woods that are considered to be of lesser quality.

ESP guitars generally use mahogany for the body, maple and mahogany for the neck, and ebony for the fingerboard. This combination is seen as being a premium selection of tonewoods, extracting every ounce of tone from the guitar and promoting playability. LTD guitars on the other hand, commonly use mahogany and basswood for the body, maple and mahogany for the neck, and perhaps where the biggest difference is apparent is the choice of rosewood and roasted jatoba for the fingerboard.

This wood is very easy to source, and relatively inexpensive, thus it keeps the cost of these budget guitars to a minimum. The high-end ESP models use a rare type of mahogany for the body, sourced in Honduras. The neck is made from three-piece maple and the fingerboard from luxurious ebony. This is the combination used for the most expensive ESP guitars. There are also some in-between models, where more affordable tonewoods are combined with these pricier materials to lower the cost slightly.

Other than the choice of wood used to construct ESP and LTD guitars, another key difference is the electronics that are installed on the instrument. Pickups and onboard electronics have a large impact on the amplified tone of the guitars. Predominantly, high-end ESP guitars feature pickups made by the legendary manufacturer, Seymour Duncan. Lastly, we have the guitar finish to consider. Since ESP guitars are custom made, they have all sorts of exotic finishes. However, there are many excellent models from the LTD series, and by no means are they poorly made instruments.

Conversely, they build their higher-end ESP models in Japan. ESP started in as a small repair shop in Tokyo. Needless to say, that is where they make their best ESP models. Not only this but the finest, world-renowned luthiers at ESP handcraft their top-line models, one at a time.

It is undeniable that the quality of these guitars is incredible, which explains their price. This confirms the affordability of LTD guitars. They are much more expensive than the LTDs and have the best quality out there. Again, this will be noticeable on their hardware, pickups, quality of wood, and detail. Within the ESP LTD models, you can find a wide variety of guitars that fit different budgets and have different levels of quality.

This is partly to the different series LTD produces. For example, their EC series, which intends to replicate the Gibson Les Paul models, is their most popular line of guitars. This series is their most affordable and is an excellent choice for beginners.

Alternatively, you can look at their H-Series or their M-Series for mid-range priced guitars. They are of excellent quality and might be a better fit for intermediate players or someone looking to invest a little more from the get-go. You can finally access their top-tier models, which are nothing short of professional and with excellent detail, build quality and aesthetics.

This proves that LTD has excellent quality and can be a top contender to any other guitar manufacturer.

I must mention that their most affordable, the B, is a bit pricier than their low-budget guitars. ESP also introduced a few new lines during the decade starting with their semi-hollow Paramout series, the Xtone line. Included in their show line up were several well-known artists who signed autographs and showcased their signature guitars were George Lynch, Dave Mustaine, Michael Wilton, Page Hamilton, and Stephen Carpenter.

Over the years, ESP has had several well-known artists endorse, design, and publicly play their instruments. One of the earliest adopters was Ronnie Wood of The Rolling Stones, but the brand eventually evolved into a favorite among heavy metal musicians. Your email address will not be published. We may also earn commissions on purchases from other retail websites. Creating More Affordable Models. ESP Guitars Beginnings. They operate under a variety of names, including:.

Early ESP Guitars. Buy on Amazon. Emerging in the US Market. US Growth. ESP in the 's. High Profile Musicians. Christian Schreiber on August 26, at pm. Fredro on September 23, at am.