ESP Debuts New Signature Models [ Musikmesse 2007 ]
FRANKFURT, GERMANY (March 28, 2007) — Out of the 54 new guitars and basses ESP is showing at the 2007 Musikmesse (See Related ESP News Article), the company is unveiling 12 new Signature Series models.
In addition to the GL-20 Limited Edition 20th anniversary model George Lynch has helped create the ESP GL-56 Reissue signature model. The GL-56 is a classic-shaped 25.5” scale bolt-on design with an alder body and maple neck. The 2-tone sunburst finish is highly distressed, and the maple neck and fingerboard are customized as if worn in from years of use. Nickel hardware includes Sperzel locking tuners and a vintage 6-point tremolo. Pickups on the GL-56 are Seymour Duncan Pearly Gates (B) and ESP SS-120 (N/M), with two volume and one tone control and a 5-way selector switch.
Will Adler of Lamb of God has created his first Signature Models for ESP: the ESP Will Adler and the LTD WA-600. Both guitars use the ESP Eclipse body style, with a dark green camouflage finish. The ESP Will Adler features a neck-thru-body design at 24.75” scale, with a bound mahogany body and a three-piece maple neck with ebony fingerboard and crème binding. The 22-fret neck is inlaid with pearloid stars and an American flag. Chrome hardware includes Sperzel locking tuners, a Tonepros T3B-T bridge and a Tonepros T1Z locking tailpiece. Pickups on the Will Adler model are Seymour Duncan JB (B) and Seymour Duncan “59 (N), with two volume and one tone control and a 3-way toggle. The LTD WA-600 offers the same features in a set-thru design, and substitutes Schaller locking tuners.
Gus G. of Firewind has also added his first Signature models to the ESP line. The ESP Gus G. and LTD Gus-600 are new “random star” body styles in see-through black cherry finishes. Both guitars offer a set-thru design at 25.5” scale, an alder body with flamed maple top, and a maple neck with rosewood fingerboard adorned by pearloid flames and 22XJ frets. The ESP model offers black Gotoh tuners, while the LTD version uses Grovers. Both guitars use a Floyd Rose tremolo, as well as Seymour Duncan Distortion (B) and “59 (N) pickups that feature a coil split switch.
No stranger to the ESP Signature Series, Soulfly’s Max Cavalera has added two new guitars: the ESP Max Cavalera AX and the LTD Max-600. Based on ESP’s AX body style, the new single-pickup signature models add pearloid Soulfy inlays and a special Snow White finish. Both guitars have a neck-thru design at 25.5” scale, and alder body, three-piece maple neck with white binding, ebony fingerboard and 24XJ frets. The new models” hardware is black nickel, including the Gotoh tuners (Grover on the LTD model) and Tonepros T3B-T locking wbridge. One Seymour Duncan Distortion pickup with one volume knob completes the simple layout.
Having very recently joined the ESP family (See Related ESP News Article), Wayne Static has helped design the LTD Wayne-600, based on LTD’s popular EX Series body style, and highlighted with a black diamond plate body plate. The body of the
Wayne-600 is mahogany, with a three-piece maple set neck and ebony fingerboard that features 24XJ frets and a custom pearloid Static-X logo inlay. The black nickel hardware includes Grover tuners, a Tonepros T3B-T bridge and a Tonepros T1Z locking tailpiece. One Seymour Duncan Distortion pickup is controlled with a single volume knob.
The Deftones’ Stephen Carpenter has added to his already impressive arsenal of ESP’s with the new ESP Stef-7. This new model is the 7-string version of ESP’s current 6-string Stef model. It’s a neck-thru-body design at 25.5” scale with an alder body, three-piece maple neck with white binding, ebony fretboard and 24XJ frets. Like many of Stef’s guitars, the Stef-7 is finished in see-through green. Stef has also added his name to the LTD SC-207, a lower-cost bolt-on 7-string version of LTD’s popular SC-200.
Another affordable new signature model comes in the form of the LTD Alexi-200. This model is a bolt-on version of Alexi’s higher-end LTD model, the Alexi-600, with solid colored black or white finishes (and no pinstriping).
Longtime ESP endorsee Jeff Hanneman of Slayer asked for ESP to offer his ESP signature model in an urban camouflage finish, and they delivered with the new ESP Jeff Hanneman (UC). The new model is the same as Jeff’s current ESP, with a neck-thru body design, “Eagles & Dots” inlays, a Kahler 23156 tremolo, and EMG 81 (B) and 85 (N) pickups.
About ESP Guitars
Founded in 1975, ESP Guitar Company is the respected manufacturer of custom electric guitars for musicians around the world. The ESP brands of guitars and basses include ESP, LTD, and X-Tone.