ESP All Access Exclusive: 2024 New Guitar & Bass Preview

ESP All Access Exclusive: 2024 New Guitar & Bass Preview

For the first time since 2020, the year is kicking off with a NAMM Show making its return to its former January time frame, and ESP is able to launch 2024 with a killer batch of new guitars and basses. We hope you enjoy this...
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ESP Guitars Welcomes Mick Thomson (Slipknot) to Artist Roster

ESP Guitars Welcomes Mick Thomson (Slipknot) to Artist Roster

NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA (MAY 16, 2023) – ESP Guitars has announced that acclaimed guitarist Mick Thomson of iconic American metal band Slipknot has joined the ESP artist roster. The company also confirmed that a new ESP/LTD...
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Messengers: The Guitars of James Hetfield

Messengers: The Guitars of James Hetfield

Click on the preview images below to see each page in high-resolution. For about 35 years, we’ve had the privilege at ESP to work with one of the most influential and beloved guitarists in the world of heavy...
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Get Ready for 2024 with ESP’s New Guitar and Bass Preview

Get Ready for 2024 with ESP’s New Guitar and Bass Preview

Here we are in December, and 2024 is right around the corner. After years of pandemic-forced schedule changes, the NAMM Show is once again back in its January time slot for the first time since 2020. You’re probably assuming...
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What’s New with ESP for 2023?

What’s New with ESP for 2023?

Usually when we get to January of a new year, members of the ESP community and guitar fans around the world have already been tipped off on our plans for new ESP, E-II, and LTD guitars and basses. However, the world has gone...
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Metallica’s Kirk Hammett on the KH-V

Metallica’s Kirk Hammett on the KH-V

ESP president and CEO Matt Masciandaro chatted with Metallica guitarist and longtime ESP player Kirk Hammett. Kirk had recently taken delivery of three ESP V-II guitars that were built to his specification by the ESP USA...
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Introducing Player Grade (US Residents Only)

Introducing Player Grade (US Residents Only)

It probably doesn’t surprise you to know that at ESP, almost all of us are guitar and bass players, and as actual musicians, we know what really matters to other players: great-sounding, great-playing instruments… and good...
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Congrats to M72 Sweepstakes Winner Darwin Delossantos

Congrats to M72 Sweepstakes Winner Darwin Delossantos

Thousands and thousands of you entered for a chance to win your choice of two amazing guitars from the ESP players of Metallica -- James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett -- but only one of you was lucky enough to be randomly...
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ESP Guitars Announces Stainless Steel Frets for all LTD Deluxe “1000 Series” Guitars and Basses

ESP Guitars Announces Stainless Steel Frets for all LTD Deluxe “1000 Series” Guitars and Basses

You asked for it... you got it! Stainless steel frets are now standard on all LTD Deluxe "1000 Series" instruments!

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WInner's Circle: "LTD Deluxe SN-1000HT + Swag Pack" Sweepstakes

WInner's Circle: "LTD Deluxe SN-1000HT + Swag Pack" Sweepstakes

Thousands and thousands of people from around the world entered for a chance to win the LTD Deluxe SN-1000HT Fire Blast and a sweet ESP swag pack, but there could be only one winner, and he is Ilkka Jähi of Finland. We're...
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ENGL Amp Spotlight: E670FE Special Edition Founders Edition - The Ultimate High Gain Amplifier

ENGL Amp Spotlight: E670FE Special Edition Founders Edition - The Ultimate High Gain Amplifier

ENGL has been a highly-respected amplifier manufacturer since being founded in 1983. In marking their 40-year anniversary milestone in 2023, ENGL is launching a new flagship amp: the ENGL E670FE Special Edition Founders...
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ESP Guitars Announces Stainless Steel Frets Now Included on All ESP E-II Guitar and Bass Models

ESP Guitars Announces Stainless Steel Frets Now Included on All ESP E-II Guitar and Bass Models

ANAHEIM, CA (JANUARY 25, 2024) – ESP Guitars (NAMM Booth 208A/B) announced that its entire Japan factory-built ESP E-II Series of guitars and basses will now feature stainless steel frets. ESP had already made the switch to...
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New for Summer NAMM: Limited-Edition LTD "Ride the Lightning"

New for Summer NAMM: Limited-Edition LTD "Ride the Lightning"

Being unveiled at Summer NAMM, only 300 of the limited-edition LTD "Ride the Lightning" guitars are being made for the world to commemorate Metallica's iconic second album.

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Winner's Circle: New Year, New Gear Sweepstakes

Winner's Circle: New Year, New Gear Sweepstakes

Let's all send our congratulations to Stacy Mueller of Wauwatosa, WI. Tens of thousands of your entered, but Stacy is the randomly-chosen winner of our recent "New Year, New Gear", and they get quite a nice prize package as a...
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ESP Guitars Announces Eight New Guitars and Basses for their Renowned Signature Series at 2024 NAMM Show

ESP Guitars Announces Eight New Guitars and Basses for their Renowned Signature Series at 2024 NAMM Show

ANAHEIM, CA (JANUARY 25, 2024) – ESP Guitars (NAMM Booth 208A/B) has long been admired for their expansive roster of artist endorsees, and their ESP/LTD Signature Series are instruments that are based on the custom guitars...
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ESP Guitars Adds Horizon Custom ‘87 to Popular LTD ’87 Series

ESP Guitars Adds Horizon Custom ‘87 to Popular LTD ’87 Series

ANAHEIM, CA (JANUARY 25, 2024) – ESP Guitars (NAMM Booth 208A/B) debuted a new addition to their popular LTD ’87 Series at the 2024 NAMM Show. The LTD Horizon Custom ’87 is being offered in three finishes: Black, Candy Apple...
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LTD Kirk Hammett KH-V Review in Premier Guitar

LTD Kirk Hammett KH-V Review in Premier Guitar

The reviewers over at Premier Guitar Magazine are all serious players who seem to have a terrific understanding of what makes a guitar great... or not, as happens occasionally. But that wasn't an issue for writer/guitarist...
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ESP Guitars Adds 19 New Guitars to Popular LTD Deluxe Series at the 2024 NAMM Show

ESP Guitars Adds 19 New Guitars to Popular LTD Deluxe Series at the 2024 NAMM Show

ANAHEIM, CA (JANUARY 25, 2024) – ESP Guitars (NAMM Booth 208A/B) hit the ground running in 2024 with the introduction of 19 new additions to the company’s popular LTD Deluxe Series. Two new models were added to the Arrow...
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ESP Guitars Expands Into New US Headquarters

ESP Guitars Expands Into New US Headquarters

LOS ANGELES, CA (AUGUST 1, 2023) – ESP Guitars, the respected global manufacturer of guitar and bass instruments and US distributor for acclaimed brands that include Takamine Guitars and ENGL Amplification, has moved into...
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Summer NAMM News: LTD Jeff Hanneman Tribute 2014

Summer NAMM News: LTD Jeff Hanneman Tribute 2014

The new limited-edition LTD JH Tribute 2014 Urban Camo helps pay tribute to one of metal's most influential guitarists, with a portion of the proceeds going to the Wounded Warrior Project.

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WInner's Circle: "Renew Your Rig" Sweepstakes

WInner's Circle: "Renew Your Rig" Sweepstakes

The "Renew Your Rig" sweepstakes ended up being the most popular giveaway in ESP history, and it's easy to see why. The prize package was astounding... an ESP E-II Eclipse Full Thickness EverTune, an ENGL Ironball Combo E600,...
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All Access Spotlight: ESP Collector Jim Schwilk



All Access Spotlight: ESP Collector Jim Schwilk



All photos courtesy of Jim Schwilk We met Jim in the aisles of the 2023 NAMM Show, held in mid-April of this year. Jim, a member of the ESP All Access community as well as several other ESP-focused online groups, had stopped...
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ESP Guitars Announces New Camo Finish for James Hetfield (Metallica) Signature Series Snakebyte

ESP Guitars Announces New Camo Finish for James Hetfield (Metallica) Signature Series Snakebyte

NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA (JANUARY 14, 2022) – As part of their massive “New for 2022 - Phase 1” product rollout for the new year, ESP Guitars has announced a new finish available for the James Hetfield ESP and LTD Signature Series...
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Introducing the Tombstone Case Company

Introducing the Tombstone Case Company

ESP is now producing our own line of killer graphic cases!

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ESP Guitars Debuts LTD Deluxe EC-01FT at NAMM 2024

ESP Guitars Debuts LTD Deluxe EC-01FT at NAMM 2024

ANAHEIM, CA (JANUARY 25, 2024) – ESP Guitars (NAMM Booth 208A/B) used the 2024 NAMM Show to unveil the LTD Deluxe EC-01FT, a new guitar that will be available in Black, Olympic White, and Vintage Burst finishes. “The EC-01FT...
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A Look Ahead at Hellfest 2024

A Look Ahead at Hellfest 2024

Held each year in Clisson, France, Hellfest has grown into the preeminent heavy music festival in Europe, and possibly the world. And yes, with a scheduled date of Jun 27-30, 2024, Hellfest may seem like a long way off... but...
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ESP-Donated Guitars Raise Over $57K for Metallica's "All Within My Hands"

ESP-Donated Guitars Raise Over $57K for Metallica's "All Within My Hands"

Friday, December 16, 2022 was a special night for Metallica. Their annual Helping Hands Concert & Auction was held on that night at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles with the purpose of raising funds for the band's All...
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Luis Kalil Clinic Tour: Brazil

Luis Kalil Clinic Tour: Brazil

Olá Brasil! Get ready for five days of extreme shred when ESP artist Luís Kalil does his upcoming clinic tour of your wonderful country in December. When ESP first got to know Luís a number of years ago, he was just 13 years...
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Bruce Kulick and ESP Help Raise Funds for "KISS Cancer Goodbye II" Charity Event

Bruce Kulick and ESP Help Raise Funds for "KISS Cancer Goodbye II" Charity Event

Photos courtesy of Rayna Leigh Held this month in Sarasota, Florida, the second "KISS Cancer Goodbye" event was produced in partnership with the American Cancer Society as a rock-and-roll fundraiser in honor of Breast Cancer...
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ESP Guitars Teams with Fanaply to Offer Debut Series of NFTs

ESP Guitars Teams with Fanaply to Offer Debut Series of NFTs

ESP Guitars has announced the availability of the company’s first set of digital collectible non-fungible tokens (NFTs). The three NFT designs in this debut series commemorate ESP USA’s recent limited-edition Pyrograph Series...
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