ESP

JP · est. 1975 · 392 models

ESP is a Japanese guitar maker founded in Tokyo in 1975. It began by supplying replacement parts and building custom instruments to order before establishing a brand of its own, and it still runs a custom shop alongside series production. The line is split into tiers: ESP and E-II for Japanese-built instruments and LTD for lower-priced imports, covering the Eclipse, Horizon, M, Viper and Arrow body shapes together with matching basses. Baritone, seven-string and Evertune-equipped variants are common. ESP is strongly identified with thrash and heavy metal, and has produced signature models for players including James Hetfield, Kirk Hammett and Alexi Laiho.