ESP was originally known as a source for high quality guitar components and replacement parts. In the early 1980s the company focused on building Fender- and Gibson-derived designs, evolving to high quality "superstrat" models. Currently, ESP is offering newer designs that combine vintage tastes with modern designs.
The ESP Guitar Company was formed in 1985 as the USA distribution point (and custom work shop) for ESP guitars. These U.S. custom instruments are offered as custom option-outfitted equipment.
ESP is also responsible for the LTD line of guitars. LTD guitars have been produced since at least 1995. They are based off of the ESP designs but are offered for a cheaper price. LTD has replaced all the lower-end ESP models, and ESP focuses on the higher-end models now.
In the mid-1990s, ESP opened a USA Custom Shop, in California. This is where the majority of ESP (if not all) guitars have been produced since the inception of the LTD line. For LTD guitars, see the L section.
In 2003, ESP introduced the XTone trademark, which introduced ESP into the hollow body electric market. For more information see XTone in the X section.
Instruments currently produced in Tokyo, Japan since the early 1980s. Distributed in the U.S. by the ESP Guitar Company of Hollywood, CA.

ESP Electric Guitars Models

ESP JEREMY MARSHALL Image

ESP JEREMY MARSHALL

- offset double cutaway ash body, 5-piece maple and walnut neck, 24-fret ebony fingerboard with cold spider inlays, 5-string configuration, signature on headstock with 3/2-per-side tuners, 2 EMG 40-DC pickups, EMG BQS active EQ, five k...

ESP M-4 DELUXE Image

ESP M-4 DELUXE

- similar to M-4 Standard, except has rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, available in Black (1989-1990), Brite Red (1988 only), Candy Apple Red (1989-1990),Gunmetal Blue, Magenta (1989-1990), Midnight Black (1988 only), Pearl Yellow...

ESP HORIZON-4 Image

ESP HORIZON-4

- offset double cutaway maple body, bolt-on or neck-thru body maple neck, 24-fret ebony fingerboard, fixed bridge, blackface peghead with screened logo, two-per-side tuners, chrome hardware, one J-style and one P-style EMG pickups, volume/b...

ESP J-464 Image

ESP J-464

- offset double cutaway asymmetrical hardwood body, bolt-on maple neck, 21-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, fixed bridge, four-on-one-side tuners, chrome hardware, white pickguard, two J-style pickups, three knobs (two v, ton...

ESP B-FIVE Image

ESP B-FIVE

- five-string configuration, sleek offset double cutaway ash body, maple neck, 24-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, 3/2-per-side headstock, fixed bridge, black hardware, two ESP single coil pickups, two volume/blend/tone contr...

ESP VIPER (STANDARD SERIES) Image

ESP VIPER (STANDARD SERIES)

- offset double cutaway (similar to an SG) mahogany body, mahogany neck, 24-fret bound ebony fingerboard with dot inlays and ESP logo at 12th fret, bound headstock with three-per-side tuners, Gotoh tune-o-matic, stop tailpiece, two EMG-81 h...

ESP Eclipse Custom T Image

ESP Eclipse Custom T

- similar to Eclipse Custom (Second Edition), except has double locking tremolo, available in Black, Cherry Sunburst, Pearl Gold, Pearl Pink, Pearl White, or Turquoise finish, mfg. 1987-88.

ESP HORIZON CUSTOM (USA CUSTOM SERIES) Image

ESP HORIZON CUSTOM (USA CUSTOM SERIES)

- offset double cutaway one-piece mahogany body, figured maple top, bolt-on maple neck, 24-fret bound rosewood fingerboard with mother-of-pearl dot inlay (logo block inlay at 12th fret), tune-o-matic bridge/stop tailpiece, 3-per-side Sperze...

ESP M-I STANDARD Image

ESP M-I STANDARD

- similar to the M-I Custom, except has hardwood body, bolt-on maple neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, standard vibrato, available in Bright Yellow, Candy Apple Red, Cherry Sunburst, Dark Metallic Blue, Pearl Pink Sun...

ESP M-II DELUXE Image

ESP M-II DELUXE

- similar to M-II Custom, except has bolt-on neck, unbound fingerboard with pearl dot inlay/12th fret logo block inlay, unbound peghead with screened logo/model, available in Black, Pearl White, Trans. Blue, Trans. Green, Trans. Purple, or...

ESP MV CUSTOM (USA CUSTOM SERIES) Image

ESP MV CUSTOM (USA CUSTOM SERIES)

- offset double cutaway design, mahogany body with flamed maple top, bolt-on maple neck with ebony fingerboard, abalone purfling, dot position markers with "Custom" at the 12th fret, black hardware and Sperzel locking tuners, tune...

ESP MAVERICK DELUXE (1992) Image

ESP MAVERICK DELUXE (1992)

- similar to the Maverick, except has ash body, pearloid pickguard, 24-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlay/12th fret logo block inlay, maple peghead with screened logo, 2 single coil/1 humbucker ESP pickups, volume/tone controls,...

ESP METAL III Image

ESP METAL III

- reverse offset double cutaway asymmetrical alder body, bolt-on maple neck, 22-fret maple fingerboard with black dot inlay, standard vibrato, maple peghead with screened logo, 6-on-a-side tuners, gold hardware, exposed humbucker pickup, vo...

ESP MIRAGE STANDARD Image

ESP MIRAGE STANDARD

- offset double cutaway mahogany body, bolt-on maple neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, strings through bridge, blackface peghead with screened logo, 6-on-a-side tuners, black hardware, exposed humbucker pickup, volume...

ESP S-487 DELUXE Image

ESP S-487 DELUXE

- offset double cutaway hardwood body, black lam pickguard, bolt-on maple neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, double locking vibrato, maple peghead with screened logo, 6-on-a-side tuners, chrome hardware, 3 single coil...

ESP Alexi Laiho Scythe Image

ESP Alexi Laiho Scythe

- similar to the Alexi Laiho, except has custom checkmark fingerboard inlays and one EMG HZ F-H2 humbucker pickup, available in White finish with a black pinstripe, mfg. 2009-present.

ESP TRADITIONAL Image

ESP TRADITIONAL

- offset double cutaway alder body, bolt-on maple neck, 21-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, standard vibrato, maple peghead with screened logo, 6-on-a-side tuners, chrome hardware, 3 single coil ESP pickups, 1 volume/2-tone c...

ESP FX (STANDARD SERIES) Image

ESP FX (STANDARD SERIES)

- offset hourglass Explorer-style mahogany body, set mahogany neck with a thin U contour, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays, matching finish traditional headstock, three-per-side Sperzel locking tuners, Gotoh tune-o-matic bridge...

ESP HORIZON CUSTOM (JAPAN MFG.) Image

ESP HORIZON CUSTOM (JAPAN MFG.)

- offset double cutaway arched top ash body, through-body maple neck, 24-fret bound ebony fingerboard, double locking vibrato, bound peghead, 6-on-a-side tuners, chrome hardware, single coil/humbucker EMG pickups, 1 volume/2-Tone controls,...

ESP M-I NECK-THRU-BODY (STANDARD SERIES) Image

ESP M-I NECK-THRU-BODY (STANDARD SERIES)

- offset double cutaway Strat-style alder body, three-piece maple neck-thru-body, ebony fingerboard with abalone dots and 12th fret ESP inlays, reverse headstock, six-on-the-other-side Gotoh Magnum lock tuners, Gotoh tune-o-matic bridge, ST...

ESP M-II MAPLE/SD (STANDARD SERIES) Image

ESP M-II MAPLE/SD (STANDARD SERIES)

- offset double cutaway alder body, maple neck, 24 XJ fret maple or rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays and ESP at 12th fret, matching headstock with M-II on it, six-on-one-side tuners, two Seymour Duncan JB/59 humbucker pickups, three-way...

ESP MV DELUXE (USA DELUXE SERIES) Image

ESP MV DELUXE (USA DELUXE SERIES)

- similar to MV Custom except has alder body, maple neck with rosewood fingerboard, dot inlays with "Deluxe" at the 12th fret, available in Black Gold, Metallic Gold, or Ice Blue finish, mfg. 2001 only.

ESP BRUCE KULICK (BOLT-ON) Image

ESP BRUCE KULICK (BOLT-ON)

- offset waist/double cutaway mahogany body with pointed horns, mahogany neck, 22-fret bound rosewood fingerboard with pearl parallelogram inlays, 3-per-side headstock with screened signature/logo, chrome hardware, shell pickguard, tune-o-m...

ESP TRADITIONAL REISSUE Image

ESP TRADITIONAL REISSUE

- similar to Traditional, except has pearloid pickguard, 22-fret fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, locking tuners, available in Black, Burgundy, Candy Apple Red, Gunmetal Blue, Metallic Blue, Metallic Purple, Pearl Yellow, or Pearl White fi...

ESP VINTAGE PLUS T Image

ESP VINTAGE PLUS T

- single cutaway bound alder or ash body, bolt-on maple neck, 22-fret maple or rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay (logo block inlay at 12th fret), strings-through fixed bridge, six-on-one-side tuners, chrome hardware, pearloid pickguard, t...

ESP M-5 STANDARD FIVE-STRING Image

ESP M-5 STANDARD FIVE-STRING

- offset double cutaway asymmetrical hardwood body, bolt-on maple neck, 21-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, fixed bridge, five-on-one-side tuners, chrome hardware, two J-style pickups, three knobs, available in Black, Dark Me...

ESP SURVEYOR II (STANDARD SERIES) Image

ESP SURVEYOR II (STANDARD SERIES)

- offset double cutaway (P-Bass style), ash body, bolt-on maple neck, 21 XJ fret maple or ebony fingerboard with dot inlayand ESP logo in 12th fret, matching headstock, four-on-one-side tuners, Wikinson bridge, EMG MMTW/35-P4 pickups, four...

ESP VINTAGE 4 (STANDARD SERIES) Image

ESP VINTAGE 4 (STANDARD SERIES)

- offset double cutaway P-style alder body, bolt-on U-shaped maple neck, 21-fret maple fingerboard with black dot and 12th fret ESP inlays (Black or Candy Apple Red finish) or rosewood fingerboard with dot and 12th fret ESP inlays (Sunburst...

ESP M-5 CUSTOM FIVE-STRING Image

ESP M-5 CUSTOM FIVE-STRING

- similar to the M-4 Custom, except in five-string configuration and five-on-one-side tuners, available in Black, Candy Apple Red, Dark Metallic Blue, Dark Metallic Purple, Gunmetal Blue and Pearl White finish, mfg. 1991 only.

ESP ECLIPSE (SOLID BODY) Image

ESP ECLIPSE (SOLID BODY)

- single cutaway mahogany body, bolt-on maple neck, 24-fret bound rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlay (logo block inlay at 12th fret), tune-o-matic bridge/stop tailpiece, three-per-side tuners, bound headstock, chrome hardware, two ES...

ESP NV (STANDARD SERIES) Image

ESP NV (STANDARD SERIES)

- pointy Flying V-style alder body, maple NTB with a thin U contour, 24-fret bound ebony fingerboard with cross inlays (frets 1-12) and dot inlays (frets 15-24), matching finish bound reverse headstock, six-on-one-side Gotoh tuners, Kahler...

ESP HORIZON DELUXE Image

ESP HORIZON DELUXE

- similar to Horizon Custom, except has bolt-on neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, gold hardware, available in Black, Brite Red, Burgundy Mist, Gunmetal Blue, Magenta, or Pearl White finish, mfg. 1989-1992.

ESP MIRAGE DELUXE Image

ESP MIRAGE DELUXE

- similar to Mirage Custom, except has bound rosewood fingerboard with pearl offset block inlay, double locking vibrato, stacked coil/humbucker pickups, available in Black, Fiesta Red, Pearl Gold, Pearl Pink, Pearl White, or Turquoise finis...

ESP S-500 Image

ESP S-500

- offset double cutaway ash body, bolt-on maple neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, vintage vibrato, graphite nut, 6-on-a-side locking Sperzel tuners, gold hardware, 2 single coil/1 humbucker ESP pickups, volume/tone co...

ESP VINTAGE PLUS (STANDARD SERIES) Image

ESP VINTAGE PLUS (STANDARD SERIES)

- offset double cutaway alder body, bolt-on thin U-shaped maple neck, 22-fret maple fingerboard with black dot and 12th fret ESP inlays (Black or Candy Apple Red finish) or rosewood fingerboard with dot and 12th fret ESP inlays (Sunburst or...

ESP Eclipse Arch Top Image

ESP Eclipse Arch Top

- similar to the Eclipse Solid Body, except features a bound arched top semi-hollow mahogany body, cat's-eye f-hole, 22-fret bound fingerboard, tune-o-matic bridge/trapeze tailpiece, available in Black, Metallic Gold, Pearl White, or Tu...

ESP PHOENIX Image

ESP PHOENIX

- asymmetrical hourglass style mahogany body, white pickguard, through-body mahogany neck, 22-fret bound rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, double locking vibrato, bound blackface peghead with screened logo, 6-on-a-side tuners, blac...