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...
MORE »
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...
MORE »
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...
MORE »
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...
MORE »
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...
MORE »
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...
MORE »
Coming January 14: ESP Presents 2022 Phase 1

Coming January 14: ESP Presents 2022 Phase 1

With the start of a new year approaching, we're getting excited about showing you the first batch of "New for 2022" guitars. To do so, we're bringing the party to your house (or maybe just your phone) with ESP Presents 2022...
MORE »
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...
MORE »
ESP Guitars at Hellfest 2022: The Pictures

ESP Guitars at Hellfest 2022: The Pictures

In late June, ESP headed over to Clisson, France where Hellfest, one of the world’s largest heavy music festivals, is held annually. Despite the fact that there was a heat wave gripping Europe, we had a great time and ESP...
MORE »
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...
MORE »
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...
MORE »
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...
MORE »
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!

...
MORE »
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,...
MORE »
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.

...
MORE »
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...
MORE »
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...
MORE »
12 New Artist Signature Series Models from ESP Guitars at NAMM 2023

12 New Artist Signature Series Models from ESP Guitars at NAMM 2023

ESP Guitars had heads turning at their NAMM booth with the introduction of 12 new Signature Series guitars. In addition to three new Kirk Hammett (Metallica) LTD KH-V models and a new Olympic White finish for the James...
MORE »
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.

...
MORE »
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...
MORE »
New for 2021: The Lefties Are Coming

New for 2021: The Lefties Are Coming

You may not know that ESP already offers more variety in guitar models available for left-handed players than most other manufacturers. You can see all of our currently-available left-handed models using our Guitar and Bass...
MORE »
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...
MORE »
Introducing the Tombstone Case Company

Introducing the Tombstone Case Company

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

...
MORE »
Gary Holt (Exodus) ESP Clinic Tour Summer 2023

Gary Holt (Exodus) ESP Clinic Tour Summer 2023

Hey West Coast ESP friends... it's time to start taking the rock back out on the road with the return of ESP dealer clinics, and who better to kick things off than the mighty Gary Holt (Exodus/Slayer)? In July 2023, Gary is...
MORE »
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...
MORE »
Guitar Lessons from Bill Kelliher (Mastodon)

Guitar Lessons from Bill Kelliher (Mastodon)

Apparently, ESP Signature artist Bill Kelliher isn't busy enough. This August and September, while his band Mastodon is on a huge tour of North America along with Ghost, he also wants to be giving you private guitar lessons....
MORE »
ESP Guitars’ Signature Series Grows with New LTD Additions for Sammy Duet (Goatwhore), Alan Ashby (Of Mice & Men), Javier Reyes (Animals As Leaders)

ESP Guitars’ Signature Series Grows with New LTD Additions for Sammy Duet (Goatwhore), Alan Ashby (Of Mice & Men), Javier Reyes (Animals As Leaders)

ESP Guitars has announced the addition of a new signature artist, as well as two updated models to their well-known Signature Series guitars. The company is debuting the first LTD signature model for veteran ESP player Sammy...
MORE »
Flashback: Bruce Kulick's Kiss M-1 "Banana"

Flashback: Bruce Kulick's Kiss M-1 "Banana"

A new interview article in Guitar World Magazine offers some fascinating historical details and perspectives from guitarist and longtime ESP player Bruce Kulick. Bruce talks about discovering ESP, a relatively new company in...
MORE »
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...
MORE »
Win the Guitars Used by James Hetfield & Kirk Hammett at SF Giants Metallica Night

Win the Guitars Used by James Hetfield & Kirk Hammett at SF Giants Metallica Night

What could be better than an excellent game major league baseball on a perfect evening in May? How about if James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett of Metallica are there to perform the National Anthem? Since 2013, the San Francisco...
MORE »