ESP Guitar: Uniqueness at its Best

ESP (Electric Sound Products) company, located in North Hollywood, California, is a reputed manufacturer of electric guitars and basses. It is originally a Japanese company that started off with the establishment of a small shop named Electric Sound Products in 1975 by Hisatake Shibuya. Initially, ESP gained reputation as a custom replacement parts manufacturer. But, as it gained popularity as a parts manufacturer, it switched to crafting guitars of its own. ESP guitars have since received patronage from many legends of the music world. Page Hamilton of Helmet, Vernon Reid of Living Colour, Bruce Kulick of KISS, Ronnie Wood of Rolling Stones, Richie Sambora of Bon Jovi, and Kirk Hammett of Metallica, all have wielded custom-made ESP guitars during their performances. Owning a custom made ESP guitar is a dream of many budding musicians, because of its customized look and superior craftsmanship.

ESP discontinued its replacement part production service at the beginning of the 1990s; in order to focus completely on the production of custom made guitars and basses. Musician George Lynch’s famous Kamikaze guitar model was reproduced and released as the first signature product. It received overwhelming response from guitarists. Soon afterwards, ESP released more than 10 other signature collections, expanding their universe and reaching out to the masses of guitarists.

ESP guitars are characterized by the pointed headstock of the guitars. The first ranges of electric guitars produced by ESP had solid wood bodies. But later, ESP brought out semi-hollow Paramount series, beginning with the Xtone line. These guitars use a hollowed out core in order to produce louder, richer sound. Many other models of ESP guitars also have unique features. For instance, “Baritone” models have a longer scale and heavier strings, resulting in a lower sound. “Rosewood” and “Maple” types have rosewood and maple wood fingerboards respectively. “NT” guitars do not come fitted with tremolo systems. This, however, only applies to guitars that traditionally have tremolos.

ESP bass guitars are also hugely popular among bassists. ESP has several ranges of bass guitars on offer, along with some vintage models. ESP vintage models have gained reputation worldwide because of the rich, deep sound and the customizability according to a player’s preferences.

ESP guitars are some of the best guitars available today. The sheer excellence in craftsmanship, and the unique customizability make these some of the most sought after guitars in the world.

Fender Guitar: The Style Statement for Guitarists

Fender guitars are the dream of every dedicated guitarist. Fender guitars are like the BMWs of the guitar universe; a guitarist whipping out a custom-made Fender Stratocaster for a performance will invite the awe and envy of many of his/her peers. Fender guitars are custom-made on request, keeping in mind the player’s preferences; hence providing a completely unique experience to every user.

The Fender guitars can be divided into two broad sections, the Telecaster, and the Stratocaster. Both names are legends in their own rights. Fender Telecaster has been used by legendary artists like Syd Barret (the original guitarist and lead vocalist of Pink Floyd), Bob Dylan, George Harrison (of the Beatles), among others. Telecasters are almost always custom made for every guitarist, and painted or decorated according to his/her choice. Telecasters were initially developed for artists performing on television, hence the name. There was also a Fender series with the moniker “Broadcaster”, but it did not gain much popularity.

The Fender Stratocaster is even more popular than the Telecaster. The sound produced by Stratocasters is especially loud in volume, making it ideal for open air or stadium performances. Many legends have sworn by the Stratocaster over the years, making it a lot more popular than the Telecaster in the process. Legends like David Gilmour (of Pink Floyd), The Edge (U2), John Lennon (The Beatles), Ritchie Blackmore (founding member of both Deep Purple and Rainbow), Eric Clapton, and Jimi Hendrix, all have wielded custom made Stratocasters to mesmerize audiences. Jeff Beck, a Grammy award winning rock guitarist, once commented in a talk show, “With a Les Paul you just wind up sounding like someone else. With the Strat I finally sound like me." This statement is considered to be one of the greatest compliments that a Stratocaster has ever received, and proves just how much loyal the legends have been to the brand over the years.

Structurally, a Stratocaster is a double-cutaway electric guitar that sports an extended top horn for balance while standing. The single ply, 8-screw hole white pickguard is a unique construction that allows almost all of the guitar’s electronic components to be mounted on an easy to remove surface. The Stratocaster is known for its clean, “twang” sounds. The neck pickup has a much mellower, full-bodied and louder sound compared to the sharper tones produced by the bridge pickup.

The Telecasters and Stratocasters are style symbols for guitarists everywhere. Although the lower-priced ranges are quite affordable, these guitars are valued for their history by musicians worldwide.