This is the kind of stuff the JC Custom Shop is up against...

[RobRR]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIMwkZpp6eY

Really, these guys are pulling this kind of craftsmanship off and J/C is building 23 fret guitars and ones with crooked pickups. Its amazing that they're still in business. Im no an ESP fanboi by any means, never owned one, probably never will, but I am a fan of craftsmanship and creativity no matter the brand.

[Nightbat]

If you can dream it, ESP can build it

Sound familiar?

Not only that, but looking at the 3:44 build time, I'd say this guitar was done in 3 weeks

[BLOOD SPLATTER]

LOVE my ESP....sounds plays & looks great....great build quality too....my ONLY complaint is the recessed Floyd....other than that - great guitar!!

[markD]

why laugh? while ESP has been known to copy just about everything from everyone, there is no denying their quality or craftsmanship. while some of the guitars like this one, or the angel shaped ones, are more like functional art, it DOES take skills to build it. ESP is very expensive, but i would never doubt that i am going to get a fabulous instrument from them.

i am not an ESP fanboi either, i have owned several of them throughout the years. every one has been top notch. shoot, even the LTD alexi i had was a great guitar - and not just for the money. it was a great guitar period.

[veemagic]

I don't think I'd ever want to own that guitar, but damn! I think it's genius to put out a video showing the work that goes into a guitar like that. With ESP and their USA shop opening, Jackson really needs to look closely at what they're doing and where they're going before it's chosen for them

[markD]

i totally agree

[Flatpicker]

There are so many other builders out there that can do what J/C does, even better than they do now, that going to the CS isn't worth it.

The spirit of what Jackson/Charvel has done still lives on, just not with Jackson/Charvel.

[leftykingv2]

I have never owned an ESP either but I have nothing against them. I have a ton of friends who have them and swear by them. I honestly have yet to meet anyone that's bought a high end ESP and has a complaint. I think some of their prices are insane but so are all companies now. Either way you slice it I think they definitely have always had a good product.

[SausageofPower]

All this "company B stole from company A" stuff is BS to me. *Everyone* steals from everyone. If Gibson made the best singlecut for the price, I'd get a Gibson. If Fender did the best Strat for the price, I'd get a Fender. What I won't do is support a brand that's just mindless cranking out shit and being cheap (which, honestly, as much as I love J/C I feel like that's where they are right now) because they were once bad-ass.

Now, if we saw a return to the good old days when Grover was in charge? You'd better believe I'd be back in line to buy one.

[wilkinsi]

funny you say that. I wish the Warrior Pro remained an undying production model.

[Maiden89]

Even though I don't necessarily like that guitar, I must admit that the build quality and craftsmanship is awesome. I've never owned an ESP, but after all the things I've been hearing from them, I think I might have to pick one up sometime.

I'd like to get a horizon or mirage.

[Chad]

Now, if we saw a return to the good old days when Grover was in charge? You'd better believe I'd be back in line to buy one.

Serious question: is that even a remote possibility? I wonder how he would stand on such a proposition? Is it a possibility legally? It would be awesome if somebody like him would buy out J/C and take over.

[Chad]

Even though I don't necessarily like that guitar, I must admit that the build quality and craftsmanship is awesome. I've never owned an ESP, but after all the things I've been hearing from them, I think I might have to pick one up sometime.

I'd like to get a horizon or mirage.

I've owned several. They are killer instruments for the most part. A lot of people consider the 80s/90s to be their heyday, but I've owned ESPs from all eras and personally think that in the last decade or so they have put out some of the best stuff ever.

[Maiden89]

I would love to get an ESP like this:



...but, I don't like how they put the model number at the 12th fret. It kind of kills it...

[SausageofPower]

Serious question: is that even a remote possibility? I wonder how he would stand on such a proposition? Is it a possibility legally? It would be awesome if somebody like him would buy out J/C and take over.

The only possibility of this happening in my opinion, and I still don't think it's too hard to imagine, is the Jackson/Charvel brand tanking and Fender deciding to auction it off. Problem is, the brand is healthier now than it was a few years back so it's probably not gonna happen soon. Fender still seems a bit confused about what to do with the brand it feels like, even though they've picked up some endorsements, so who knows. In this market though, I've looked at plenty of Jacksons and Charvels and passed them up for the equivalent from PRS, BC Rich, Kramer...hell, at least Gibson for all their BS seems to know what to do with Kramer to some extent. ;p

Now used Jacksons and Charvels I love. And thankfully there's plenty to be had.