ESP Alexi Laiho Signature Model ! COB (pics inside)

[dinkyjacksonman]

http://www.espguitars.net/gallery/ov...iho/index.html

[img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

And Alexander Kuoppala's Signature model!

http://www.espguitars.net/gallery/ov...nder_kuoppala/



Henkka C. Blacksmith's Bass

http://www.espguitars.net/gallery/ov...ka_blacksmith/

[img]graemlins/notworthy.gif[/img]

[VitaminG]

Re: ESP Alexi Laiho Signature Model ! COB (pics inside)

I prefer Ale's to Alexi's. I loved Alexi's Rhoads, with it's yellow bevels. I don't know what you call those painted bits on the ESPs, but I don't like 'em.

[Newc]

Re: ESP Alexi Laiho Signature Model ! COB (pics inside)

Wow, they even ripped off the Hamer inlays [img]graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

Man, ESP are a joke [img]graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

Newc

[Ninja Guitar]

Re: ESP Alexi Laiho Signature Model ! COB (pics inside)

I'd like one of Alexander's guitars with the reaper graphic. Alexi's guitars don't look too bad either.

[Inazone]

Re: ESP Alexi Laiho Signature Model ! COB (pics inside)

I have to compliment the photographer on the great shot of Alexi standing in front of an "ESP Asses" logo! [img]graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

Seriously now, these guys must rank very high to get authentic EMG-HZ pickups on their signature guitars. And speaking of signatures, Henry might want to look closely at his new bass to see where they scratched off Tom Araya's name.

[lerxstcat]

Re: ESP Alexi Laiho Signature Model ! COB (pics inside)

His name is Henkka, and if Alexi can have a Rhoads copy sig, why can't Henkka have
a Tom Araya copy sig, and isn't Ale's sig just a Soloist copy too? This isn't news
that ESP copies Jackson styles, just as companies have copied Les Paul and Strat shapes for decades. Jackson's designs are all also offshoots of existing designs; though modified, they didn't come from thin air. The HZs are what's going out on production models; of course
he'll change that pickup, and put the preamp in too, as his GP1000 rack preamp will sound like sh1t without one.

Are those really Hamer inlays? Are you thinking of the boomerang inlays, that each actually go through 2 frets? Those
look similar, but are not the same. The inlays on the white one look dumb; the arrow inlays or whatever they are would look better on that guitar.

Jackson blew it with these guys, why not wish them the best with the guitars they
had to choose?

[Newc]

Re: ESP Alexi Laiho Signature Model ! COB (pics inside)

Cuz they didn't have the sense to keep an eye on their own gear [img]graemlins/evilimages/icons/tongue.gif[/img]

Plus, their dealer coulda contacted someone else (another dealer, even one in Japan) and bent over backwards for a high-profile customer even if FMIC wasn't willing to. I know that Jackson and Fender and Ibenhad all have the stipulations of not allowing Fender Japan, Ibanez Japan, and JacksonStars/Grover Jacksons be sold outside of those areas, but honestly, if you were a dealer and saw the chance to help out like that are YOU gonna call the US office and ask if it's ok just this once to ship one to Europe? Hell no, you're gonna be too busy packing the guitar for a road trip and hoping the Home Office don't find out!

With 24 fret Rhoads' being all over the place in Japan (you'd have to Custom Order one with 22), hopefully Alexi will pick up a few of them and see about getting a Japanese endorsement once they get over there, though I'm sure ESP's contract is still like it was when Lynch got his deal - covered logos, cannot use anything else live, etc etc.

Newc

[lerxstcat]

Re: ESP Alexi Laiho Signature Model ! COB (pics inside)

Newc, better watch your karma dude! You keep ragging on him "letting" his gear get ripped off, just watch; it will happen to you! God does these things when you get too prideful; I know!

That'd be a good idea for him to grab a couple while in Japan. The shop in Helsinki may have been selfish, but I guess they wanted to keep him as a customer and knew Jackson was a dead end
for them.

It would be ironic if Alexi bought Jacksons for personal use with ESP endorsement money, wouldn't it?

[AK47]

Re: ESP Alexi Laiho Signature Model ! COB (pics inside)

The funny thing is the both the guitar players in COB prefer EMG-HZ4's over real EMG's that is why they are on the guitar. If you look at live shots of COB you will see they kept the HZ's in their guitars.

[Newc]

Re: ESP Alexi Laiho Signature Model ! COB (pics inside)

Hey, I got no fear of Karma because I don't leave my gear out at a party [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]
I had some kid seriously eyeballing my Les Paul at a gig once (he looked like he just turned 21, and was toasted already). I was tuning up and he kept trying to touch it, and I would casually turn it away from him in a polite manner [img]graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]
When I put it down when we took breaks, he was sitting 10 feet from it at the corner of the bar, eyeing it like a stripper [img]graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]
Had he made a move for it, he'd have been injured horribly. He did manage to steal a pick off the top of my amp (the guitar was a coupla feet behind the amp, amidst the snakepit of cables - the joint was small - but then he disappeared).
I never let the "fun" distract me from the gear. It's either in its case or behind a locked or limited access area, or on the stage where anyone going to it will be spotted and identified.
But Alexi's a kid that just learned a valuable lesson - keep your own eye on your own gear.

It'll turn up on Ebay one day.

Newc

[Inazone]

Re: ESP Alexi Laiho Signature Model ! COB (pics inside)

I've got nothing against COB. If switching to ESP is beneficial for them, that's great. I just think it's ridiculous for ESP to have dozens of "signature" guitars that are all nearly identical. Nothing new there of course, with Fender and Gibson doing it too, but it just seems like creativity is lagging.

And if I was going to shell out the cash for an ESP, getting the same HZ pickups as found on a low-end LTD would seem pretty craptastic.

[Geir]

Re: ESP Alexi Laiho Signature Model ! COB (pics inside)

I think Alexi's white one is clearly better looking than the black one. However, the assymetric neck joint tuins the entire Rhoads / V concept. Wish the white one had a matching headstock. Scythe inlays are interesting. Both would look much better with the Jackson pointy.

Alexanders Reaper looks awsome! The soloist shape is always cool. Nice finish and Awsome inlays. Never really cared for camoflage finishes, so... I have to say, on Soloist shaped axes, the ESP looks much better reversed.

Alexi and Alexander can't really be using those pickups in ther personal models, right?

I think both Henkka's basses look great, but why on earth does he have a 4 string? He allways uses 5, doesn't he? ESP probably wanted a 4 string to sell the masses...

I wonder what happens to Alexanders model, now that he's out of the band...?

[Thoraby]

Re: ESP Alexi Laiho Signature Model ! COB (pics inside)

I like the way the Rhoads look. A little variation from the standard Rhoads model Jackson has been putting out for so long [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

[cryoprison]

Re: ESP Alexi Laiho Signature Model ! COB (pics inside)

i don't mind the look of either of Alexi's, but um, isn't it a pretty rugged b*tch to access those higher frets?

i don't really hate ESP, i think the LTD quality is crap [this is after i've played many, currently own one, have owned a few]. personally, i like Kuoppala's gear, especially that reaper graphic. i'd take one of 'em in a heartbeat, and i don't even enjoy the body type much. i've never heard anything bad about the ESP Custom shop, they seem to do pretty solid work, i don't see why they'd slack off suddenly.

[Greg Crowe]

Re: ESP Alexi Laiho Signature Model ! COB (pics inside)

What a horrible design. The access to the top frets sucks even with the goofball cutout. Those guitars look like ass.