Question about ESP...

[LEOKV2]

Hi

I wanted to know something that has been going through my head. Why is it that in ESP's "American" website we can only get SOME models of the complete lineup and most of the "cool" models are only available through the Korean LTD's? For example, the only "true" ESP's you can get are the basic Viper, Eclipse, Horizon and M-II, that's it. You can get the Forest or Exp series. Personally I think that the Forest design (available only through LTD on the USA apparently) is ESP's best, and it's original.

But, if you check out ESP's Japanese website, they have ALL the guitars available on the ESP side, and I don't even remember if they mention LTD's.

Is it a marketing strategy so people buy LTD's or something? Now that I think about it, it's been only a few years since you actually could see "real" ESP's showing at musiciansfriend.com or at Guitar Center, or even at their website! Weird...

Is there a way of ordering a Japanese ESP, like the Forest, for example?

Check it out, much better than the cheap LTD version...

[AfterForever]

But, if you check out ESP's Japanese website, they have ALL the guitars available on the ESP side, and I don't even remember if they mention LTD's.

http://www.espguitars.co.jp/ltd/index.html Just a basic selection of the LTD models available in the US..

[max]

http://www.bachmann-guitars.com/

[Rich#6]

Jackson does the same thing. More options and more guitars in Japan then our import line. It's to bad too.

[LEOKV2]

Is there a way of getting one of those Japan models (like the ESP Forest) in the States? Maybe through Matt?

[Harry Krisna]

Just a quick plug for their ESP line,got my kid the 8 string bass,and it is my only ever experience with ESP,but this is much more guitar than I expected for the money!

[buzzsaww]

I found the ESP custom shop today. Sensory overload, holy shit!

[toejam]

What the hell happened to the Roope Latvala Star? I don't see it on their site any longer. That thing ruled!

[neilli]

With regard to the orignal question, that could be to do with licencing - I know that's why US Eclipses have 3 pots rather than an LP style layout....

[LEOKV2]

Humm, I wonder how could someone get that ESP Forest in the USA without going to Japan or paying loads of money for some company to import it "specially".

[Sinistas]

Custom shop, that's about it.

[Seventh Avenged]

yeah. or you'd have to find someone or a contact at a store in Japan to ship or or send it to you.

it's not unlike getting a Jackson Stars.

in regard to the US Eclipse Shape changes, they also had to modify the cutaway, as the old one was "too similar to the LP horn"...

and the Japanese ESPs and shapes are indeed killer...

[LEOKV2]

That Forest costs around 2300 dollars, ash top, mahogany body, etc.

Never heard or the ash/mahogany combo, what are the tonal properties of ash? Say, on top of mahogany.

[pro-fusion]

Actually, I think ESP has expanded the U.S. availability of Standard Series models and custom shop signature pieces compared to a few years ago. ESP's primary market is Japan, and that's clearly where much of their energy goes.

ESP sells LTD guitars in other countries, but Japan gets a bigger selection of their Edwards line, which ESP doesn't sell in the U.S. and which is made in Japan with better quality control than the LTDs. I'm not quite sure why ESP doesn't market the Forest in the U.S. (the F-series LTDs aren't the full Forest shape), but I think it's because it was originally designed for a Japanese artist.