Why is ESP more popular than Jackson?

[toejam]

I agree that Jackson needs to get better penetration in some established artists. They had both Alexi and Rusty and lost them both. Jackson also needs to figure out how to sell their less expensive models without canibalizing their USA line.

Alexi was never officially endorsed by Jackson.

[lerxstcat]

Alexi was never officially endorsed by Jackson.

No, but they had him if they wanted him through that store endorsement, and Jackson could have sold a boatload of Pro Series Alexi models in Europe, Japan and even the USA if they'd made it official.

Don't you think an alexi Rhoads would sell better than a Kevin Bonds Rhoads? I do...

[emperor_black]

Jackson is so unpopular because people associate the brand-name with Michael Jackson!!

[shreddermon]

I guess I agree with many of the prior posts.

- ESP / LTD has better distribution. Read: More dealers carry the brand and, more importantly, have a decent amount of guitars in stock.

- The LTD brand, in particular, has been blowing Jackson imports away for quite a while now. Mostly this has to do with LTD offering a lot better value. i.e., Pricing is the same or better than Jackson imports, quality is on par, and hardware (real Duncan or EMG pickups, Original Floyds, Tone Pros TOMs, Sperzel locking tuners) and other appointments is superior. Some Jackson imports recently got better hardware & PUs recently but, IMHO, they're still inferior in too many places.

- It should also be noted that LTD is offering more popular product designs for today's market, too. Their LP copies kick @ss, and are very popular. And the Jackson import brand is fighting with one hand tied behind it's back - FMIC won't even let them offer a reasonable single cut design.

- ESP / LTD is great at signing artists popular with younger kids. J/C has been signing some better & bigger artists in the past few years (Dimartini, EVH, etc.), but these have largely focused on their past popularity. i.e., Artists that were popular with older farts like myself, when we used to be young. Not artists who would help make the brand popular with younger kids now.

Overall, though, IMHO the LTD brand's formula is the real key to ESP's success.

[chrisolson]

Not to beat a dead horse but in regards to Shreddermon's comments above, a couple other things to consider:

VALUE

Look at how many LTD models are neck-thru/set neck models. Now while I'm a fan of bolt on guitars, most have finish on the necks anyway, so I don't shy away from neck-thru any more. LTD has a TON of neck-thru's, and the necks aren't one piece - most are at least three piece, which means a (hopefully) stable neck, and good sustain. All this at the same price point that Jackson is just starting to touch with their Japanese models. They often offer one in a hardtail and one with a trem. I tend to see neck-thrus as a "better value" guitar to a certain degree - at least in terms of construction. I'd pay more for the same guitar in a neck-thru compared to the identical in a bolt-on. With ESP, you don't pay a premium for that - at least not to a large degree.

OPTIONS

Add to which, a fair amount of ESP/LTD's in the sub-$1000 market actually use an ORIGINAL FLOYD!! Can't beat that... The only Duncans Jackson is using are the JB and Jazz -- LTD uses Duncans, but actually changes them up a bit based on the guitar model -- case in point: The EC-1000 uses a JB and a '59, the Gus G model uses the Duncan Distortion, Lynch models have the Screamin' Demon (Ecchhh...), and so on. Like mentioned above, Sperzels, Tone Pros, EMG, Duncan, and so on - good name-brand hardware.

Jackson started to come around in the last year or two, but they have a LONG way to go. They need to keep listening to the people who WANT TO BUY THEIR stuff. I think they did by bringing back the Charvel name, along with small run stuff, and guitars like the Demartini/EVH and so on. It's a good start. Now control your costs, and put out stuff people WANT to buy.

When you compare specs, the ESP is a better value, plain and simple.

Dean? They just put out cool shit. Period. No one else does what they do to the extent they do it. They bring back "classic" designs and paint schemes when people ask - they seem very responsive to the customer, and tey innovate with some cool designs and paint jobs. Bag on them for the Dime stuff, but people buy them. Are they capitalizing? Yeah. But who wouldn't if they had the chance? I consider it a fitting tribute. Look at Zakk -- he's got the same guitar done a half-dozen ways. At least there are variations on the Dime design.

[roodyrocker]

ESP is not more popular than Jackson, I own more Jacksons than ESP's ESP spends the $ on endorsements, its plain and simple. I like ESP btw, but I prefer my Jacksons over them.

Rudy

https://www.wickedrocks.com

[JerEvil]

... What's interesteing though is the fact that so many "pros" are out there with guitars "meant for the masses", and you se them playing them every night, so there must be something to be said about that...they can't be as crappy as they are made out to be. I'd rather take the cheaper guitars on the road anyway - if they get thrashed/broken/stolen, I woudn't lose as much sleep.

Same reason I bought my RR5 & RR24. It is hard to come up with money for my USA Selects, therefore I don't take them on the road with me. Our other guitar player lost a Charvel Model 6 from a trailer not being latched properly coming home from Cincinnati back to Indianapolis. Lord only knows where it slid out. I won't take that chance with my RR1's or KE2. I also need guitars I don't mind putting on an airplane and such.

[KBRR]

hmm... Last summer def leppard was selling out dates at the outdoor theatres. In chicago I believe they sold about 27,000 tickets. I would like to be that unpopular

you know def leppard and i know def leppard but my 16 year old cousin and his freinds dont know def leppard and they are the ones buying the guitars . def leppard is still selling tickets but selling 27000 tickets to 40 year old + ppl doesn't account for the market buying esp and jackson guitars. Buy the way my cousin plays an alexi LTD .

[Robotechnology]

Doesn't ESP/LTD sponsor quite a few music festivals where most of the bands aren't that well known but, they are new and current. A few of those per year that tour the US and the audience looking at EVERY band on stage playing ESP/LTD instruments can sway popularity their way I would think.

I have 2 ESP (M-II & a Mirage) models that are KILLER in every respect. 2 USA Jacksons and 2 Japanese Jacksons that are also killer in every respect (except for the import pickups originally mounted). I am not a snob and see USA Jackson and Japanes ESP as equals personally.

[Bengal]

Last year at SummerSonic, a music festival in Japan, ESP had a HUGE booth set up with tons of guitars and amps that performers could come by and check out. Not upen to the public, just for performers. That's pretty smart in my opinion. I know it's not far for them to go but there was no Ibanez booth...

[JerEvil]

Dean? They just put out cool shit. Period. No one else does what they do to the extent they do it. They bring back "classic" designs and paint schemes when people ask - they seem very responsive to the customer, and tey innovate with some cool designs and paint jobs. Bag on them for the Dime stuff, but people buy them. Are they capitalizing? Yeah. But who wouldn't if they had the chance? I consider it a fitting tribute. Look at Zakk -- he's got the same guitar done a half-dozen ways. At least there are variations on the Dime design.

I would say Dean puts out mediocre shit at BEST. For what you pay for a Razorback or Razorback V you only get a shitty licensed trem, a dean neck pup, no neck binding??? All while chraging an arm and a leg and justifying it by putting Dimes name on it. I am sure Dean has long since paid out any monies that they owe to the Abbott family and is making money shamelessly hand over fist on Dimes name by selling a $600 guitar at best for $1049. GOD I wish people would let him be dead already. There is no denying that he was a true revolutionary in the realms of metal guitar players, but christ - let's make some more money off him. If they didn't have the Razorback series and Dime didn't make the ML's popular again nobody would buy a dean. Hell you have to buy a $3,000 + to get a real Floyd for fucks sake! Or spend $1,049 for the guitar, $65 for a decent neck pickup and $160 for a Floyd, plus pay to have everything put on ... OR just buy a USA Select!

[SlasZ]

I don't mind, the less people i see with a good Jackson the happier i am to have one!
I think people who want good quality and know what's out there will buy a Jackson USA or ESP. I don't think the Jackson USA's lost some market share to ESP's.
Most of the 'kids' however just buy whatever is hot, for a good price and reasonable quality and i guess that's LTD at the moment.
Also, here in Belgium (or Europe for that matter) it is hard to get your hands on a good Jackson, it's much easier to buy ESP/LTD, Dean or Ibanez. They should do something about that!

[joshulator]

For what it's worth, Guitar Center doesn't carry ESP. Here in Houston, if you believe the advertising, Parker Music is the exclusive ESP dealer in town. Houston is pretty large (3rd or 4th biggest city in the country??), and I find it amazing to think that there's only one shop in town to buy a new ESP.

[Chad]

I would say Dean puts out mediocre shit at BEST. For what you pay for a Razorback or Razorback V you only get a shitty licensed trem, a dean neck pup, no neck binding??? All while chraging an arm and a leg and justifying it by putting Dimes name on it. I am sure Dean has long since paid out any monies that they owe to the Abbott family and is making money shamelessly hand over fist on Dimes name by selling a $600 guitar at best for $1049. GOD I wish people would let him be dead already. There is no denying that he was a true revolutionary in the realms of metal guitar players, but christ - let's make some more money off him. If they didn't have the Razorback series and Dime didn't make the ML's popular again nobody would buy a dean. Hell you have to buy a $3,000 + to get a real Floyd for fucks sake! Or spend $1,049 for the guitar, $65 for a decent neck pickup and $160 for a Floyd, plus pay to have everything put on ... OR just buy a USA Select!

OT, but when did Dime switch back to Dean? His Washburn endorsement was fairly lengthy. I'm thinking they got him not long before his death.

[mattsmusiccenter]

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