ESP launches its second batch of guitars for 2021

Following on from its phase one launch for 2021, ESP Guitars has launched its second wave of models for 2021. Here’s what’s new:

JM-II in black shadow burst and MSV-1 in Olympic White

This new signature guitar for Josh Middleton (Sylosis, Architects) spoirts an alder body, a quilted maple top and a bolt-on 24-fret maple neck. For easy access to tight metal tones there’s a set of two Fishman Fluence Modern humbuckers.

The signature model for Mike Schleibaum (Darkest Hour) is based on the ESP arrow, offering a through-neck construction, with easy access to all 24 jumbo stainless steel frets. The body is mahogany, with a maple cap, and comes loaded with a Floyd Rose 1000 and a single EMG JH (James Hetfield signature) active humbucker.

LTD Arctic Metal Range

2018 saw the launch of ESP’s LTD Black Metal series – a set of guitars stripped down to a monochrome, undoubtedly heavy aesthetic. Now, three years on, ESP has inverted the colour-scheme from, to put it in the very metal way as ESP does, “the darkest of blacks to the coldest of frozen wastelands.”

The Arctic Metal series launches with five new guitars: the Arrow-NT Arctic Metal, the EC Arctic Metal, the M-HT Arctic Metal, the M-7BHT Arctic Metal, and the Phoenix Arctic Metal.

Shared specs between them include a Snow White Satin finish, stainless steel frets, a Macassar ebony fingerboard with no inlays and glow-in-the-dark side markers and black hardware. Electronics-wise, they all include a single EMG 81TW pickup with a push-pull control for coil splitting.

LTD EX Black Metal

Popular demand has seen the introduction of the EX Black Metal, a stripped-back take on ESP’s classic angular shape. It features, of course, an all-black design, through-neck construction, 22 extra-jumbo stainless steel frets, a Macassar ebony fingerboard with no inlays and glow-in-the-dark side markers, a TonePros locking bridge and tailpiece, and a single EMG 81 pickup.

LTD TL-7 in black

For 2021, ESP is introducing the first 7-string model in the TL series. Other features include a Graphtech Nubone XB nut and saddle, Grover tuners, a Fishman Sonicore pickup running into a Fishman TL-3 preamp.

More LTD Deluxe EC Series Guitars

Three more guitars join the LTD Deluxe EC Series in this phase: The EC-1001 in Tiger Eye, the EC-1000FR in Black Satin, and the EC-1000FR in See-thru Black. The first of these has a mahogany body with flamed maple top and a mahogany neck with 24 extra-jumbo stainless steel frets. Electronics here are a set of direct-mounted Fishman Fluence Open Core Classic Humbucker pickups, with push-pull controls to select voicings.

The latter two are similar however come with a Floyd Rose 1000SE bridge. The EC-1000FR in Black Satin comes with a set of EMG 60 and EMG 81 humbuckers, while the EC-1000FR in See-thru Black comes with a set of EMG 66TW and EMG 57F humbuckers.

More LTD Deluxe models

Two more electrics join the LTD Deluxe Series with phase 2 of the announcements: the H-1008 Baritone EverTune, first of all, is an enormous guitar given its 27-inch scale-length and eight strings. It has 24 frets, as well as a set of EMG 85-8H and EMG 81-8H humbuckers.

The LTD Deluxe TE-1000 EverTune come sin a Charcoal Metallic Satin finish, with a set-through construction and 25.5-inch scale length, 24 frets and set of EMG 60-RTW and EMG 81 active humbuckers, the former of which can be coil-split.

For more information, such as details on new finishes for various ESP ranges, head over to espguitars.com.

For more gear news, click here.