ESP Guitars: NEW 2018 LTD Model Preview

It’s that time of year with Namm 2018 just around the corner and guitar manufacturers around the world are starting to unveil their new models for 2018. ESP Guitars is no exception as they have just announced some of the NEW 2018 LTD models and these definitely represent some of the best they have ever done, with entire new models and some exciting additions to their existing offerings.

This preview only includes their new LTD models; as we believe they will have some new ESP E-II instruments to be unveiled sometime closer to the NAMM Show next month.

Here is a glimpse of some of the New Additions:

New Signature Series Additions:

The George Lynch LTD GL-KAMI4 is based on one of the legendary guitarist’s most famous ESP Custom Shop models, and offers Lynch’s well-known “Kamikaze” graphic finish in eye-grabbing neon colors, as well as a distinctive sawtooth-shaped headstock. The GL KAMI-4 features an alder body, bolt-on maple neck with maple fingerboard, a Floyd Rose bridge, and a combination of a new Seymour Duncan Signature George Lynch “Hunter” pickup in the bridge with an ESP Designed single-coil pickup in the neck position.

Stephen Carpenter Signature Series LTD SC-20, a 6-string model that harkens back to Stef’s early days with ESP. A neck-thru-body design, it offers a maple neck with alder sides in See Thru Green finish, and includes components such as a Seymour Duncan JB SH-4 pickup paired with ESP Designed LH-150N and LS-120N pickups, as well as an ebony fingerboard with glow in the dark side markers.

Here’s one that people have been asking for all year long. Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett has been performing on tour over the past 12 months using a killer Purple Sparkle version of his ESP signature guitar, and now you can play it too with this updated LTD KH-602. The guitar includes new EMG Kirk Hammett Bone Breaker Signature pickups and an environmentally-friendly fingerboard made of Pau Ferro.

Mastodon’s Bill Kelliher, whose LTD Sparrowhawk model is now available in a great-looking Pelham Blue finish.

New Multi-Scale Guitars: Introducing the LTD M-1007MS and M-1008MS

ESP Guitars have introduced some multi-scale guitars with the new seven-string LTD M-1007MS and eight-string LTD M-1008MS. The new models have varying scale lengths of 27” – 25.5”. They are bolt-on designs that use a “drop top” of thick flamed maple that’s bent over a lightweight mahogany back. Both models offer a five-piece neck made of maple and exotic purple heart wood, with a Macassar ebony fingerboard that includes offset abalone dot inlays.

Top-tier components on the new M-1007MS and M-1008MS include a set of Seymour Duncan Nazgul and Sentient pickups that were custom-made for ESP with a special angled design and pole spacing optimized for the multi-scale design. A push-pull control on the tone knob allows for coil splitting, providing a wealth of flexible tones. Other components include a Hipshot multi-scale bridge and ESP locking tuners.

New Black Metal Series

ESP Guitars have also unveiled three new models in a brand new LTD Black Metal series. These guitars, comparable in build quality to their LTD Deluxe 1000 Series models, are the LTD EC Black Metal, LTD M Black Metal, and LTD Viper-7 Black Metal. They all feature design similarities including a single premium-quality pickup, and a menacing all-black aesthetic that includes Black Satin finish, black hardware, and even a newly-designed black metal LTD logo on the headstock. All models provide a Seymour Duncan “Blackened” Black Winter pickup that is mounted directly to the guitar’s body, Macassar ebony fingerboards with no inlays, glow-in-the-dark side markers, and black binding on the neck and fingerboard.

New LTD Deluxe “1000 Series” Guitars

Another new EverTune-equipped EC-1000QM EverTune model is being offered with a great-looking quilted maple top in Dark Brown Sunburst finish.

The new LTD H3-1000 has the bold angular curves of the ESP Horizon-3 and offers set-thru construction at 25.5” scale, pairing a mahogany body with flamed-maple top to a three-piece maple neck with Macassar ebony fingerboard. It includes a Tonepros TOM bridge with string-thru-body design, and a Seymour Duncan Custom-5/Jazz pickup set, with a push-pull coil split on the tone control

New LTD 400 Series Models

The new LTD MH-400M NT is a fantastic-looking guitar with a mahogany top in Natural Satin finish and direct-mount Seymour Duncan pickups.

New 200 Series Models

Overall, the 200 Series takes a big leap ahead with some great new models. Here the new LTD MH-203QM, offer guitarist the terrific value you need, combined with the tones and playability that will let you do your best work.

Updated LTD Basses

The LTD B-208SM is an update on the B-208 — one of the coolest choices in 8-string basses around — with a new Spalted Maple top, a roasted jatoba fingerboard, and a new control layout.

This is only a small sample of what ESP Guitars have on offer for 2018, for a full line-up announcement check out their website:

ESP GUITARS 2018