Have You Played an ESP Guitar?

ESP Company, Limited is a Japanese company that manufactures electric guitars and bass guitars. ESP is headquartered in Japan but it also has a head office in the USA. ESP is short for Electric Sound Products; it is one of the most popular electric guitar brands in the world and it goes under several brand names like ESP Standard, ESP Custom Shop, Navigator, Edwards Guitar and Bases, LTD Guitars and Bases and Grassroots.

ESP is widely accepted all around the globe because of its ability to cater to every type of market: from professional Japanese-built custom shop guitars to mass production instruments made in China, Korea and Indonesia. 

The firsts for ESP

The first ESP shop was in Tokyo and it was one of the most popular guitar replacement parts manufacturers. It was in 1976 when the first ESP guitars were crafted under the ESP and Navigator name. The success of ESP guitar replacement parts reached the US market in 1983 and the parts were for local artists based in New York. Artists that trust replacement parts from ESP were Page Hamilton from Helmet, Vernon Reid from Living Colour, Vinnie Vincent and Bruce Kulick from KISS and Ronnie Wood from the Rolling Stones. 

ESP also made parts like the bodies and necks of popular guitars like Kramer Guitars as well as popular companies Robin Guitars, Schecter Guitar Research and DiMarzio. And it was only in 1985 when it was discovered by George Lynch discovered that ESP also built custom guitars. Afterwards popular ESP electric guitar brand models began to emerge such as the Kamikaze, the M1 Standard, M1 Custom, Horizon Custom and the Surveyor bass guitar.

The Kamikaze model basically turned the world around for the most popular electric guitar parts manufacturer to an exclusive electric guitar manufacturer. Kamikaze was its first Signature series and between 1990 and 1992 it has expanded to a standard electric guitar line. Success was apparent and soon the parts manufacturing was discontinued so that production of a variety of guitars and bass guitars was the focus of the company.

The bright success of ESP

ESP has its Custom Series wherein customers may be able to order a custom guitar and bass. ESP USA takes care of the orders while their Japan manufacturing plant takes care of production. ESP custom guitars were considered the choice of top-end customers and are more expensive than their Navigator line.

The ESP Artist Series on the other hand are mass-produced guitars that feature different artists. These beautiful creations are models that are between ESP Navigator line and their Original Series.

You may still order ESP Edwards, Grassroots and LTD models that are available to high-end customers.

ESP is also one of the most popular electric guitar brands featured in Bandfuse Rock Legends in Xbox 360 and PS3. All in all, ESP is a classic electric guitar that has all the best features, design and parts just what you can expect from a company that started as guitar parts manufacturers in Asia and all over the world.

Woody Guthrie's Guitars

In the folk music world, there are few artists who cast a shadow as great as Woody Guthrie, except maybe Pete Seeger. Though the image of Woody Guthrie's Gibson L-00 with the phrase “This Machine Kills Fascists” has become iconic, Guthrie was known for playing a number of acoustics over the years.

Tracking them has become a full time hobby for many, as Guthrie was a generous man and often performed only a handful of times with a guitar before giving it away. Guthrie considered his guitars to be nothing more than a tool of his trade, and had little emotional connection to any of his instruments beyond how they played.

Gibson Guitars

Guthrie is most closely associated with Gibson guitars, namely the L-00, J-45, and Southern Jumbo. The L-00 is a small bodied guitar with 14 frets. He played an L-00 for much of the 30's and into the early 40's, before Gibson introduced the J-45 in 1942. The J-45 was an attempt by Gibson to replicate Martin's successful dreadnought guitars. In 1943, Woody acquired his first Gibson Southern Jumbo. 

The Southern Jumbo was more or less a J-45 with updated trim. Woody's recordings on a Southern Jumbo for Moses “Moe” Asch on Stinson Records in 1944 are some of his most celebrated recordings including “This Land is Your Land,” “We Shall Be Free,” and “Goin' Down the Road Feelin' Bad.”

Martin Guitars

In addition to the L-00, Guthrie often performed with small bodied Martins throughout the 30's and early 40's. Guthrie identified strongly with the working class. He slept on the floor in his New York apartment and lived simply, ready to travel at a moment's notice. Similarly, he preferred smaller, more affordable guitars over more costly and harder to transport larger bodied instruments.

So it's no surprise that during the 30's, when Guthrie traveled the country performing for migrant workers and striking miners, he would choose Martin's 00 sized instruments. Throughout the late 30's, he frequently traveled with actor and activist Will Greer, who would later go on to play Grampa on “The Waltons.” Guthrie borrowed Greer's wife's Martin 0-17 during much of their travels and beat it up until the instrument was nearly unplayable.

In recent years, both Gibson and Martin guitars have issued designs inspired by Guthrie's guitars of choice. Martin's 000-18WG is a design inspired by the 00-15 and 00-17 guitars Woody often played during the late 30's and early 40's. The small bodied guitar has a crisp pure tone, and is made of mahogany. 

Gibson's SJ is more a true attempt at reproducing Guthrie's Southern Jumbo, his so called “big Gibson.” Created in collaboration with Woody's son (and a great folk singer and activist in his own right) Arlo Guthrie, the Gibson Woody Guthrie SJ is a close approximation of the instrument Woody used on some of his best loved recordings. 

But for the budding troubadour looking to ride the rails, there's only one real way to follow in Woody's footsteps. Borrow a guitar from a friend, scrawl your message on the body, play it until it barely plays anymore, and give it away to another budding troubadour you meet along the way. Repeat until Bob Dylan writes a song about you.

The Most Popular Acoustic Guitar Brands

Are you looking for acoustic guitars for sale? A smart consumer checks out the latest and the most popular acoustic guitar brands first before he makes his purchase. There are so many great brands of acoustic guitars each with their own styles, features, designs and history. Check our list out so you can have an idea of what each manufacturer has to offer.

Fender

Fender is an all-American company that manufactures acoustic and electric guitars. The company is famous for its beautifully-designed acoustic guitars that are carefully crafted to suit the players’ tastes and needs. Every acoustic instrument from Fender is a take of history and amazing ingenuity and you do not have to worry about running out of choices when it comes to Fender guitars because the company has the most variety.

Choose from Artist Designs, Acoustic Packs, California, Classic Designs, Classical, Collectors’ Custom, Electracoustic, Folk Music Instruments, Master Designed and Pro Custom to name a few. You can be sure that every product bears the Fender’s commitment to well-crafted acoustic guitars.

Takamine

Takamine is a Japanese acoustic guitar manufacturer that is headquartered in Nakatsugawa, Gifu, Japan. Takamine brand guitars are popular among professional guitar players because of its steel-string feature. The company is also known for its acoustic-electric guitars. Every year, Takamine introduces a Limited Edition model that is only available in a few hundred pieces; these Limited Edition acoustic guitars are famous for bearing colourful and whimsical motifs and nature designs plus are equipped with the latest pickup and preamplifier combination.

Every Takamine guitar is a touch of Japanese perfection; it offers a Limited Edition series, Signature series, Pro Series 1 to 7, Legacy Series, Classical and Hirade series, the G Series and the G Series Classical.

Peavey

Peavey Electronics Corporation is an American company that manufactures audio equipment distributed all over the world. It is based in Meridian, Mississippi, USA. It is known for the development of numerous audio equipment as well as electric guitars and acoustic guitars. Their products are manufactured in Mississippi, USA, in the United Kingdom and in the Far East. Peavey also has the largest product catalog when it comes to musical equipment with about 2000 designs. 

The company releases 80 to 100 products and models year after year.

And when it comes to Peavey acoustic guitars; you can bet that every product bears amazing US craftsmanship, outstanding attention to detail and the most updated features that you can ever find in an acoustic guitar. Peavey’s most popular acoustic guitar for sale is the Briarwood DR Series, Briarwood CL. Briarwood DR series, Briarwood FL, the Ecoustic Series and the Jack Daniel’s Series.

Washburn

Washburn Guitars is an American guitar manufacturer established during the turn of the century in Chicago, Illinois. From a division of Lyon and Healy, a stringed instrument maker, to a company that has greatly influenced the development of rock and roll in the US, Washburn continues its dedication and the passion for good old American music. And although Washburn is more commonly known for its acoustic and electric guitar models, it is also known to the one of the top manufacturers of electric basses, acoustic basses, mandolins, banjos, travel guitars and amplifiers.

Washburn’s acoustic line is one of the most extensive since the company recognizes the dream of every guitar player of all ages: the Apprentice Series, Augusta Series, Acoustic/Electric, Classical Series, Comfort & Deluxe Series, Cumberland & Cumberland Deluxe, Disney by Washburn, Dreadnoughts, Southwestern Series, Festival, Folk Style, Forrest Lee Jr. Bender, Harvest Series, Heritage Series, Jumbos, Lakeside Jumbo, Parlor, Paul Stanley, Tahoe & Tahoe Deluxe, Timber Ridge, Travel Acoustic and Vintage Series. You can bet that in any Washburn you choose, you will enjoy rich and melodic sound perfect for novice as well as professional players.

Dean

Dean Guitars is an American company that manufactures electric guitars, acoustic guitars, bass guitars, pickups and amplifiers. It was founded by Dean Zelinsky in Chicago, Illinois. Currently if is owned by Armadillo Enterprises, Inc.

Dean acoustic guitars are more than your average acoustic model. These are made using only the finest materials and techniques which is why it is the name trusted by popular artists and bands. Its acoustic line includes its 2013 Dean Acoustics line with the Performer series, St. Augustine Solid series, Natural series, Exhibition Ultra series, AXS Dread Quilt and the Exotica FM for left-handed players. Each Dean guitar is made with the player in mind; with the variety of colors, textures and designs you may say that you have finally found the acoustic guitar that you have been looking for!

Martin

C.F. Martin & Company is an American company that was established in 1833. It is currently one of the oldest musical instrument manufacturers in the world that is still manufacturing new models to this day. Vintage Martin acoustic guitars and other musical instruments may cost a fortune up to 6 figures’ worth! This basically proves that a Martin guitar is durable and is very intricately made. You can guarantee that the Martin guitar that you have purchased today will still sound amazingly for years to come! Martin’s main factory and headquarters are in Nazareth, Pennsylvania.

Martin’s acoustic line consists of its Limited Edition series, the Marquis collection, the Custom Signature collections, Retro, Standard, Performing Artist series, 15 to 17 Series, Little Martin series, FSC Certified series and Sustainable Woods series.

Ibanez

Ibanez is a Japanese company that manufactures guitars. The company owner Hoshino Gakki imported Spanish Guitars and then was able to make his own line of electric and acoustic guitars. Gakki was intent in providing only the best guitar-playing to his customers and his small but amazing acoustic line is one of the best.

Popular Ibanez acoustic guitars include their Performance series with the Dreadnought, Left-Handed Dreadnought and the Dreadnought 12 string. It is also popular for its standard line that consists of Artwood Vintage, Artwood, PF, AEG USB, AEG, AEF, AEW, EW, Talman, Acoustic Basses, Classical model and other left-handed models. Japanese ingenuity and perseverance has created the Ibanez brand of impressive guitar line.

Johnson

Johnson Guitars USA is an American company that designs and manufactures solid as well as semi-acoustic guitars and bass guitars. It is based in Yuma, Arizona, USA. Johnson is popular for providing only the best and the most affordable acoustic guitars however this does not mean that the company caters to the novice player rather its style, craftsmanship and true value appeals to all kinds of guitar players anywhere they might be. Their designs are popular with classic all-solid tonewoods and flat top simple structure.

Johnson’s acoustic line has several series like the Songwriter II Models that include Dreadnoughts, Cutaway, 12-String, 000 Style, Jumbo and the Jumbo Cutaway. The Player series, Travel series, Acoustic Bass and the PlayerPac series are also evidence of Johnson’s dedication to fine sound and amazing acoustic detail.

Variax Line 6

Variax is a brand marketed by Line 6 which is a company that manufactures electronic musical equipment like acoustic, bass , and electric guitars, amplifiers, processors, interfaces and wire system. Variax is currently available in electric guitar models however there are also acoustic guitars that have been modelled in the past.

Line 6 has three models of acoustic guitars: the 300 Nylon String, 300 Steel String and the cedar-topped 700. Creators of these guitars claim that the 700 can mimic more than a dozen rare acoustic instruments however Line 6 has discontinued the model in 2010.

Other notable acoustic guitar accessories brands

Acoustic guitars are melodic on their own but using accessories enhances the sound, effects, experience and the overall feel of playing a true acoustic stringed instrument. Notable accessories manufacturers are the following:

Line6

Line 6 manufactures acoustic and electric guitar accessories like multi-effects switches, pedals, software, speakers, wireless systems, interfaces, amplifiers and so much more. Line 6 is also popular for its Customtone and other accessories enhancements to make you sound like a rockstar.

Dunlop

Dunlop is an American company that manufactures musical accessories. For acoustic guitars you can find switches, pedals, electronic devices, distortion devices, audio electronics, picks, straps, triggers and more. Trust that Dunlop has got you covered when you perform just like it has covered artists for more than 40 years!

Randall

Randall is the name for audio amplifiers. Over the years it has remained to be the top choice among live performers and top artists because of its dedication to fine quality. You need Randall Thrasher, RD Diavlo, Signature Series amplifiers, pedals and all other live performance equipment to reinvent your kind of music.

BOSS

 
BOSS is the boss when it comes to the best audio live performance accessories and equipment. BOSS brand compact and twin pedals, multi-effects, digital studio equipment, rhythm machines, tuners, metronomes, loop stations and guitar accessories are what keep popular artists like Dave Navarro going. Expect pure quality sound, easy to use controls and rich musical experience with every BOSS product that you purchase.