ESP Guitars

ESP Company, Limited, founded in 1975 by Hisatake Shibuya in Tokyo, Japan, is renowned for its electric guitars and basses. Initially starting with custom replacement parts, ESP expanded to manufacturing complete guitars under various brands, including ESP Standard, LTD, and Navigator. Notable for crafting high-quality instruments, ESP gained prominence in the 1980s by making custom guitars for famous artists like George Lynch and James Hetfield. The company moved its U.S. headquarters to Los Angeles in 1993 and introduced the more affordable LTD series in 1995. Despite facing competition and legal challenges from major guitar brands like Gibson, ESP has continued to grow, adapting its designs and expanding its signature series.