New ESP Signature guitars

[metalblastgrind]

I agree about the new Hetfield guitar being ugly and the Hammett being just a new paint scheme. I do like the Hammett guitar the best of the two though.

[Daniil]

even13flow +1
Yes you are right, probably the way it is

[no leaf clover]

Either way, I don't think there's anything special about either of these guitars, just a way to make more money off the names of Metallica.

Isn't that always the case with signature guitars? Not just with these new models?

[Pete-Rock]

Either way, I don't think there's anything special about either of these guitars, just a way to make more money off the names of Metallica.

Isn't that always the case with signature guitars? Not just with these new models?

Isnt it always a goal to make money when you sell something, no matter if it is a guitar or a pencil? I think if guitar manufacturers make signature series that's first of all nothing more than another guitar model, designed by the specs of an artist. Of course his name will help selling it, but name or not, guitar players all over the world have been rebuilding the guitars of their idols millions of times. So buying a signature guitar makes things easier for them.

Anyways - I still think you are right when it comes to Metallica. There's not only one or two signature models but just too many. So one has to have the impression that it is all about the money and nothing else. When the first ESP KH-2 signature model came out Kirk had been playing this guitar for years and it has been his main guitar on stage. Nowadays they change the guitars for nearly every song and it is not like this black/green model has been standing out in any way. What would have been cool is if they had released the Mummy guitar (like they did with the Ouija). He has been playing this guitar for 15 years now.

[no leaf clover]

There's a difference between designing a guitar for an artist, let's say for James Hetfield and making a signature guitar of that model for retail purposes.

There are 2 things I can't stand about signature guitars: 1.the main purpose is to make money by selling a guitar that's been played by a famous artist and 2.it's not unique. One shouldn't try to copy something or someone. That's my opinion.

[even13flow]

I guess I need to explain myself better. Pretty much everyone knows that I have a quite a few of James signature' guitars, but I guess my feeling on this one is that it is relatively uninspired. They did tweak the Explorer design slightly so I guess that makes it unique, but I think just changing the paint job on Kirks guitars isn't doing it for me when he has all of those guitars with amazing paint jobs.

[Leighton]

I don't mind the new explorer design to be honest.... A lot better than the standard "bend in" explorer ESP tried to push on everyone anyway.

Kirk's? Uninspired is one word. We don't really need another reminder 20 years on that it was a cool design.

[CreepingDeath81]

I have to outcast myself from the general consensus on Papa Het's Snakebyte, I personally love it! Especially over that bullshit EX line, nobody complained about that one, and if you ask me, the Snakebyte is closer to an explorer than the BS.....err, EX line. Those EX's look like a very terrible design drawn on a bar napkin by a drunken group of rejects from various guitar companies' idea and design department.

[raporter]

I don't think the Kirk guitars are anything special just looks like a different paint job of an existing guitar
The snake bite guitar looks good but I just can't get used to playing an explorer shaped guitar to much weight at the back

[no leaf clover]

Speaking of playing an explorer guitar: I wouldn't have it any other way since I bought one 3 years ago.

Together with my Flying V (I bought that one last year) it's the best guitar I ever played.