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VonBonfire
Well-known member
Prayers tonight for Mr. Shibuya. May he RIP. His products are appreciated by me daily since I enjoy my Edwards guitars.
I liked this from your link:
"Matt Masciandaro, president and CEO of The ESP Guitar Company USA said, “As we mourn Mr. Shibuya’s loss, we can take comfort in the strong foundation that he created for ESP. This will continue to guide us as we move the company forward into a promising future. Together, we will carry forward his vision, and I am confident that ESP’s best days are still ahead."
I liked this from your link:
"Matt Masciandaro, president and CEO of The ESP Guitar Company USA said, “As we mourn Mr. Shibuya’s loss, we can take comfort in the strong foundation that he created for ESP. This will continue to guide us as we move the company forward into a promising future. Together, we will carry forward his vision, and I am confident that ESP’s best days are still ahead."
thegame
Well-known member
I wonder if he had a premonition of his own passing?
MetalHeart
Active member
Akira Takasaki is the 1st guitar player I knew that used ESP guitars. Didn't Ed Van Halen have an ESP random star?
japetus
Moderator
Page Hamilton was the first person I ever saw playing ESP and I fell in love with that guitar. RIP Mr. Shibuya
godgrinder
Active member
RIP. He was also the owner of Schecter.
BeZo
Well-known member
That's sad. I'll have to get my LTD out for my next gig.
TheGreatGreen
Well-known member
Ed Roman hated ESP, so you know they are good guitars.
RIP
RIP
nightlight
Well-known member
RIP
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VonBonfire
Well-known member
All the sweetest brand new guitars I come across have ESP on the headstock. Mr. Shibuya left a nice legacy and upheld that Japanese tradition of masterful craftsmanship and quality. If I ever got one gear endorsement in my life I'd want it to be from ESP.....
jabps
Well-known member
Akira was the first I saw. Lynch was second and really gave them a boost in America. Floodgates opened after that with Hammett, Vandenburg, Kulick etc...
I bought my first ESP, a Mirage Custom in '86 from a place in Atlanta called the Metro Music. Beautiful guitar that sent me down the ESP path for the next decade and a half. I remember taking it to a place in Knoxville to have it worked on at a store and the guy had never heard of them. I used to joke with my bandmates the only guys playing ESP are Lynch and myself. All that quickly changed once Lynch blew it open.
Biggest gear regret is letting my '87 ESP Horizon go, never owned or played a better playing or sounding guitar. I was a victim of the times as I went full PRS and Gibson by the early 2000's. Felt at that time I needed to stay current and pointy guitars weren't current. Huge lesson to me that somethings are timeless. These days I don't miss ESP, great guitars but the neck feel of them started to change in the mid 90's. Those early Jackson style headstock era is in my opinion some of the finest guitars made. Just something special about them. I bonded with every single one I owned whereas by the mid to late '90's I just didn't dig the ones I owned as much and went through alot. All told in the end, I had 8 of them and started selling them off. Unfortunately I let my favorite go as well as my second favorite. Stupid. Very stupid.
I bought my first ESP, a Mirage Custom in '86 from a place in Atlanta called the Metro Music. Beautiful guitar that sent me down the ESP path for the next decade and a half. I remember taking it to a place in Knoxville to have it worked on at a store and the guy had never heard of them. I used to joke with my bandmates the only guys playing ESP are Lynch and myself. All that quickly changed once Lynch blew it open.
Biggest gear regret is letting my '87 ESP Horizon go, never owned or played a better playing or sounding guitar. I was a victim of the times as I went full PRS and Gibson by the early 2000's. Felt at that time I needed to stay current and pointy guitars weren't current. Huge lesson to me that somethings are timeless. These days I don't miss ESP, great guitars but the neck feel of them started to change in the mid 90's. Those early Jackson style headstock era is in my opinion some of the finest guitars made. Just something special about them. I bonded with every single one I owned whereas by the mid to late '90's I just didn't dig the ones I owned as much and went through alot. All told in the end, I had 8 of them and started selling them off. Unfortunately I let my favorite go as well as my second favorite. Stupid. Very stupid.
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jabps
Well-known member
Ed's was a Charvel star body with a Danelectro neck years before ESP. I'd say it's more probable ESP and Akira copied that after Ed.
shar-vell Dan
Well-known member
平和と愛
MetalHeart
Active member
MetalHeart
Active member
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VonBonfire
Well-known member
I've been looking hard at vintage Yamaha SG's and also these Vipers. I'm seeing LTD VIper' 1000's under a grand with Macassar Ebony boards so it's checking a lot of boxes for not a lot of money. Can you tell me more about yours? Neck contour, weight, playability, fretwork quality, action height etc? I was almost gonna start another thread but then I saw your post. Any info would be really helpful.
MetalHeart
Active member
The Viper was super nice. Very well made instrument. Maybe the best Ive ever had . The neck was thin and with the satin finish was smooth to the hands.
Weight was solid not too heavy and not super lite. Thats been 15 or so years ago. It felt good in the hands and not neck heavy. Frets and neck were very nice. For me it was like driving a Fareri (ESP) to a mustang (Gibson) Thats what I thought anyway
Like the Willie Alder LP it was identical to a buddies Gibson . About $2000 less.
I hope this helps. I wouldn't hesitate to buy another one of either
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VonBonfire
Well-known member
Thank you for that MetalHeart. How'd the sustain stack up to a Les Paul or something like that? I'm interested cause it isn't a thin body like the usual SG. It's not quite LP thickness. Action low and buzz free? I'm not a shred guy but I still like a nice low action and as little neck relief as possible.The Viper was super nice. Very well made instrument. Maybe the best Ive ever had . The neck was thin and with the satin finish was smooth to the hands.
Weight was solid not too heavy and not super lite. Thats been 15 or so years ago. It felt good in the hands and not neck heavy. Frets and neck were very nice. For me it was like driving a Fareri (ESP) to a mustang (Gibson) Thats what I thought anyway
Like the Willie Alder LP it was identical to a buddies Gibson . About $2000 less.
I hope this helps. I wouldn't hesitate to buy another one of either
MetalHeart
Active member
When I got it the action was pretty low just how I like it. I believe it was a neck thru and would sustain for days . If I still had it I would change pickups. Im older now and seem to like passive pickups more than EMG s they seem to me more warmer sounding.
But I do remember when fall came I had to do some neck adjustments, same with springtime. but was sensitive to weather . I never had a guitar like that before and that's when I learn to do my own setups.
You are right its not thin but a good solid chunk of Mahagony
I would like to get my hands on a vintage Yamaha SG ,I wonder what those go for?
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