Esp US factory to open in '14

[Sphere]

ESP Guitars has announced its new North Hollywood, California, factory. It will be the company's first-ever US-based factory.

http://www.guitarworld.com/esp-guitars- ... -open-2014

Sounds pretty damn interesting

 

[blackba]

Interesting. Never owned an esp. Hopefully they have the old logo on the USA esp models....

 

[Stealthtastic]

Very cool!

 

[Stealthtastic]

Very cool!

 

[Shiny_Surface]

Interesting!

 

[Chubtone]

The whole concept of this confuses me. ESP is notorious for being a Japanese built guitar and their Japan custom shop stuff costs every single penny as much as a made in USA Jackson Custom Shop instrument. And they have tons of fans willing to pay just as much if not more for a Japanese made ESP. I just don't understand who they are targeting these guitars at.

It's not a knock. I'm just curious. The article talks about a production model. A USA made production model to slot in at what price range and to compete against what other companies offerings?

 

[Stealthtastic]

The whole concept of this confuses me. ESP is notorious for being a Japanese built guitar and their Japan custom shop stuff costs every single penny as much as a made in USA Jackson Custom Shop instrument. And they have tons of fans willing to pay just as much if not more for a Japanese made ESP. I just don't understand who they are targeting these guitars at.

It's not a knock. I'm just curious. The article talks about a production model. A USA made production model to slot in at what price range and to compete against what other companies offerings?

It is kind of odd but Ibanez did something similar in the 90s as well. They also have the Los Angeles Custom Shop which handles all artist guitars and modifications for artists.

I wonder if ESP is doing this now because its just as $$$ to hire American labour as Japanese? It would mean lower prices for US guys because they would be MiA.

Either way, im pretty excited to see how this turns out and how they stack up the classic MiJ Horizons.

 

[Sphere]

The thought of esp in the states again, at least for me, brings back the days of yesteryear and the 48th street custom shop.

What comes out of the Hollywood shop remains to be seen......

 

[steve_k]

too much radiation in japan now. no wood.

 

[thiswaythatway]

Well, they can just call them Mexican made guitars can't they?

 

[steve_k]

Well, they can just call them Mexican made guitars can't they?

Calexican

 

[Deleted member 8761]

The whole concept of this confuses me. ESP is notorious for being a Japanese built guitar and their Japan custom shop stuff costs every single penny as much as a made in USA Jackson Custom Shop instrument. And they have tons of fans willing to pay just as much if not more for a Japanese made ESP. I just don't understand who they are targeting these guitars at.

It's not a knock. I'm just curious. The article talks about a production model. A USA made production model to slot in at what price range and to compete against what other companies offerings?

They see the USA as the new Korea, India, Indonesia or where ever they outsource the production line outside Japan? Whatever presence they had in the USA in the past, this is not a custom shop but a production facility.

 

[Dunning~Kruger]

Good stuff

 

[Electric I]

Interesting is right. Looking forward to how this pans out. Thx for the heads-up.

 

[Norton666]

It's because they , by their own doing , drove the demand for actual Japanese ESPs in the toilet by creating LTD's , which in a lot of people's opinions , are every bit as good as their ESP counterparts. They have to do something to provide a definite separation between the LTD and ESP names. I think though , unfortunately , to maintain the same level of craftsmanship that they are accustomed to in the US , they will be priced along side PRS and Gibson and I really don't think a lot of people will pay that. Just my opinion of course

 

[JerEvil]

The thought of esp in the states again, at least for me, brings back the days of yesteryear and the 48th street custom shop.

What comes out of the Hollywood shop remains to be seen......

I thought the same thing.

 

[Barzinilover1]

It's because they , by their own doing , drove the demand for actual Japanese ESPs in the toilet by creating LTD's , which in a lot of people's opinions , are every bit as good as their ESP counterparts. They have to do something to provide a definite separation between the LTD and ESP names. I think though , unfortunately , to maintain the same level of craftsmanship that they are accustomed to in the US , they will be priced along side PRS and Gibson and I really don't think a lot of people will pay that. Just my opinion of course

Lets hope your opinion is not right in this case.

 

[madrigal77]

I don't see the point in this. They will automatically be over priced just by being made in the US. I would rather they have just kept the Standard line.

 

[Aristocat]

Check this out.

I was watching some of the new Lynch stuff on YT and this was off on the side. It's a total headstratcher for me as I can't imagine why an established Japanese company wants to root in the U.S when guys/gals are perfectly happy ordering their custom pieces direct. I don't see the comparative/absolute trade off here between the two countries.

 

[Ventura]

Not sure. Maybe it's a small scale outlet with a focus on a few guitar runs for specific cats. I can't see them bettering their MiJ top drawer guitars with producton in the US. Fact is, I foresee less quality and a higher price if it rolls out all things being equal. The MiJ Horizons are beautiful guitars - incredible quality and consistency - this comes with a focus on detail and obsessiveness. It would take some special talent at a special salary to deliver the same on north american soil.