Black ESP Explorer
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Except the usual differences James' ESP Explorer got to the standard models this Explorer is very similar to a common one.
James' ESP Explorers in general: They are all based upon the standard ESP EXP serie and were built or overseen by Matt Masciandaro. Meanwhile the EXP serie has been replaced by the ESP EX standard serie which has a sharp shape for its ends and headstock instead of the old EXP serie which was comparable to the rounded shape of the Gibson Explorers. The difference between the EXP model and James' Explorers: In difference between James' Explorers and the standard ESP EXP serie, James guitars have set-necks (glued joint) instead of bolt-on necks. Besides the "Black Album" guitars' fingerboards consist of ebony instead of rosewood. Identic to the EXP model: The body consists of mahogany, the neck of maple and the fingerboard (with its 22XJ [XJ=extra jumbo] frets) of rosewood. All hardware (the tune-o-matic bridge, the stop piece and tuners) is black. It has one volume control for each pickup. |
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ESP Explorer 'Elk Skull'
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On the body is an elk skull graphic and on its headstock a barbed wire graphic which were both made by Dino Murdian. It has the 4-M-star logo burnt on the back.
The replica you can see on the right side was made by Ed Roman.
James' ESP Explorers in general:
They are all based upon the standard ESP EXP serie and were built or overseen by Matt Masciandaro. Meanwhile the EXP serie has been replaced by the ESP EX standard serie which has a sharp shape for its ends and headstock instead of the old EXP serie which was comparable to the rounded shape of the Gibson Explorers. The difference between the EXP model and James' Explorers:
In difference between James' Explorers and the standard ESP EXP serie, James guitars have set-necks (glued joint) instead of bolt-on necks. Besides the "Black Album" guitars' fingerboards consist of ebony instead of rosewood.
Identic to the EXP model:
The body consists of mahogany, the neck of maple and the fingerboard (with its 22XJ [XJ=extra jumbo] frets) of rosewood. All hardware (the tune-o-matic bridge, the stop piece and tuners) is black. It has one volume control for each pickup. |
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ESP Explorer 'Snake'
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- Model: ESP EXP
- Color: Black
- Inlays: Black Album Snake
- Pickups: 2x EMG-81 humbucker
- Hardware: 2 volume controls
- Can be seen: Live Shit: San Diego ("Sad But True") First time used live: "Black Album" gigs Still used live
This guitar is mainly used to be played D-tuned
James' ESP Explorers in general:
They are all based upon the standard ESP EXP serie and were built or overseen by Matt Masciandaro. Meanwhile the EXP serie has been replaced by the ESP EX standard serie which has a sharp shape for its ends and headstock instead of the old EXP serie which was comparable to the rounded shape of the Gibson Explorers.
The difference between the EXP model and James' Explorers:
In difference between James' Explorers and the standard ESP EXP serie, James guitars have set-necks (glued joint) instead of bolt-on necks. Besides the "Black Album" guitars' fingerboards consist of ebony instead of rosewood.
Identic to the EXP model:
The body consists of mahogany, the neck of maple and the fingerboard (with its 22XJ [XJ=extra jumbo] frets) of rosewood. All hardware (the tune-o-matic bridge, the stop piece and tuners) is black. It has one volume control for each pickup.
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ESP Double-Neck Explorer 'Ducks'
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| This electric-guitar is a black double-necked ESP Explorer with a mahogany body and a rosewood fretboard. This guitar has 12 strings on the top neck and 6 strings on the bottom neck. The inlays are ducks.
- Model: ESP EXP (double-neck)
- Color: Black
- Inlays: Duck
- Pickups: EMG-60, EMG-81 hum
(each neck)
- Hardware: 2 volume controls
(each neck)
Last used live: Same tour 8th August '92 in Montreal
This guitar was exclusively played for the live performance of "Fade To Black".
The supposed end of its days:
Jaymz get burned with that guitar during a gig in Montreal on the 8th August '92 when the pyros to the song "Fade To Black" set in. It happened because the pyro-tech didn't inform the band that new pyro would be going along with the old pyro which only ignited along the wings of the stage. James assumed that the new pyro canceled out the previous pyro, so he stood on a point where a 12 foot flame from the old pyro ignited.
He also used exact the same double-necked ESP EXP model later on Woodstock'94. So this guitar either has been restored or rebuild for this show.
James' ESP Explorers in general:
They are all based upon the standard ESP EXP serie and were built or overseen by Matt Masciandaro. Meanwhile the EXP serie has been replaced by the ESP EX standard serie which has a sharp shape for its ends and headstock instead of the old EXP serie which was comparable to the rounded shape of the Gibson Explorers.
The difference between the EXP model and James' Explorers:
In difference between James' Explorers and the standard ESP EXP serie, James guitars have set-necks (glued joint) instead of bolt-on necks. Besides the "Black Album" guitars' fingerboards consist of ebony instead of rosewood.
Identic to the EXP model:
The body consists of mahogany, the neck of maple and the fingerboard (with its 22XJ [XJ=extra jumbo] frets) of rosewood. All hardware (the tune-o-matic bridge, the stop piece and tuners) is black. It has one volume control for each pickup. |
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ESP JH-1 Flying V 'Green Hot Rod Flame'
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The signature ESP serie JH-1 is based upon the standard ESP Flying V serie.
On its body and headstock are green/yellow flames.
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1963 Gibson SG
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This electric guitar is 1963 Gibson SG model. Its neck consists of mahogany and its fingerboard of rosewood.
- Model: 1963 Gibson SG
- Color: Cherry Red /w black pickguard
- Inlays: Pearl trapezoid
- Pickups: 490R/498T Alnico magnet humbucker
- Hardware: 2 volume, 2 tone controls, three-way switch
- Can be seen: "Turn the Page" video
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ESP JH-1 Flying V 'Red Hot-Rod Flame'
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| The signature ESP serie JH-1 is based upon the standard ESP Flying V serie.
- Model: ESP JH-1 Flying V
- Basis model: ESP Flying V
- Colour: Black
- Inlays: 4-M logo at 1st fret and top of M at each other fretmarker
- Pickups: EMG-60, EMG-81 humbucker
- Hardware: 2 volume controls
- Graphic: "Red Hot Rod Flame"
- Stickers: Corvette racing flags
First time used live: "Load" gigs Occasionally still used live
The reason for its removement:
Maybe a reason for why he uses the green V instead of the red one could be because of the strap button locations. If you look closely, the strap button on the red one is at the very tip of the V, but on the green one it's "inside" the V. The green one is easier to wear.
Or he simply used the red one for "Load" and the green one for "ReLoad" gigs.
The ESP JH-1 serie:
The original ESP JH-1 serie was constructed in an amount of 200 guitars (only the red flame guitars). The authenticity of the ESP JH-1 signature serie is provable by an individual numbering for each of the 200 original guitars which have been constructed
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ESP JH-2 Explorer 'Black Diamond Plate'
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| This electric-guitar is the signature ESP JH-3 Rounded Top Horizon. It has costum flag inlays. Its 22 jumbo fret large fingerboard consists of rosewood, the body of mahogany and its neck of maple. It has a golden hardware - the purchasable version has black hardware. The guitar is set-neck constructed.
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Fender '52 Telecaster
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This electric-guitar is a butterscotch blond colored reissued version of the Fender '52 Telecaster model. It has 21 frets and a black pickguard. Its body consists of ash and its fretboard of maple. This guitar is equiped with a Parsons-White B-Bender system.
- Model: Fender '52 Telecaster (reissue)
- Color: Butterscotch blond / black pickguard
- Inlays: Dot
- Hardware: 2 volume controls
- Can be seen: 'American Music Awards '98' Only used live: 'American Music Awards '98'
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Gretsch White Falcon II
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| In Gretsch's tradition this guitar was constructed by hand. It is a reissue of the original White Falcon serie which has been constructed for the first time in 1950. In contrast to the 'White Falcon I' serie that reissue has a double-cutaway. The maple body has two F-perforations. The 22 frets large fretboard consists of ebony.
The hardware plus the other metal plates consist of 24K gold.
- Model: Gretsch White Falcon II (model 7594)
- Color: White with golden hardware
- Inlays: Pearl blocks
- Pickups: 2 FilterTron pickups
- Hardware: 2 volume controls for each pickup, 1 master volume control and 1 tone control
- Can be seen: "Nothing Else Matters" video "One Year And A Half..."
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Kenneth Lawrence Explorer
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This Explorer has a Chichino bark laminate and a modified headstock. Its inlays show a land scene (with cavemen around a fire). It has Sperzel locking tuners on the headstock.
A custom ESP?
Maybe it's possible to have one like that built in the ESP custom shop. A visitor of encycmet.com reported that such a replica would cost around Ј3.000 (around $4.500). James' ESP Explorers in general:
They are all based upon the standard ESP EXP serie and were built or overseen by Matt Masciandaro. Meanwhile the EXP serie has been replaced by the ESP EX standard serie which has a sharp shape for its ends and headstock instead of the old EXP serie which was comparable to the rounded shape of the Gibson Explorers.
Identic to the EXP model:
The body consists of mahogany, the neck of maple and the fingerboard (with its 22XJ [XJ=extra jumbo] frets) of rosewood. All hardware (the tune-o-matic bridge, the stop piece and tuners) is black. It has one volume control for each pickup.
The specialty of the Kenny Lawrence Explorer:
In difference between this Explorer-shaped guitar James' other Explorers, this one has a modified headstock. This guitar is no "stock product" - it's a special design.
Otherwise Ken Lawrence is specialized in building hand-made basses which makes a guitar built by him even more unusual. |
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LTD 'The Grynch'
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This signature model guitar of James has custom green and red metallic flames on its headstock and on the front and back of its body. At the 12th fret is written "Grynch". This guitar has 6 strings but is tuned down to B like an usual 7 sring guitar. So the higher E string is missing.
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