ESP Alexi Laiho Signature Guitar
March 31st, 2006
When Fender bought out Jackson Guitars Alexi was told it would take 1 year for them to build him a new signature guitar. When ESP told him it would only take them 3 months it was a no-brainer for him to switch. The Alexi Laiho signature is basically a Jackson RR Custom clone with some added visual flair.
The design of the guitar plays on the black pinstripe on white look that the Jackson RR1 Rhoads has, but with a more stylized look. The shark fin points on the body are straighter and slightly curved as opposed to the true edges on the RR.
Like the more expensive Jackson RR models the Alexi ESP is designed with neck-through-body construction for maximum sustain. The body is made of alder and the neck is made with maple with an ebony fingerboard. The 24 XJ frets are decorated with custom saw tooth inlays.
For a $4000 suggested retail guitar I am a little shocked by this: the guitar only has one EMG HZ-4 Pickup in the bridge position and one volume control. For the minimalists it may be great but to me that just seems like a rip. Alexi being another avid tremolo user his guitar has an original Floyd Rose tremolo bridge.
Feature Summary
- Alder Body/Maple Neck/Ebony Fingerboard
- Neck-thru-body construction
- 4 XJ Frets/Saw blade Pearl Inlays
- 1 EMG-HZ H-4 Pickup in the Bridge
- Original Floyd Rose Tremolo
This is probably the least impressive guitar I have looked at this week. It is basically a Jackson RR1 with one less pickup. Besides its rad paint job it doesn’t have much going for it.
That raps up my 7 day look at metal guitars. You can check out all of the previous posts here:
- Guitar Reviews: March Metal Madness
- Fender Stratocaster Yngwie Malmsteen Signature Guitar
- ESP KH-2 Kirk Hammett Signature Guitar
- ESP Ninja 600 Michael Amott Signature Guitar
- Gibson Les Paul Zakk Wylde CAMO Signature Guitar
- Jackson RR1 Randy Rhoads Signature Guitar
- Dean USA Razorback Tribute Dimebag Darrell Signature Guitar
- ESP Alexi Laiho Signature Guitar
Tags: buy-guitar, ESP, guitar, guitar-review, Jackson-Guitars, march-metal-madness, metal, signature-series, tremolo
Related Posts
- New Limited Edition Alexi Laiho Signature Guitar ALEXI-600 SE
- Guitar Gear: Alexi Laiho of Children of Bodom Guitar & Amp Setup
- Guitar Reviews: March Metal Madness
- More Alexi Laiho Guitar Video Lessons
January 31st, 2007 01:29
Alexi Laiho is guitar god… ashame he switched to ESP, Jackson is much bettter. I know there is a peice cut out of the body of his custom guitar so he can reach the 24th fret on a RR model. What is that called? Scalloping heel and horn or something?
January 31st, 2007 09:44
I’m not sure what that is called… I know scalloped frets are where the frets are actually carved out a bit to give you better bends. Yngwie Malmsteen uses this on all of his guitars along with jumbo frets. I dont even think his fingers touch the fingerboard when he plays.
I personally havent had enough of a chance to play either Jackson or ESP to make a judgement. From what I hear Jackson has not been as good since Fender bought them out. And I can understand where Alexi was coming from… if you had to wait a year to get the guitar you wanted, is Jackson good enough for that?
July 24th, 2008 15:27
Look on the ESP website : the pickup is no more a passive EMG HZ. It’s a Seymour Duncan “Blackouts” active pickup
No doubt Alexi has been quicky fed up with the EMG HZs’ lack of punch and definition.
October 14th, 2008 14:48
FYI — Blackouts no more for Alexi…he couldn’t stand them. He switched back to EMG after about 6 months. From what I hear, and it comes from a VERY good source, EMG is designing a totally new Alexi Signature pickup. I heard it will be announced at Winter NAMM 09
October 14th, 2008 14:51
…and quickly fed up is not exactly what I would call it when Alexi has played EMG’s since 1988. I think quickly fed up is more apt a decription to his reaction to Duncans “MushMaster” pickups…I hate the blackouts too…NO definition at all. No wonder he came back to the lords of metal pickups
December 10th, 2008 00:22
@ Josh
FYI - backatcha..
Cause Alexi has not been playing EMG´s since 88. He first picked up the guitar at 11, in 1990.
The first Bodom album (Something Wild 1997) featured Alexi on an Ibanez RG 220. Wich has Infinitys.
And in his Jacksons there were Jackson J-50BC´s.
First time he did EMG´s was in 2003 featured on Hatecrew Deathroll. So you were only off by 15 years.
Get your facts straight.