Kirk’s red and purple ESP Ouija signature models are one of the most sought after guitars he has ever released. Last year the LTD versions sold out fast, but we were also eagerly awaiting the Japanese ESP versions, limited to 30 of each colour worldwide. We were lucky enough to be the only store in the UK with this collector’s edition.

It was around 1990 that Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett first approached ESP with the idea of a guitar that made use of graphic elements from Hasbro’s classic Ouija® mystical board game. Back then, before the age of digital cameras and Internet communication, creating a guitar like this took some ingenuity. They got a Ouija® board, and used a combination of a copy machine and a pair of scissors to properly position the art elements on the guitar’s body. They faxed the result to the ESP Custom Shop in Japan, and the rest is history: the Ouija™ guitar became one of the most well-known and coveted signature models in ESP history.

The first version of the guitar was a one-off custom model for Kirk’s use only. It wasn’t until 2010 that ESP acquired the rights to sell the Ouija™ guitar to the public. Since then, ESP has done several special limited-edition versions of the Ouija™ guitar. As another limited edition guitar with the level of desirability and rarity to make it an instant collector’s item.

Well there might be no physical NAMM this year, but there’s still plenty of great new guitar releases to get excited about! Here are the latest releases from ESP’s Original, E-II and LTD ranges. After the success of the Black Metal range last year, they’ve expanded it and also introduced the similarly specced whited-out Arctic Metal range. There’s a cool anniversary signature model from Kirk Hammett – the KH-3 spider, available in the ESP and LTD lines, while Josh Middleton of Sylosis’ signature is sure to turn heads.  For more information on each model, click on each guitar, where you’ll also find full specification on the Additional Information tab.

If you’re interested in a particular model, you can order now to make sure your next favourite new guitar is part of the first shipment, likely to hit these shores between May and September.

It’s that time of year again when all the hot new models come out at NAMM! Here are the latest releases from ESP’s Original, E-II and LTD ranges. This year they have lovingly recreated the early ’87 models that wowed their first customers back in the day, brought back the Phoenix, and added some of last year’s gorgeous E-II finishes into the LTD line. For more information on each model, click on each guitar, where you’ll also find full specification on the Additional Information tab.

If you’re interested in a particular model, you can order now to make sure your next favourite new guitar is part of the first shipment, likely to hit these shores in late spring or early summer.

Limited to just 500 of each finish worldwide, the LTD KH Ouija™ is being made available for the first time in Purple Sparkle and Red Sparkle finishes. Like previous LTD KH Ouija™ models, this one is destined to be an instant collector’s classic, or a must-have for any serious guitar playing Metallica fan. The KH Ouija™ offers a set of otherworldly features that put it in a class by itself. It offers neck-thru-body construction, with a three-piece extra-thin U-shaped maple neck with a natural gloss back, a Macassar ebony fingerboard with 24 extra-jumbo frets and star and moon inlays. Components include a Floyd Rose 1000 Series bridge, LTD tuners, and a set of Kirk’s signature EMG KH Bone Breaker active pickups. Includes special ESP Ouija™ case and Certificate of Authenticity.

Less than 30 of these are heading to the UK. With one of the UK’s biggest in-store selection of ESP’s E-II and Ltd models, you can be sure Live Louder will have this collector’s dream as soon as they hit Europe! We’re expecting them in the second half of November, but if this is on your wish list, head to our preorder pages for either the Purple Sparkle or Red Sparkle and reserve yours!

The history of Kirk’s Ouija models

It was around 1990 that Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett first approached us at ESP with the idea of a guitar that made use of graphic elements from Hasbro’s classic Ouija® mystical board game. Back then, before the age of digital cameras and Internet communication, creating a guitar like this took some ingenuity. We got a Ouija® board, and used a combination of a copy machine and a pair of scissors to properly position the art elements on the guitar’s body. We faxed the result to our ESP Custom Shop in Japan, and the rest is history: the Ouija™ guitar became one of the most well-known and coveted signature models in ESP history.

The first version of the guitar was a one-off custom model for Kirk’s use only. It wasn’t until 2010 that we acquired the rights to sell the Ouija™ guitar to the public. Since then, ESP has done several special limited-edition versions of the Ouija™ guitar, and for 2019, we bring two more models in both ESP and LTD versions: Purple Sparkle and Red Sparkle with the classic Ouija Board graphic in gold. As another limited edition guitar with the level of desirability and rarity to make it an instant collector’s item, our advice for people who’d like to own one of the new Ouija™ models: get yours today, because tomorrow may be too late.

Hot off the press, here are the latest models from ESP’s ESP Original, E-II and LTD ranges. This year they have knocked it out of the park with some beautiful finishes, from alluring fades to stealthy satin. For more photos of each model, click on each guitar, where you’ll also find full specification on the Additional Information tabs.

Prices are not yet known, but will be released shortly. If you’re interested in a particular model, call Live Louder on 0161 928 5964 and we’ll find out when they are due to hit Europe and the UK for you.

Great news for those loving deeper tones, ESP have once again collaborated with Metallica to create a gorgeous limited edition guitar. Following on from Kirk Hammett’s awesome KH-OUIJA Natural, which we managed to get hold of in limited supplies, this time it’s James Hetfield’s turn for a new signature model – and what a stunner they’ve created! If you’ve been following the Worldwired Metallica tour, you’ll know that James switches to baritone guitars for some lower tuned tracks. Recently he’s been playing a quilted maple ESP Snakebyte in See Thru Purple Sunburst for ‘Dream No More.’

ESP have now lovingly recreated that instrument as a limited edition LTD, restricted to 500 pieces worldwide, only 15 of which are heading to the UK. With one of the UK’s biggest in-store selection of ESP’s E-II and Ltd models, you can be sure Live Louder will have this brutal baritone as soon as they hit these shores! We’re expecting them in late January, but demand is sure to be high, so if this is one you simply must have, head over to our preorder page and stake your claim!

How does this differ from a standard LTD Snakebyte?

Well, the key ingredients are the same: that distinctive mahogany body, the EMG Het Set pickups, a thin U neck, macassar ebony fretboard, locking tuners and a TonePros locking TOM bridge and tailpiece. However, this one has a longer 27″ neck and a quilted maple top, both of which will add extra clarity to a lower tuning. Also included is a hardshell ESP case and a Certificate of Authenticity.

What does it sound like?

Huge! Check out Metallica playing Dream No More (September 8, 2018 – Grand Forks, ND)