What does the "ESP Custom Guitars" logo stand for in the back of the headstock?

[bobasolo]

I've seen Custom Shop guitars with the following round stamps:

"ESP Custom Shop"
"ESP Custom Series"
"ESP Custom Guitars"

What does the round stamp that just says "ESP Custom Guitars" stand for? Is it an actual Custom Shop guitar?

I'm looking at a few custom shop guitars and want to make sure I'm actually buying a custom shop guitar.

Thanks in advance for the help!

[Pushead]

What does the round stamp that just says "ESP Custom Guitars" stand for? Is it an actual Custom Shop guitar?

Not necessarily. ESP used that circle logo in the 90s on the backs of the head stocks. It didn't really mean it was a custom guitar, they used it on "standard shop" guitars too.

In the 2000s they switched the circle logos to show where the guitar was made and "which type" it is. So there are "Standard Series" "Signature Series" and "Custom Shop" circles now. I don't know what Custom Series signifies.

[Xochitl]

I believe it's for guitars produced in the custom shop but that aren't custom orders.

[Gfunk]

I believe it's for guitars produced in the custom shop but that aren't custom orders.


Nope.

[KaBooM]

Nope.

Useful reply of the day! :D
At least give an explanation then? :P

[Gfunk]

Useful reply of the day! :D
At least give an explanation then? :P

KaBoNer, because you obviously are not interested enough to read other threads where this question is answered, allow me to feed you your need for instant gratification.


ESP began the standard series line in the US in 2003 and hence began the "Standard Series" logo. The same year anything that was made in the custom shop had the "Custom Shop" logo, including all ESP signature guitars. The signature line logo then changed in 2006 to "Signature Series". There is a bit of confusion of what now is made in the custom shop and what is made in the signature series line. The easiest way to differentiate is if the serial number begins with "K", "T", "S", "N", they are custom shop. If the serial number begins with "SS", it was made at the signature/standard series line.

Before 2003, ESP in the US used the "Custom Guitars" logo for both standards and customs. Although confusing, just because a guitar has the "Custom Guitars" logo, does not necessarily mean it was custom shop made. According to Mod Pops, ESP used the logo to display their custom capabilities.

[sixxpounder]

KaBoNer, because you obviously are not interested enough to read other threads where this question is answered, allow me to feed you your need for instant gratification.


ESP began the standard series line in the US in 2003 and hence began the "Standard Series" logo. The same year anything that was made in the custom shop had the "Custom Shop" logo, including all ESP signature guitars. The signature line logo then changed in 2006 to "Signature Series". There is a bit of confusion of what now is made in the custom shop and what is made in the signature series line. The easiest way to differentiate is if the serial number begins with "K", "T", "S", "N", they are custom shop. If the serial number begins with "SS", it was made at the signature/standard series line.

Before 2003, ESP in the US used the "Custom Guitars" logo for both standards and customs. Although confusing, just because a guitar has the "Custom Guitars" logo, does not necessarily mean it was custom shop made. According to Mod Pops, ESP used the logo to display their custom capabilities.

Yes, some Sig Series are made at Custom Shop (such as DV8)...just rely on the serial prefix

[KaBooM]

KaBoNer, because you obviously are not interested enough to read other threads where this question is answered, allow me to feed you your need for instant gratification.


ESP began the standard series line in the US in 2003 and hence began the "Standard Series" logo. The same year anything that was made in the custom shop had the "Custom Shop" logo, including all ESP signature guitars. The signature line logo then changed in 2006 to "Signature Series". There is a bit of confusion of what now is made in the custom shop and what is made in the signature series line. The easiest way to differentiate is if the serial number begins with "K", "T", "S", "N", they are custom shop. If the serial number begins with "SS", it was made at the signature/standard series line.

Before 2003, ESP in the US used the "Custom Guitars" logo for both standards and customs. Although confusing, just because a guitar has the "Custom Guitars" logo, does not necessarily mean it was custom shop made. According to Mod Pops, ESP used the logo to display their custom capabilities.

I actually tried finding this info by using the search function, but i kept finding irrelevant stuff Oo

But thanks for this amazing info :) You just confirmed that the KH-2 i bought, is in fact a Custom Shop built one :D awesome!

[Scott]

The easiest way to differentiate is if the serial number begins with "K", "T", "S", "N", they are custom shop.

"N" ...really?

Nope. No such thing in the current lineups.

K = Kiso
T = Takada
S = Sado
TH = Technical House
CH = Craft House
CS = Osaka Custom Shop
That's it, with the last three only producing for the domestic Japanese market.

[Gfunk]

Are you sure Metallikraut?

I could have sworn I saw a serial number start with an "N".


I would ask Luna but, well, I duuno.




:\

[Metfuk]

"N" ...really?

Nope. No such thing in the current lineups.

K = Kiso
T = Takada
S = Sado
TH = Technical House
CH = Craft House
CS = Osaka Custom Shop
That's it, with the last three only producing for the domestic Japanese market.

Really? for example MX-250s have a K serial number. They are officially only for the Japanese market too.

[Shinji]

I could have sworn I saw a serial number start with an "N".



And you are right.

[Gfunk]

Thanks Tuna!



:)

[Pushead]

Welcome back Sinji! Your new purple axe is hot!

[Gfunk]

Welcome back Sinji! Your new purple axe is hot!

Like any of his stuff isn't?




:lol

[espguitars]

Luna sighting. 8o

[ozzfan84]

Luna sighting. 8o

AAAHRHRHRHHRRRGGHHHHH!!!!!!!

[ESPManiac]

What a rare sighting, the Japanese Tuna is even rarer than the Chillean Red Tuna and the Mexican Sleeping Tuna


:p

hey Shinji :)

[Xochitl]

KaBoNer, because you obviously are not interested enough to read other threads where this question is answered, allow me to feed you your need for instant gratification.


ESP began the standard series line in the US in 2003 and hence began the "Standard Series" logo. The same year anything that was made in the custom shop had the "Custom Shop" logo, including all ESP signature guitars. The signature line logo then changed in 2006 to "Signature Series". There is a bit of confusion of what now is made in the custom shop and what is made in the signature series line. The easiest way to differentiate is if the serial number begins with "K", "T", "S", "N", they are custom shop. If the serial number begins with "SS", it was made at the signature/standard series line.

Before 2003, ESP in the US used the "Custom Guitars" logo for both standards and customs. Although confusing, just because a guitar has the "Custom Guitars" logo, does not necessarily mean it was custom shop made. According to Mod Pops, ESP used the logo to display their custom capabilities.

Thanks for the explanation! I don't pretend to be a specialist. ;) Just an amateur owner of an NT-II (I was "frisell" on the latter board... and not very active anyway).

By "guitars produced in the custom shop but that aren't custom orders", I meant the Custom Series like the Horizon Custom.

http://www.espguitars.co.jp/oversea/customshop_gallery/hrz_ctm2.jpg

Are not they made in the Custom Shop? :confused:

[Gfunk]

By "guitars produced in the custom shop but that aren't custom orders", I meant the Custom Series like the Horizon Custom.


Oh OK, now I understand what you meant and yes you are correct.

[ESPManiac]

Still a "Custom Shop" and still has a "Custom Shop" stamp. Despite bieng a series guitar, it is exactly the same as getting a custom shop orderd guitar, but to a regimented spec.

[Xochitl]

Thanks! That's what I first understood. :)