ESP Company Origins
ESP was founded in 1975 in Tokyo as a guitar parts supplier before expanding into full instrument production in the early 1980s, quickly gaining recognition for custom builds favored by hard rock and metal players.
Evolution of the E-II Line
The E-II designation emerged in the 2010s as ESP's dedicated Japanese production series, positioned above the Indonesian-made Standard line and below the limited Original series, incorporating refined manufacturing techniques from the ESP Custom Shop.
Notable Artist Associations
Signature and endorsement models within the E-II range have been developed with players including Stephen Carpenter of Deftones and the late Alexi Laiho, reflecting ongoing evolution in neck profiles, pickup configurations, and finish options over multiple generations.
