Edwards are fantastic guitars for the price!!! Edwards could be considered the lower end ESP's but in reality they aren't, their specs and material are almost identical to ESP models, for example I have an Edwards Kerry King King V with the crackle snake finish, the guitar is beyond awesome it has an original kahler trem 81-85 EMG active pups, Eagles inlays, Ebony fretboard etc evrything is just like the ESP version except for 2 things: the name it bears on the headstock and that the edwards is a set neck whereas the ESP is a neck through, and I wouldn't pay $2000 dls more for that.
So that goes to show you that they are extremely good quality axes for a fraction of the price from the ESP models, the only problem lies in that they are hard to come by since they are made mainly for the Japanese/Asian market, but if you get your hands on one on the bay you won't regret it, I'm sure you will love the SG copy, Edwards is pretty good at imitating Gibson guitars...
I e-mailed ESP earlier, and they got back with me already... they said that Edwards is to be considered ESP in Japan, and the guitars with the Edwards headstock are technically not made to see North America.
The guy said they are specialist in re-creating Gibson guitars especially.... so I look forward to playing my new axe when it gets here.... hope I didn't get ripped off.
I e-mailed ESP earlier, and they got back with me already... they said that Edwards is to be considered ESP in Japan, and the guitars with the Edwards headstock are technically not made to see North America.
The guy said they are specialist in re-creating Gibson guitars especially.... so I look forward to playing my new axe when it gets here.... hope I didn't get ripped off.
You see it turned out to be just as I said in my post, but Edwards isn't considered ESP per say, they are made by ESP but they do not bear the ESP
logo on the headstock and as proof of what I say there is the Alex Laiho ESP
model and the Edwards model, the Edwards is like 1200 less than the ESP model yet they have practically the same feautures so which one would you buy? and worry not you didn't get ripped off, you will be very pleased with that axe when you get it.
I have an edwards les paul relic jimmy page model and its AWESOME! I payed $1100 for it, it was brand new, cam in an esp case, and the thing rocks, plays and sounds awesome, super switch and all.......Its actually the best playing les paul I have and I'm fixing to buy another one, action is awesome, craftsmanship is better than a Gibson in my honest opinion.....heres some pics..........Comments?
I have an Edwards Kerry King King V with the crackle snake finish, the guitar is beyond awesome it has an original kahler trem 81-85 EMG active pups, Eagles inlays, Ebony fretboard etc evrything is just like the ESP version except for 2 things: the name it bears on the headstock and that the edwards is a set neck whereas the ESP is a neck through
That's the new Edwards Kiko Loureiro model, it's one gorgeous axe. Especially since it's $1000's less than the real thing by ESP's custom shop.
For those who don't know, Edwards is ESP's mass production line of guitars. (also the same line they use for making OEM guitars for other companies). The Ibanez equivalent for all of the ESP lines would be:
Grass Roots = Ibanez (korean made)
Edwards = Ibanez Prestige (both mass manufactured)
ESP = Ibanez J-Custom (made in small batches, ESP's are actually built to order and not premade)
ESP Custom = Ibanez LACS (not quite the same since you need to be endorsed by Ibanez to get a LACS guitar but you can get pretty much any custom guitar you want made)
Hopefully that sheds some light on how the quality of the Edwards line of guitars are.
That's the new Edwards Kiko Loureiro model, it's one gorgeous axe. Especially since it's $1000's less than the real thing by ESP's custom shop.
For those who don't know, Edwards is ESP's mass production line of guitars. (also the same line they use for making OEM guitars for other companies). The Ibanez equivalent for all of the ESP lines would be:
Grass Roots = Ibanez (korean made)
Edwards = Ibanez Prestige (both mass manufactured)
ESP = Ibanez J-Custom (made in small batches, ESP's are actually built to order and not premade)
ESP Custom = Ibanez LACS (not quite the same since you need to be endorsed by Ibanez to get a LACS guitar but you can get pretty much any custom guitar you want made)
Hopefully that sheds some light on how the quality of the Edwards line of guitars are.
Kiko Loureiro is an awesome guitarist and a favourite of mine so I'd love to try that model. Also his Tagima models I've seen him using (another brand that needs to be available in the UK)
LTD is actually not available in Japan and is essentially the US version of Grassroots.
As odd as it sounds, ESP in North America is not a child company of ESP Japan, nor are they a branch of ESP. So if you want to bring in LTD into the equation there, it'd be:
Grassroots and LTD = Ibanez (indonesian & korean made)
I own an Edwards ES-335-alike - it's one of their Laquer Taste series with the nitrocellulose finish, deep neck tenon and Duncan pups (SH-2 neck, SH-14 bridge). Simply a beautiful guitar - you couldn't make a nicer instrument out of these parts... The finish and binding are flawlessly applied, the hardware is top flight, and it plays and sounds fantastic. Easily as good as anything off the Gibson production line today, and far better than most of it - I think they're grossly undervalued instruments; I think I'll buy one of their tele's next...
I think the reason. Edwards are not released in the States is because of some of the Copyright Laws with Gibson.
Edwards can release an exact copy of a Les Paul or Fender Strat in Japan, with the Edwards Logo on it.
However if they release here in the States then they are subject to being sued, just like PRS was.
That is probably why ESP US, is set up as a complete and seperately entitied company.
If they were tied into the affiliation of ESP Japan or Edwards then they may be subject to being sued by Gibson or Fender for products released in the US. .
If you look at the Edwards strats they have an Identical headstock as the real deal.
But if you look at Esp or LTD they have the headstock like on the GL 56.
This is just my assumption, but I'll bet it's pretty close.
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