ESP Explorer 'Elk Skull'
On the body is an elk skull graphic and on its headstock a barbed wire graphic which
were both made by Dino Murdian. It has the 4-M-star logo burnt on the back.
The replica you can see on the right side was made by Ed Roman.
Model: ESP EXP
Color: Black
Inlays: Barbed Wire
Pickups: EMG-60n, EMG-81b humbucker
Hardware: 2 volume controls
Graphic (body): Woodburned Elk Skull
Graphic (headstock): Barbed Wire
Back: 4-M logo wood burning
Can be seen: "Cunning Stunts" ("So What"), "The Memory Remains" - video
First time used live: "Load" gigs. Still used live
James' ESP Explorers in general:
They are all based upon the standard ESP EXP serie and were built or overseen by Matt
Masciandaro. Meanwhile the EXP serie has been replaced by the ESP EX standard serie which
has a sharp shape for its ends and headstock instead of the old EXP serie which was
comparable to the rounded shape of the Gibson Explorers.
The difference between the EXP model and James' Explorers:
In difference between James' Explorers and the standard ESP EXP serie, James guitars
have set-necks (glued joint) instead of bolt-on necks. Besides the "Black Album" guitars'
fingerboards consist of ebony instead of rosewood.
Identic to the EXP model:
The body consists of mahogany, the neck of maple and the fingerboard (with its 22XJ
[XJ=extra jumbo] frets) of rosewood. All hardware (the tune-o-matic bridge, the stop piece
and tuners) is black. It has one volume control for each pickup.
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