ESP Guitars: Michael Amott (Arch Enemy) Interview

[ShapeShiftTheWorld]

i just bought ANOTHER ESP NINJA!~

[SKULLEDBUICK]

Ha: "got a mirror pickguard, so if I see a hot chick in the crowd......"

[anuj72]

WHY IS THIS A 22 FRET GUITAR THOUGH!!?! :(

[Mohamed636]

@anuj72 you know the 24 is hardly used right?

[anuj72]

@Mohamed636 The 23 and 24 fret are used in a great deal in melodic death metal. Since Michael Amott plays in ARCH ENEMY a MELODIC DEATH METAL BAND. I would expect it to be 24 fret. Examples are: The Mini Solo from Nemesis, Are You Dead Yet Solo (CoB), Yesterday is Dead and Gone.

[Shink5]

@Mohamed636 Well having a 24 fret neck makes all the higher frets more accessible

[aznjt]

Just recieved mine last week!

after years of searching!

UNPLAYED AND SIGNED BY THE MAN!

no more g.a.s. ;)

[aznjt]

@aznjt ESP NINJA*

[MKV1193]

Im a big fan of ESP, and their my favorite company, but regardless im not going to diss any other brands. All companies make guitars worth while. It all really just depends of personal preference. Whether it be Dean, Gibson, or ESP. You'll find good guitars with all of them. To bad ESP doesn't sell any good looking Flying V's to the US market anymore.

[Distollica]

a SD '59 jazz? lol

[sassyCFH13]

Damn he is Sexy!!!!

[VeeValter]

Dont Compare LTD to anything, Okay the Japanese models REAL ESP, Edwards, and even Grassroots. Hell even the one LTD I played beat a High dollar Dean. Dean is total shit redneck guitars. Made by fat american slobs. Get Japanese made guitars they have precision and craftsmanship

[VeeValter]

It sucks when Dean buys out endorsers because there such a whore marketing company. Michaels ESP was so much better I should know I have one......The REAL ESP version not some weird LTD (Stupid american line of guitars) Dean is a terrible company, and ive played the Tyrant it was a toy compared to his ESP. Hes just luck Dean whores out more cash. Even AXL a Chinese based company makes better guitars than DEAN. AXL is amazing. Michael Is awesome, but Dean is shit.

[FungusLabel]

@VeeValter

Hahahah now im 100% sure that you have AXL guitar... loooooser. You compare high end esps to import deans. Play USA made dean and stfu...

[VeeValter]

@FungusLabel What the hell is AXL? No thanks USA made = Fat man with a chicken nugget in one hand, and a mallet in the other, Japanese made = precision. I have played a couple of Dean USA models. Not Just import, and they were hilarious in quality for the most part especially for what you pay for them. Im 100% sure your a redneck dumbass.

[FungusLabel]

@VeeValter lol lol lol... look on your previous comment which you posted 3 months ago. You must have some problems with ur brain.

[VeeValter]

@FungusLabel Lol actually I forgot. It was 3 months ago, and I dont really keep up with AXL guitars. Mess up with my brain? Even the way you speak you sound like a moronic redneck. Ill still stand by the fact that Dean is shit, there USA made things are a totally rip off for the price. Maybe if they charged as much as AXL did for there USA guitars it would be fair game. You must have tourettes, and be autistic because you typed lol three times. America is FAIL.

[VeeValter]

@FungusLabel If you want to use real instruments made by the USA get a PRS. Not some faggot "HARDCORE" "METAL" "BRAINLESS" bullshit like Dean markets. Not to mention the underhanded piece of shit company is making money off a dead man.

[VeeValter]

@FungusLabel and no I dont have an AXL, I have an actually ESP. Im not a moron though I dont talk shit about a guitar until ive actually played the brand. Ive played 6 USA Deans, the graphics were done terribly, and the quality was sub par for the price. Compared to all the other brands ive played charging that much. Funny that a company who has a history of there over sized rubbish headstock's breaking off because of pressure from the strings is still in business.

[FungusLabel]

@VeeValter actually I typed lol 3 times because I find it reallllly funny that you deny sth what you wrote 3 months ago... Omg and you're such an idiot by writing that USA guitars suck... examples:

-Gibson USA

-Fender USA

-Jackson USA

and so on...

and btw I am Ibanez fan but I just cant stand ppl that type so much shit!!!

[KabukiMockingbird]

@FungusLabel I personally wouldnt be able to stand people who cant even spell the word THE right. Fender, Jackson, and PRS are great companies. Gibson, and Dean especially have gone down the toilet. Especially Gibson. Dont forget DBZ, they make really great guitars. Im not a fan of anything made in the United States over most Japanese made products. The market in Japan is much more competitive. There are so many different options so a bad quality instrument just isnt a loud...In the USA

[jonathonlafond]

@KabukiMockingbird The deans I've played are really nice. Really great company and the quality of the instruments are comparable with alot of guitars from top companies that are twice the price. That's my experience with guitars I've played. I enjoy my dean and hope to get several more!

[KabukiMockingbird]

@FungusLabel You have a very small market compared to Japan. USA guitars do suck for the most part when you compare the price dividend's to the Japanese counterparts. Jacksons are usually a hit and miss, same with Fender, but at least they have more of a stream line quality. While companies like Gibson are greedy bastards. I dont think he denied it. Its easy to forget something in three months that didnt mean anything dumb ass.

[KabukiMockingbird]

@FungusLabel Then again what keeps the USA market so small in shop is that Gibson is like the pope of guitars. They try and sue a every company for every new model thats shelled out basically. Sense the United States is such a law suit happy country it keeps the instruments to a bare minimum of whats released. I personally love ESP's Navigator series, and there Original series. There only in Japan though. The market of models sold in the USA for ESP are so boring. The Ninja V was the only

[KabukiMockingbird]

@FungusLabel decent looking, and constructed guitar, besides say the Eclipse, and Phoenix that are sold serially inside the USA. While in Japan they have more interesting models which I wont go through just look at the site. Im not a huge fan of Ibanez as there quality seems to be hit, and miss as well with there Edge trem system. Though again the market for those guitars in the USA are very restrained as well.

[FungusLabel]

@KabukiMockingbird OMG I dont care if you like japan made guitars. Im just saying that USA guiar COMPANIES do not suck. Ibanez is Japanese company but they also have import models and some of them suck too... and I dont rly care about price when it comes to high end instruments. I have played USA custom shop BC Rich and it was awesome. I've never said that USA made>Japan made but I cant stand when ppl say shit that USA COMPANIES suck...

[killingfield666]

i'm more for guitars and basses a gibson fan but esp roules too

tho for a bass i prefer the gibson sg eb 0

[poopchestxyz]

Personally I think ESP's are the best guitars you can buy if youre into metal, most Deans are shit especially if theyre under the 1000 dollar price range, but his Deans are better than his old ESPs. ESPs however are the best all around metal guitars, they are priced very generously, for instance my LTD EX-401 ran me about $900 and tbh its worth like 2500 to me

Theyre light, cheap, solid, and most of them come with EMGs which are basically the best pickups because they have such sharp tones

[jbohler33]

I have to say that is a shit guitar.

[Mcrox2424]

Michael amott is so awesum, he seems really nice as well.

[wesclev83]

another guitarist esp lost to dean.

[tkpenalty]

@wesclev83 I think dean > ESP in marketing...

(but their guitars suck)

[VertigoSqueal90]

@ Arasys1 - I play an LTD Deluxe M-1000.. and it came with all the features of a 2000-3000 dollar guitar, (Original Floyd Rose, Set-neck-thru construction, Active EMG's, even a quilted maple top.. the body is Alder, and maple neck) minus an ebony fretboard. even the wood my guitar is made out of, is the same as.. for example, Jeff Loomis's guitar. but, his guitar is made by Shecter, and personally.. I think thats the only good guitar they have made lol.

[col33145]

e.s.p guitars kick ass man \m/

[StrumVogel]

Dean guitars suck and they know it, that's why they're moving their focus to Dean whore search.

Michael should have stayed with ESP, because ESP and Ibanez are the leading inventors in guitar design and technology.

Arasys1 yer an idiot, get your facts straight, ESP custom shops designs are cutting edge and so much better than the companies you've mentioned.

You only say that cuz you can only afford their LTD line.

[karrazaki89]

I think that JACKSON ALSO ADDS UP TO THOSE TWO COMPANIES, I EMAN THE ENGINEERING OF JACKSON GUITARS IS BEAUTIFULL AND THEY AMANGED TO INNOVATE THE V MODEL OVER AND OVER AGAINS IN COOL WAYS TECHNOLOGY WISE AND DESIGN WISE

[Crazymofoinamajikbox]

@karrazaki89 was it necessary to type in all caps?

[Church8826]

@karrazaki89

I agree. I own a 2007 SL2h soloist and I absolutely love it

[Eabalo2]

Dean are awesome guitars! But NOTHING can ever beat ESP. Maybe it's just a matter of taste but still ESP are the best no matter what!

[Arasys1]

umm i have a RR1 and a Gibson Gothic explorer ? LTD ? lol.

I have seen many ESPs with very stupid flaws such as floyd rose locks and knobs. Unlike you "kid", Im talking because I saw.

Ibanez is leading ? inlays, guitar designs taken from other companies ? Ibanez even imitated Jackson RR til 90s so stfu. Im not saying Ibanez is a bad brand no it's the biggest brand in the East yet it doesn't make it any better than the real brands such as Fender and Gibson.

oh btw Jackson invented sustainer.

[StrumVogel]

i have an RR1 myself and the one i have was made by jackson WAY before it was purchased by fender. compared to my ESP Crying Star, its about equal. i dont know which ESP you saw but the ones i have and have used, have Gotoh floyd rose and those are just as well made as original floyd rose.

ibanez is leading design because they are the pioneers in locking trem design as in EDGE Zero and Lo-Pro tremolo on high end ibanez.

and weren't you defending dean?

yeah you proved me right.

[Arasys1]

no i wasn't defending dean ? who said i was defending dean lol. Ibanez is good at tremolos and fretboards ( steve vai sig. is great ) yet ibanez couldn't come up an original design like Kv, RR, Explorer, that's what im talking about (im aware of new japanese body construction techniques of course ) .

I've seen ESP SV and an Alexi weirdly both of them had stupid problems ;you can also check esp vs jackson video here it talks about similar problems. Why do you think esp is better than others ?

[Geetarfrik]

@Arasys1

Well heres the thing with ESP:

their guitars are made by many different factories in asia, each with different standards of quality controll. same thing with BC Rich. I have a Bronze Warlock from before they were sold to Class Axe and it outplays any import model made after they joined Class Axe.

please note i bought the warlock 2nd hand so i am not sure its 100% stock.

[sunreva19]

all the companies have their own qualities. I have owned a Fender and a gibson, and they both had qualities i liked, but i have owned several ESP's. And i find they have more qualities then the other names out there. I like the necks better, the styling, the paint, the finish, the frets, the fact that they can be thrown across stage, (static x said) and even left for months without playing and still keep tune. i dont get that with fender or gibson. its all personal taste. you say w/e, i say esp.

[MaestroJericho]

and he switched from krank to randall too... yup he is an endorsement whore (in fact a large amount of people went to dean and randall, but im sure most people wouldnt mind some cash)

[MaestroJericho]

the black esp/ltd had 22 frets

the later models (red/grey qulted maple top) had 24 frets and a floyd rose trem... but the dean looks like a $300 starter guitar from... well dean

[tkpenalty]

I dont get why he moved to dean seriously. ESP allows artists to any spec they want, and are better than what Dean offer him.

Maybe money was the reason?

[Arasys1]

don't you think most of the famous guitars players endorsing to esp are only thinking about money ? i mean look at them, most of them are using their actual gibsons, jacksons, fenders, ibanez guitars while recording. I mean esp is just copying other brands' designs and selling those immitation designs with active emgs.. esp isn't even paying to companies like gibson ( les paul, explorer, flying v ) and jackson (rr,kv). such a cheap tactic imo.

[mastabladezx]

good point

[H3xxl0RxXx]

@tkpenalty Huh? Any why doesn't Dean allow their artists to say what they want for their custom guitar? Dave Mustaine wanted a new Dean headstock with 6 in a row machineheads and they made it, if that's what you're referring to..

Nothing beats Mike's old white Esp V that you can see in the Spiritual Beggars videos, but let me tell you: Deans are not that bad, probably none of the guys who say Dean is shit has ever touched one. There are nice Dean guitars.. and bad models - Like in any company!

[sarangai804]

all his ninjas have 22 frets...

[cobraopts7]

deans suck there mahoggany is from asia

[amazingfantasy66]

its not the guitar buddy... its you

[cobraopts7]

fuck you i dont suck

[amazingfantasy66]

hahahahaha judging from ur improv vid ur fucking horrible. id say u play like kerry king with down syndrome. no disrespect to kfk (i saw him yesterday) but your horrible. and yes im better than you! wayyyyy better than you. and b4 u ask.... yes i will post up video proof. just not soon cuz i dont have a working camera. but yah keep practicing

[cobraopts7]

im not terrible at guitar im terrible at making shit up

[amazingfantasy66]

well i suggest you start learning some scales. they help a lot

[DethStorm9]

TO bad he moved to dean, dean fucking blows ass

[Balthamell]

Too bad me moved to dean. His signature dean guitar fuckin blows.

[ibanezbloke]

Deans in general are fairly shite.

[musicaddict333]

well the razorbacks and MLs sure arent! There amazing guitars, its just the overall sound i guess that must drive some people towards and away from Dean.

[jonathonlafond]

@ibanezbloke How many deans have you played?

[ibanezbloke]

@jonathonlafond Quite a few. I don't have a scoreboard.

[jonathonlafond]

@ibanezbloke My experience with Deans have been exactly opposite. I couldnt believe how their cheaper models compare with more expensive models. Just ordered the bloodstorm really hope it's as awesome as it looks. Some of the most amazing guitarists play deans cuz they love the way they play, love this video.

[jonathonlafond]

@ibanezbloke just search (dean guitars michael amott) and theres a really cool interview with him about his tryant sig model.

[ollieshreder]

lol a mirror gard so i can look at the girls lol

[youngandinsane]

jackson guitars gives the best tone !

esp plays better,much lighter,also more variations on models !

I have a jackson rr,esp can't kick that sound ! but i respect esp the most !

[aquamarine118118]

why leave esp for dean the esp looks so much better and probably plays better

[Pietreszcz]

uhh... call me dumbfuck, but what's that sign on his shirt at 00:41?

[hatiskfan]

Maltese cross

too tired to explain right now, wikipedia it :)

[e3axordos]

my favourite

[RobFavoTTo]

Jackson guitars....I hope!

[DevonatorMetalMaster]

I hope he doesn't go to Jackson, and if he goes to Ibanez I'm gonna dis-own him :P

[deadly105]

don't worry he's moving to dean

[Hillen]

It really sucks that Mike left ESP

such a good guitar player and such a good company?! Sure he's got his reasons, though.

[toxicity28]

yeah i know man

where do you think he might go to now?

my bet is either Dean or Caparison

another thought is washburn or jackson

but the craziest would be ibanez

[Hillen]

Yeah Dean maybe...MAYBE Jackson...it's a possibility.

[toxicity28]

yeah thats true ...but you also gotta think about caparison cause his brother has killer signature by them and there knows to have great as fuck guitars ..they also have a V like guitar as well and it looks real nice

but if he goes to dean that would be great....even jackson needs a boost in its endorsements

and i sorta take back on the ibanez cause he did use to play a RG but he stoped but there may be a possibility

[Thunder9513]

He Is Now With Dean

[serazac25]

his signature is badass, but i was expecting a 24 fret since his last signature had 24 frets -_-,

but yes... the graphic looks fucking awesome.

[lovepuremetal5]

his last guitar-esp ninja v- had 22 frets mate!

[ezzwhitezombie666]

the LTD version had 22 frets..

the ESP version had 24

[229Mafia]

So thinking about getting this guitar.

[vampyricmantra63]

i think you can still buy the old ones with the mirror pickguard, try looking online for it, expensive as hell though, and yea i agree, i dont like the new ones, way too dull and not as flashy, the one here is really nice

[mastathrash]

Thats crazy his only has 22 frets.  I know they make 24 fret ones

[Pantera2008]

Does anybody know if they still make the black one with the mirror pickguard? I personally preferred that on over the '08 ninjas. Anybody got an answer for me?

[Aginor27]

His brother has a really nice guitar too..not from ESP, it's cool though

not saying non ESP sucks...if that's how it sounded

[ultimateRupture]

so do i man!!

[musicaddict333]

Hes the only reason why i like Arch enemy. Im so getting his guitar.

[musicaddict333]

of course im getting a whammy ar attached to make it better.

[vermillioneffect]

ESP is coming out with a Ninja that has a floyd rose already. An ltd. version and the true ESP version. The only difference is that it doesn't have the mirror pickguard, and it's not black (there's red with a floyd rose, and then blue with the tune-o-matic bridge). Check it out on ESP's website "New for 2008".

[GraveyardStickshift]

It's not blue, its a see-thru black color. I have the see-thru black and it is amazing! I've played the see-thru red one w/ the Floyd Rose, and nah I would choose the black one over the red one any day of the week. But I really want one of the old ones.

[SilverEvolver]

So if everyone else left...and he was the only person in Arch Enemy...you'd still like them as much?

I love all of the musicians in the band and therefore the band itself....no single person makes a band..but their absence can break a band

[Rage00Against]

Ha.. He's got the same Seymour Duncan's i ended up installing in my Les paul. Nice. I"m so buying an ESP a.s.a.p though. Much lighter for those extremely fast heavier metal styles.

[pillarsofserpents]

you are correct. I had a Les Paul and thought I liked it, till one day I picked up an LTD Eclipse and man, it's lighter, faster, and sounds way better for metal. traded within 20 minutes.

[metallijax]

add a tremolo, then its the best looking metal guitar ever!!!!!!!

[guitaroach]

You're in luck my friend. His prototype flamed-top black and red V's that he's been playing with recently have been announced for sale soon enough. And yea, they have locking trem versions of it.

Not sure if his original black or white V are gonna have trems though...

[swordmaster2007]

I just love when he roundtrips with the bicycle in 00:18, it makes me laugh so much when he stops in front of the camera

[jAmguitar84]

great band (arch enemy)-------deja de decir 'you now'!!!

[BotiMusic666]

Michael Amott is my fucking hero

[FretsOnFire92]

i love the mirror pick guard

[RZKBKH202]

awsome guitar and band