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➤ Time Stamps
» 0:00 ESP's "Secret" Japan-only Brands
» 4:26 How do we actually get one?
» 8:04 Writing a Demo Track Inspired by the Guitar
» 12:52 Demo Track in a Mix
» 14:33 Final Thoughts (What is going on with ESP's Grassroots brand?)
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LET'S TALK ABOUT ESP'S SECRET "EPIPHONE KILLER"...
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quick q, which luthiers/shops/etc got attached for ESP USA? That seems like it would be an interesting story - I mean, Samick bought Valley Arts and I have a couple of their "transition" basses and not only are they great players they look incredible. But there's so much history on the west slice here I've been curious for a while who they ended up with and how the teams assembled/shook out (I've got 3 guitars designed by Mike Lipe, pre-LACS - the Starfield/Heartfield/Prophecy/et al rabbithole is also fairly crazy, Hoshino was going nuts with side projects there for a while, even tandemly building guitars in Japan and USA of the same models and selling them simultaneously in the same tiny catalog, even signing artists like Richie Kotzen). Guess that wasn't quick - sorry lol but thanks for all the work and uploads, they are enjoyable!
Grassroots are not exclusive to Japan. You can get them in HK, Taiwan and Singapore through their official distributors or, in the case of China, the ESP CN official store. Also, note that for the Edwards E-LP models starting at the end of 2023, they don't come with Duncans anymore, but rather "Edwards Legacy" pickups.
400$ scalloped guitar is crazy 😭
I'd b ALL over that
I got a brand new Edwards off Reverb from Japan. Completely painless, no import duties, and quick shipping. I like it way more than my Gibson LP
I bought an Edwards ELP130CD (basically an LP Custom) brand new where I live. It plays amazingly from the factory. I have not and don't plan to send it for a setup.
High Intergrity Grassroots LP!
More Japan only market guitars videos pls! :))
Incredibly VALUABLE information, Hunter! I've been wondering for years how to get my hands on one of these without getting ripped off by overseas scammers. Thank you for this! 🙏
I have to admit, for someone who does not like single cuts, you almost sold me on this, almost... nice job man :)
I love my Grassroots LPC, it's hands down one of the best things ever for the price.
That thing is smooth like peanut butter and sweet like jelly!
Great tone, great riffs, great guitar - YOU'RE THE MAN!! Couldn't find a patreon link though!
This is the best ad for anything on KZhead I've ever seen. I normally fastforward through these types of things, but this was very informative!
I own the Edwards John Sykes model. Got it last semester. It’s been my main guitar ever since. I actually put the epiphone prophecy fishmans in it and now it can do anything.
This is great!!!I'm always nervous about buying from overseas
I have heard about them. I did not know how to purchase them. Thank you!
I can’t wait to see it after the upgrades!!! Love the guitar. ❤
They really need to drop EC256 prices. They’ve gone from $450 to $600 in a couple years.
Wow, kind of funny, that demo track was actually pretty good!
haha I thought it turned out really well, actually! Good guitars bring out the riffs 🤘
I sold my Edwards ES 335 a while back…slightly regret it. 😂
Only slightly??
Sounds damn good, brotha!!!👍
Subscribed for the Grass Roots! Cheers mate!🇨🇦
Hunter, if you ever get a chance to play an esp Sugizo signature, do it. Trust me.
Great video, mate
Hunter, this is an awesome trove of info! I’ve always wondered how to get the goods from Japan, this is beyond helpful dude!
Damn that Navigator!!!😍😍😍🔥🤘🏻
That Zenmarket thing where they do the shopping for you and ship the guitar as well sounds really interesting. Thanks!
grassroots also do bangdream guitars under the bangdream logo， these are actually grassroots branded，specs and quality wise
The demo track reminded me a lot of early era Scale the Summit.
Yo dude, thank you for making this video, my dream guitar is an Edwards E-FV and living in regional Australia it basically seemed impossible to actually own one, now that I know about Zen Market it seems downright inevitable 😬😅 cheers bro 🤘
Nice! 🤘
I have an Edwards guitar. Bought it on Buyee and imported it straight from Japan.
Got my bassist a Grassroots Forest bass imported from Japan for their bday and it’s an insane bass, especially for the $200 I paid for it. From what I heard, the early GrassRoots guitars (from the 90s) are actually made in Japan. The bass I imported doesn’t say where it’s made anywhere, but it’s from that era and it does have that typical MIJ feel…highly recommended.
Been thinking about getting one of those or a Blitz made by Aria Pro ii for quite a while, now. Good to know that the bones are legit. Now I'm thinking seriously about one. Good review!
just for a mod projects this is really cool
My son and I play Greco from 1979 and 1980's, Japan is where it's at
That Sum 41 riff 😭💓
That's not Sum 41. Lmao. It's SR-71.
@@MayonnaiseOreo The opening riff is clearly still waiting by sum 41. Lmao
@@crazyfurcow Whoops. I accidentally skipped past the intro. Lmao.
@@MayonnaiseOreo😂
I have a ESP Eclipse from the Japanese custom shop and a 1998 R8 historic Les paul reissue. They sound very different from each other but both sound great. The ESP has active Seymour Duncan’s on it. I also have a ESP Lynch Kamikaze 1 from Japan too.
I have 4 Edwards and 3 Grassroots. Love them
I played a 80s Navigator S-style for a few years. Great guitar. Just bought a Japanese import E-II horizon in amethyst sparkle with Fishmans.
What software you use for those drums mate? They sound so dope!
When I was in Japan, Grassroots guitars were absolutely everywhere. By comparison, Epiphone, for example, was almost rare to see (almost). I was even surprised to find that lower end ESP LTD guitars were nowhere to be seen most of the time. The only guitar I had while i was there was a Grassroots I got for about 200 bucks, and it honestly competed around the 600-ish range here (other than the pickups, which were not stock anyway)
My Edwards is one of my favourite guitars. Amazing
I got to try the Grass Root Brand last year. I tried the Tele model. Better than a squier! Much better. And the neck finish is nice.
GrassRoots and Edward, both made by ESP and thousand times better than any crap Epiphone out there. I have the aged White colored one that looks like Randy Rhoads' 70s Les Paul custom and the weight, playability is out of the world. I paid $475 to get that in mint condition from a guy.
can you recoomend the greco or the burny?
@@aroundtheflatearth2388 if you can get one that is MIJ, then both are equally awesome! I like Les Paul custom version. both brand also makes Strat, Tele as well.
I got my pink sawtooth from Kurosawa a few months back and it arrived in 2 days and without issue. I love it!
This is so sick, love the black and pink, and the fingerboard looks super nice!
I bought an Edwards ALS135 a decade ago to put on a Bigsby, instead of drilling into my Gibson. I paid $700 (used). It's an all-lacquer finish, I think they discontinued it a while ago. Came with Duncan Antiquities, Bournes pots, switchcraft switch and Jack, paper in oil tone caps, long neck tenon. It was lighter even though it wasn't weight relieved than my Traditional that was, and much more resonant. I never installed the Bigsby, sold the Gibson a few years ago and bought an S2 McCarty. I still play the Edwards far more than the PRS. *Never quite understood the lacquer taste thing. Whether you like nitro because you feel it sounds better, or you like the way it ages and wears out is kind of moot. They shoot it over the urethane. So if anything it has a heavier finish, and when it wears down there's just another coat under it that likely never will. The tops come kind of hazy, solid finishes are like a matte. Honestly I don't see any reason to get over the standard polyurethane finish. It's a thinner finish and it looks better.
I picked up one of those with p90 pick ups set neck as well good guitar.
ESP made my 86-87 Kramer American Pacer and is a great guitar at 37 years old (original owner).
Great review. Thank you. Are Grass Roots manufactured in Japan? 🤘🎸🎸🤘
They’re made in either Korea or China I think
Looks like such a sick guitar. It sounds well.
I was in Japan recently and managed to come across a grassroots T style guitar. The fret job alone was worth the price they were asking for imo.
I actually just bought that Edwards Alexi pink sawtooth 2 weeks ago. Got from Japan to the US in less than 36 hours. I bought it from a Japanese music store on reverb, but I'll definitely check out zen market next time I decide to order something from Japan.
ive decided i like you brother. good perceptions...youre pretty rad
Holy Moly ESP gives full throttle 🛸👍...siiiick 😂..grass roots braaaah 🔥👏👏👏😄..if it sounds good it is good 👍
I don't think I've heard of the grass roots but you told me about the Edwards, I want that pink flame top 😁😄😃😀
AGU!!! When HB baritone sig!!
ESP uses the highest quality fretwire and really makes sure they are well polished. Even on the Grass Roots model
You can use package forwarding to buy stuff from Japan that they may not normally sell to international customers.
20:55 cheeky ac/dc big balls intro
I tried to import and Edwards Alexi in Pink to Germany and the customs said this is not in compliance with regulations and send it back. Luckily I managed to find one used in Germany for a reasonable price a few months later. Best guitar I ever played. I onw a Grass Roots LP custom in red. Besides 2 high frets its amazing. After I got it fixed it became one of my favourites. Also own the Pink Snapper 7 form Edwards and it also amazing. ESP just doesn't miss.
I live in Denmark and Customs is awful here as well.
A have an Edwards and a Grassroots. Although the hardware and pickups are mediocre on the Grassroots it competes well with Epiphone. The Edwards is an very nice guitar.
I've got an early ish Grassroots 60's LP standard lefty and it absolutely kills anything Epiphone offers and I'd put it up against Gibson or any other LP style, I did get it used tho, so bridge may have been replaced but the tuners, pickups all that was great in mine, holds tune much better than any Gibson I've played ...ever. I did swap pickups to some nice alnico 2 humbuckers and it is as good as anything else you can get Left handed.
The only got pink guitar I would ever be willing to own is an LP in this set up. Triple bound w/b/w good hardware black plastic. I would tap the coils though and add two overdrive circuits to a mini toggle though to get that iron tusk sound
I have two 80s Greco/Roland synth controller guitars , Greco is also under the radar ,I can't say enough about the Japanese guitar brand quality Even when you find the budget level import Japan based guitars , if you want a vintage strat for example snag an 80s Greco or one of the Yamaha strat copies
What are your thoughts on the new Squier Debut Stratocaster (Amazon Exclusive) ? Would love to see an unboxing/ review on your channel.
Living in JP, I've been walking right past Navigators and Grass Roots so thank you for the info 😂!
Grassroots actually is quite popular in the South East Asia region, where the lower GDP = more difficulty accessing the big-name brands. Insanely high value-per-dollar instruments.
Well, iam interested. But kinda worried about shipping from Zenmarket to Czech Republic. Any reviews or smth like that please ?
Great guitars if you can get one into the country
I plan to look at ESP's when I am in Japan for 3 weeks! I intend to leave with a full on one. I have always dreamt of owning something with the real ESP on the headstock! The Stream-GTs really have my eyes.
I have a question, are there any LP build guitars that come with a dual way floyd rose? i know it's a super undesirable mod for a lot of people but i really wanf to try either a LP or V with a dual way whammy. My other axes are already fixed bridges so I want to try something new.
Nice. Why do these guitars and Burny’s get away with the headstock? Don’t know about shippingcost. Usually quite high from Japan.
Nice color!
I love my grassroots lp ♡
Bruuuuhh....I knew about Edwards and Navigator, but not that one! Thanks!! There are many on Ebay coming from Japan! Even if many of them are used, the prices are great! I don't mind modifying a cheap guitar if the body's great.
I was just in Japan and played a ton of grassroots and edwards. They are awesome. They also are better qc then the American ltd guitars. Japan is very very precision and quality focused people. I should have bought them and kick myself now. Some of those guitars were $300-400 us and were perfect quality guitars. Japan is a totally different place man. I want to move there. They just do everything better.
Aaahhh memories of the Garage 1978
Would American made hardware fit on this model? Might have to get one for a mod project. Keep us updated! Edit: also does the Edwards come with high quality hardware and electronics?
I had a bolt on Grass Roots MX-250, wasn't very good, not sure if it could've been corrected, but the high e was off the edge of the fretboard at the highest frets..
One of my friend had the same issue with his grassroots explorer...He ended filing another notch on the tune o matic. I used to own grassroots Kirk Hammett kh and it was kind od really great... For me Grassroots was the former LTD guitars...
Thanks, 😁👌🎸🎶
1 have 2 old Made In Korea Grassroots LPs and holy cow they are on a different level than the Epiphones from Korea I have.
@agufish Bro got a haircut between start and end of video😆. I thought there's something wrong with my eyes
You might want to make sure your nut slots are clean and lubricated with graphite - that much tuning makes me think the strings are getting caught up. And always stretch your strings!
Only thing is at least for the UK is the import fees are crazy
Collective Soul 🤘
i one just like it , but i cant find one in the links you gave.... can someone with experience help ?
Have you seen the 400 dollar carbon fiber single cut travel guitar? I don't care about the built in FX and speaker but a carbon fiber super durable humidity proof guitar for 400 bucks seems awesome
I seen Grassroots guitars in Japan for years when I go there. I always just saw they were cheap knock offs. I had no idea they were ESP. Yes Edwards and Navigator are amazing.
Just out of curiosity, what kind of import duties do you pay in the States for this kind of stuff? Because the rates here in the EU are highway robbery...
I heard about Grass Eoots when i bought my Burny X Japan signature but they seemed so cheap i didn't know how hood they were.
Have you played a Gretsch or Fender?
Looks sick
5:15 That guitar costs $83 ?! Am i seeing that right?
lol well it was an auction, but the final sell price was not high at all
@@agufish oooohhhh, it was an auction, makes sense, lol
I've yet to play a Grassroots model I didn't like the feel of .... upgrade the nut & tuners, good to go.
I have two Grass Roots Standard style guitars in my collection. One is a brown sunburst, which reminds me of Joe Bonamassa's "Willy Wonka", which has a pretty small neck. The other is cherry sunburst, and it's neck is much more like my USA Gibsons. My Gibsons will always win, for me, but, I like these so much that I sold my Epiphones. I actually take one of them to gigs, as a backup, instead of risking another very expensive Gibson.
What's your thoughts on Craig "Goonzi"Gowans from Scotlands mighty, Bleed From Within now he's an ESP/LTD artist?
Last time I was this early Hunter was sponsored by dollar shave club.
I haven't heard someone mention dollar shave club in a long ass time
What does Japan have for amps?
Esp Edwards e-cy-165 ctm ive been looking for years but unable to find one 😢
ESP makes absolutely awesome looking and affordable LP clones sold in the US.....EXCEPT for the sharp horn. Once ESP starts rounding of the horn I'll buy them