ESP - Horizon NT Granite Sparkle

Japanese manufacturer ESP has always been synonymous with unwavering lutherie, big sound and surgical precision. It's not for nothing that the biggest names in Rock and Metal play them on a daily basis (James Hetfield, Richard Z Kruspe, Mick Thomson, Josh Middleton, Ron Wood, Alex Wade, to name but a few).

All of them have put their trust in the immense expertise of Japanese luthiers, which is reflected in this E-II Horizon-II NT (for through neck).

Its body is made from Alder, guaranteeing a percussive, full, balanced sound, coupled with a super-sturdy 3-piece Maple neck for optimised playing comfort and a place for the most technical players (but not only) to go for their wildest flights of fancy.

Thanks to the through neck, the natural sustain of this jewel is amplified, and is aided by the Hipshot bridge and Gotoh locking tuners for excellent tuning stability.

Fans of heavy overdrive will no doubt recognise the Fishman Fluence Modern active pickup kit, which has become a must-have in the field. They'll give you an aggressive yet ultra-precise sound with no background noise, even with the biggest distortion or overdrive pedals.

The special feature (and brilliant innovation) of this active set is that it lets you benefit from 2 different voicings per pickup with a simple push/pull on the pot, taking you from a typical 'active' sound, razor-sharp and aggressive, to a more 'passive modern' response adding dynamics and roundness to your signal.

The Granite Sparkle finish is a real beauty, and if you dare to set eyes on it, it's a guaranteed invitation to try it out.