Jiguan District, Jixi City, Heilongjiang, China 158100. It has been like this for a few years, though exactly how many I could not pin down.ĮSP established a joint venture in Northeast China in early 1992, named the Heilongjiang ESP Electronic Audio Co., Ltd. The finish and electronics, hardware and plastics, as well as the setup are done in Japan, now at the new ESP factory near Tokyo
ESP employees from Japan oversee and QC the production line. The wood is neither Sapele (entandrophragma cylindricum) nor African Mahogany (khaya anthotheca). Thats why the guitars are so light and lively.
ESP LTD GUITARS SERIAL NUMBER IDENTIFICATION SERIES
I believe that the Edwards LP series is made from genuine mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla or possibly Swietenia mahagoni) grown in plantations in Indonesia and/or possibly Fiji. Nowadays the initial phase of the manufacture of an Edwards guitar (woodworking through painting) is done in an ESP factory just inside the Chinese border in the Northeast province of Heilongjiang. The first runs of Edwards guitars were entirely made in Japan I have had a couple of exchanges with ESP Japan (parent company of Edwards) and did some readingwhat follows is what I have learned or surmised. I was skeptical when I first heard this, but have since become convinced that it is true. There has been a lot of discussion lately, both here and on other fora, questioning if Edwards guitars are made in China. WARNING-If you are not interested in Edwards then STOP NOW.