ESP (“Electric Sound Products”) began in 1975 as a retail outlet in Tokyo. As the company’s fame spread, among the heavy metal fraternity, it switched to full-time production of guitars and basses.

In 1991, Megadeath founder member James Hetfield began using ESP instruments. For the group’s 2003/4 “St. Anger” tour, ESP built him a heavily modified version of it’s successful Truckster solid-body. It’s specification and appearance were used as the basis for ESP’s Hetfield “Signature Model” Truckster, which debuted in 2005.

The “axe” is available from ESP’s less expensive LTD range and it has a mahogany body/neck, EMG pickups, and a rosewood fingerboard. A simulated blemish (found on the left side of the body) made by rubbing the finish back to the basecoat replicates the one on James Hetfield’s own “axe”.