ESP Guitars: George Lynch on the History of the ESP Kamikaze

The very first ESP Signature Series guitar was the Kamikaze, a model designed by a man who would become one of the world's most admired and respected guitar players: George Lynch. Listen as George explains the origins of the Kamikaze, including the reasoning behind its unusually wide, flat neck, and what that guitar provides to him as an innovative music maker. Filmed at Valley Relics Museum (Van Nuys, CA): valleyrelicsmu....
George Lynch ESP/LTD Signature Series guitars: www.espguitars...

[@markthatcher4853]

Gorge is an amazing musican he never stopped learning and getting better as he went on is his career.

[@BSGC]

My favorite guitarist out there and always will be🤘 talented at all aspects of the instrument, a sound all his own, and doesn't use constant shredding as a crutch for lacking the ability to compose a full and rounded track like many of the so called "masters". Going from sweet melodies to solos that make you shake your head in jealousy he indeed has the full bag of tricks🎸💯

[@Arthur-ke9vz]

My all time favorite guitar! That reverse banana headstock is incredible

[@macauley70]

a legend guitar player.. his personality is superlative.

[@IRISHguitarist777]

Picking mine up this Monday,my 21st ESP/E-II/LTD. ( l have 7 ESPs,1 E-II and 11 EC1000s plus 2 Skolnick AS1s) To say i am stoked is an understatement! I met the great man in 1986 and finally l get to enjoy my DREAM GUITAR since l first saw one of these beauties in a Guitar store in 1988. I have gotten All Access Guitar Video Seven times on the ESP Page so far,hoping ill make it an 8th with my ESP Custom shop Lynch Kamikaze 😀🇯🇵 Can't wait!

[@TreyB.]

I'm an Ibanez and Charvel guy.... But that KOA was amazing. Liquid tones. Great job ESP! and George!

[@scottdunn2178]

I've been a Jackson/Charvel player since 1985 when they were primarily a custom order company. But, after Grover sold out to IMC in 1990, I got my first ESP M-ll Deluxe (deep metallic purple and a highly coveted JB "J" wound by Maricela Juarez at Seymour Duncan completely stock!). So, yeah, I think ESP is closest to the old Jackson and Charvel guitars we all love so much. Regards 🎸

[@ivanstalone9929]

Finally Artist and guitar in studio Back to roots, I like it

[@cesarperez-cardenas97]

That reverse hockey headstock is to die for.

[@johndrake2729]

Love reverse headstocks.

[@robertsole9970]

My grandfather was in WW2 in the pacific and had two ships torpedoed out from under him and when I was a kid he never let any Japanese product in his house, plus two of my uncles served in Nam, but you know it was long ago and the combatants made peace after they passed, so I’m still going to buy a ESP Kamikaze 1.

[@Scrappalino]

The older generation was like that… and rightly so. My great uncle fought on the mountain Iwo Jima… my grandfather was involved too. It’s crazy how they convinced people to fight strangers around the world, glad that is behind us. I own an ESP guitar a vintage series strat , love Japanese guitars, any my Toyota 😅 kamikaze is a good choice , always thought those were cool.

[@johnrel5355]

The kamikaze, so cool and beautiful guitar.. Georges is so loyal with the brand and reciprocally.. that's why this ESP is one of the most iconic signature guitar of all time.

[@jlzimmerman75]

The legend still has it 👍

[@eduardosci1909]

0:43 Killer tone! Metal and organic, heavy and woody. Mr. Scary is a wizard! Tks, ESP!

[@BillDerBerg]

Those old signs 🤩😍❤️❤️

[@TheAxe4Ever]

Thank you Edward. If not for you, no one else would’ve thought to make “superstrats” like these.

[@thedronedownunder3919]

As a teen in the 80's, Mr. Scary is an Enigma. Great to see George slowing down and smelling the Earth.

[@davidrobinson4012]

Just saw him playing a Les Paul at a recent concert,,,hmmmm.

[@the_lespauley_studio6450]

One of my Biggest Influences Ever!!!! Great George

[@bruce5168]

One of the underated GREATS

[@boke75]

Nobody underrated Mr. Scary....especially to his face, haha !

[@metalhead7181]

The Legend himself. Mr king Lynch! 👍

[@helendunbar1845]

The consummate guitar hero 🔥 Nice video 🎸

[@macnasty1805]

Man I wish there was and LTD version of the Goldsplatter ESP

[@nitrokyosho]

Great guitar player, my all time favorite 🎸 🎸 🎸 🎸 🎸 🎸

[@graymine2949]

Grew up on EVH, but George has been a constant 1A since before and since my first concert ever (Dokken). Happy I don't have to pick a favorite and listen to both. Where's the Sweet / Lynch tour? :)

[@graymine2949]

oh, and I commented here cause this was THE guitar for me growing up. The GRAPHIC is easily one of the best. Love the white version (still want one)!

[@waycool1969]

King George!

[@SteveRicardo777]

This was awesome to watch

[@danielavellino]

Such a humble guy

[@mrchoptop5482]

One of my favorites!!

[@TheSlenderBassist]

the man who helped me dig deep into alternate picking and dive bomb patterns, as well as have a deep lasting appreciation for muscle cars🤘🏻

[@alfayamansyah3734]

GeorgeLynch 🔥🔥🔥

[@josem2558]

MI GUITARRISTA FAVORITO, JUNTO A EDDIE VAN HALEN Y STEVE VAI. LARGA VIDA AL HARD ROCK.🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘

[@hiromikami]

I think I still have the Guitar Player magazines from when the Kamikaze first came out! I remember you could also buy the George Lynch "screamin' Demon" pickups.

[@ruffhouse4123]

THE GEORGE LYNCH! 🎸 🤘✌

[@toulminbrown9166]

Superb

[@TheRealMightyHokie]

Just when you thought George Lynch couldn't be more awesome... ...he goes and turns himself into Geralt of Rivia! Love it, George.

[@chopperdeath]

I'm not a signature guitar fanboy at all, but I almost would like to have one.

[@larrybrown7273]

These are the Guitars i'am use seeeing George if ever decided to see him he'd better be playin the ESP Start to finish

[@marklechman2225]

Still a badass.

[@JP-lq5og]

Great 😎😎

[@vladimirpoutine7522]

Let's be honest here, it's all about the cosmetics with this one. Seriously, what's different about the functionality of this one verse any other super Strat? Love you George!

[@waylong25]

A couple things. The neck shape, the fingerboard radius, the push/pull control in place of a traditional toggle switch

[@vladimirpoutine7522]

@@waylong25 There are plenty of super Strats that have all that.

[@martymcfly002]

To me, the one huge difference is the body wood. Very unusual to have a guitar made of heavy maple like that.

[@rfell863]

Hellooo beautiful!! ❤

[@georgecostanza4385]

Love George's playing and am a big fan of Dokken, but I can't say I know much about his other 500 Bands/Projects other than early Lynch Mob

[@helendunbar1845]

Check out The End Machine's new album 👍 It's great!

[@zakkcovers18]

🤘

[@michaeljenkins2787]

bring this back in a ltd

[@TrebleMidBass]

Best necks!! 45mm wide and plenty of space

[@Daddy53751]

Is it me or does it seem like Senior Lynch is playing his guitar in a lower position over the last few years?

[@mikejripley1738]

His Tech Gerry

[@SYCKNTWISTED]

I would LOVE for ESP to make a lefty Kamikaze!!!!

[@nathanielpersohn600]

In the House of Hetfield??? Awesome sauce!!

[@notalkguitarampplug-insrev784]

Stainless steel frets?

[@vox1003]

Of course

[@benhamilton1156]

Man, George looks like Scott Glenn TBH, looks good though.

[@RC-gg1ib]

Tim the tool mans garage

[@skred6792]

I owned a LTD GL MT whatever tiger guitar for a few years. It was literally one of the finest guitars I've ever played, regardless of price (why I bought it). It was around 2011 when I got it. Got it for like $350 slightly used. It was probably the best guitar I've ever played outside of a few older USA Jackson RR1s. I've been playing for 25 years and I've played some expensive shit. This one really stuck out over anything else I've ever played. Only reason I parted with the axe was the tiger paint job and it being SO directly George's guitar. Like who wants to be on stage doing that...playing another dude's iconic guitar? Talk about look like an asshole. Imagine Lynch playing EVH"s Frankie as his main axe. That's a nope. I'd be very interested in seeing George and ESP develop an LTD in particular based on his OG Tiger or the Purple tiger, but has more "basic" look aka paint job. Several pickup configs and some with pickguard and without. Could be a huge guitar if deployed correctly. Hindsight is I should have painted the guitar, but I didn't want to disassemble it or ANYTHING...Im a dude that'll scallop his on neck...this guitar was too good to mess with any detail.

[@user-pf6jz5dk9y]

죠지가 할배가 다됫구나 제프 벡 곡좀 리메이크 해봐 제일 잘하는거 같은데 아니 제일잘해 ㅎㅎ

[@silverpairaducks]

George Lynch will one day walk though a wall. He's at that LEVEL.

[@timstricklin8455]

I wish I had the money . Because I love the LTD #4 Green Komie but who has an extra $1600.00 plus tax laying around?

[@avellinesevolante]

God has spoken

[@karl07777]

Dudes does anyone remember that kamikaze was used to sink allied vessels? Is ESP USA okay with this? How can an American paint his guitar in that theme? It's like a jew painting shit with hakenkreuz, not getting it. Freedom of expression, fxxx PC culture I buy it but this is really out of context. I love George Lynch's music BTW.

[@espguitarsusa]

You should ask George about it. www.patreon.com/GeorgeLynch

[@elevenAD]

No, no one remembers because anyone who was around then is dead. Cool thing about being an American is you can pretty much paint your guitar however you want as long as its not promoting some type of hate crime or illegal activity and you don't really have to explain why to anyone unless you want to.

[@guitfan1954]

I agree.. love Lynch’s playing and objectively this is a beautiful guitar. I’m also very grateful for that generation who protected our freedom so I’m a bit disappointed too.

[@misterblack6521]

Ahh! Bullshit! A paint job isn't going to make you a better player.

[@josearalat]

I love George. He sucks at improvising but he tries really hard.