Electric Sound Products (aka ESP) began life as a producer of quality guitar parts in Tokyo in 1975, before turning part of its focus to the production of custom instruments of the highest quality. The Formula range includes four guitars of varying spec and is included in ESP’s Standard Series, all made in Japan and intended to mirror the values of ESP’s lauded Custom shop. Before we look at the guitar, ESP Japan President Makoto Suzuki was gracious enough to give us some background on ESP’s beginnings. “At that time there were many guitar brands,” says Mr Suzuki, of ESP’s early days. “But most of them were involved with mass-production and it was hard to find a guitar that satisfied each musician’s particular taste. “Mr Shibuya, the founder of ESP, and a few craftsmen decided to build custom guitars one by one for these musicians to meet their requirements. They never compromised on quality and, after a few years, musicians and the Japanese market associated the ESP name with the finest custom guitars.” “Thanks to the through-neck, there’s no clumpy heel, allowing easy access to the top frets” The FR-II is arguably fanciest of the four guitars included within the range and our example sports a stunning quilted maple cap that’s bound with lines of pearloid that extend all the way up the neck and around the headstock. “We had been looking for something new that could be a new addition to our Standard series next to our major lines such as Eclipse and Horizon,” says Suzuki. “I made hundreds of drawings and finally came to this new model. I think the Formula will prove popular as the next Standard – it’s so versatile and suited to many different styles.” One departure is the guitar’s through-neck construction. The neck, which comprises three pieces of maple that run uninterrupted from the rear strap pin to the tip of the headstock, is flanked by ‘wings’ of solid mahogany to make up the body. The headstock itself is an off-set three-plus-three configuration, similar to that utilised on the Standard FX model, rather than the more familiar and pointed six-in-a-line style. The fingerboard is high-grade ebony that’s been worked to a mirror finish, as have the two dozen XJ frets. Thanks to the through-neck, there’s no clumpy heel where the neck joins the body, allowing easy access to the top frets. We have to say that this is one of the nicest necks on a rock guitar we’ve experienced in quite some time: it’s smooth and wide, yet eminently comfortable to get to grips with. “We think that the most important part we must stick to is a guitar’s playability,” agrees Suzuki. “Anybody could use finest woods, but you can’t get the best playability without the trained techniques and deep knowledge our experience gives us.” (2 pages; go to page: 2 ) Related Stories ESP LTD EC-1000VB