ESP LTD Alexi Ripped, Purple Fade Satin

ESP LTD Alexi Ripped, Purple Fade Satin Overview

The ESP LTD Alexi Ripped in Purple Fade Satin was one of the final guitars designed by reverred metal artist Alexi Laiho. Laiho’s inventive and incendiary musicianship with Children of Bodom and Bodom After Midnight was supported by his acclaimed ESP signature models. The LTD Alexi Ripped is a part of this family, featuring an impressive spec that’s primed for the elegant and aggressive playing that Laiho was known for.

Elegant Metal Machine

The ESP LTD Ripped’s body is sculpted to the iconic offset V that has become closely associated with Alexi Laiho’s signature guitars. It’s a sleek, lightweight design that provides effortless access to the upper frets. Combined with the eye-catching Purple Fade Satin finish, the ESP LTD Ripped has a look that packs tonnes of attitude. The body features a neck-through-body construction, providing exceptional resonance and sustain. The Alder body wings deliver a full, balanced tone with a slight upper-midrange emphasis that’s suited for hard-hitting metal riffage.

Catering for the LTD Ripped’s lightning-fast playability is the rock-solid 3-piece Maple neck, which is carved to a Thin U profile and features a natural satin finish for a buttery-smooth playing experience. If you’re a player that loves to pull off fluid lead runs and complex riffs, this neck is perfect for you. The ESP LTD Ripped’s 25.5" scale neck is topped with a Macassar Ebony fretboard and 24 XJ frets for an expressive 2-octave range. The fretboard is scalloped from frets 19 to 24, allowing you to really dig into those high-register bends. Thanks to the glow-in-the-dark markers and bold sawtooth inlays, you’ll never lose your way on a dark stage. Tonally, the Maple neck and Ebony fretboard provide a bright snap that aids note separation, particularly when used alongside heavily distorted tones.

Powerful Tone

ESP have equipped the ESP LTD Ripped with powerful passive EMG pickups, giving it a clear, articulate voice that can handle lashings of gain with ease. The Ripped is the first Alexi Laiho signature guitar to boast more than one pickup, making it a more versatile option. The bridge is equipped with a ceramic EMG HZ FH-2 humbucker, which provides a punchy and present response. The neck position is outfitted with an EMG HZ S2, a stacked single-coil that presents heaps of juicy mids and a warm low-end.

The ESP LTD Ripped’s beautifully streamlined control scheme - a Master Volume and a 3-way pickup selector - makes dialling a great tone a breeze.

Premium Hardware

With so much top-notch hardware onboard, there’s no doubting that the ESP LTD Ripped is a high-performance, professional-quality guitar. Ultra-stable tuning is handled by the Grover Locking tuners, whilst the double-locking Floyd Rose 1000 bridge lets you divebomb and squeal to your heart’s content. When it’s time to transport your ESP LTD Ripped guitar to your next gig or recording session, you can place it in the included form-fitted V-Alexi hard case.

The ESP E-II Ripped is a premium, Japanese-made upgrade of the ESP LTD version. In addition to its stellar build-quality, the E-II Ripped also features the ESP MM-04 active boost switch and preamp.

The ESP LTD Ripped is a guitar that’s worthy of its highly revered creator. If you’re in the market for a keenly priced metal axe with a spec that you’d usually find on a much pricier instrument, the ESP LTD Ripped deserves your attention.