D’Addario has announced a new OEM partnership with a leading guitar manufacturer, ESP Inc. ESP Inc. is already using D’Addario strings on its imported LTD product line, and on its high-end USA production, it will use D’Addario’s NYXL strings. “As part of the emerging OEM partnership between ESP USA and D’Addario, ESP is proud to include D’Addario NYXL strings on every ESP USA Series guitar built at ESP’s newly opened California shop,” said Eric Oppenheimer, Product Manager at ESP. “In addition to our ESP USA guitars including these strings as part of our pristine factory setup, we’re also including a spare set of the NYXLs in each custom hardshell case to match the set installed on every guitar.”
At the 2014 NAMM show, the ESP Guitar Company announced the opening of its first-ever U.S.A.-based factory. The new ESP USA factory is located in North Hollywood CA, a short distance from the company’s U.S.A. headquarters. The factory is producing a new line of ESP USA guitars, a new brand that was added to ESP’s existing worldwide brands, including ESP, LTD and the new E-II series. The ESP custom shop will remain in its current location in Tokyo. The new U.S.A. facility is crafting a series of production models on a limited basis during its first year of operation, ramping up as demand for the new line increases. ESP USA instruments are initially available through a select group of ESP dealers.
“ESP instruments are built to rock, and the quality of their USA series is insane!” enthused Evan Skopp, President of Inside Track, D’Addario’s OEM Sales Representative. “These American-crafted guitars perfectly embody the ‘Play Fearlessly’ spirit of D’Addario’s new NYXL strings.”