กีตาร์ไฟฟ้า ESP E-II M-II FM

History of the ESP E-II M-II FM

The ESP E-II M-II FM is one of the flagship models of the E-II series, which sits in the “middle tier” of ESP’s lineup between the ESP Original (Japanese Custom Shop) and the more affordable LTD series.

Origins
ESP Guitars was founded in 1975 in Tokyo, Japan, by Hisatake Shibuya. Initially, the company focused on selling guitar parts and components before evolving into a full guitar manufacturer in the 1980s.

The M-II model emerged in the late 1980s as a Superstrat-style guitar, designed for rock and metal players, featuring a slim neck for fast playing and easy upper-fret access.

The “FM” in the model name stands for Flamed Maple, referring to the flamed maple top that adds a luxurious look and enhances brightness in the tone.

The E-II Series
Originally, the M-II was produced both in the ESP Custom Shop and in standard production lines. However, in 2014, ESP introduced the E-II branding for guitars built in Japan by highly skilled luthiers, but not as one-off Custom Shop orders.

The E-II line is positioned as professional-level production instruments, using premium materials and hardware (such as EMG, Seymour Duncan, Gotoh, and Floyd Rose Original) while being more affordable than Custom Shop models.

The M-II FM in this series retains the original M-II character — a slim neck, neck-thru-body construction, and deep cutaways for easy high-fret access.

Historical Significance
The M-II has long been popular among metal guitarists, particularly in speed metal, progressive metal, and metalcore genres.

Many world-class artists have played M-II models or close variants, including Kirk Hammett (Metallica), Ron Wood (The Rolling Stones — used other ESP models), and Jeff Hanneman (Slayer — played a custom M-II-style model).

The E-II M-II FM version continues to be built exclusively in Japan to maintain exceptional craftsmanship and precision standards.

Specifications of ESP E-II M-II FM (Made in Japan)

Construction: Neck-thru-body construction — provides high sustain and easy access to high frets.
(Source: ESP GUITARS, The ESP Guitar Company, iguitarmusic.co.th)

Body: Made primarily of Alder with a Flamed Maple top and black binding around the body edges.
(Source: ESP GUITARS, The ESP Guitar Company)

Neck: Made from 3-piece Hard Maple, with a Thin U profile.
(Source: ESP GUITARS, iguitarmusic.co.th)

Fingerboard: Ebony with binding and dot inlays, featuring the ESP logo on the 12th fret.
(Source: ESP GUITARS, iguitarmusic.co.th, The ESP Guitar Company)

Radius: 305 mm (approximately 12 inches).
(Source: ESP GUITARS, iguitarmusic.co.th)

Frets: 24 Extra-Jumbo (XJ) stainless steel frets. (While the website does not specify fret material, multiple sources confirm XJ stainless frets.)
(Source: ESP GUITARS, iguitarmusic.co.th, chorder.com)

Scale Length: 25.5 inches (648 mm).
(Source: ESP GUITARS, iguitarmusic.co.th, The ESP Guitar Company)

Nut: Approximately 42 mm (1.65 inches) wide, locking nut type.
(Source: ESP GUITARS, iguitarmusic.co.th, The ESP Guitar Company)

Hardware:

Gotoh SG360-07 locking tuners

Floyd Rose Original tremolo bridge

Schaller straplocks
(Source: ESP GUITARS, iguitarmusic.co.th, The ESP Guitar Company)

Pickups: Dual active EMG 81 pickups at neck and bridge positions.
(Source: ESP GUITARS, iguitarmusic.co.th, The ESP Guitar Company)

Electronics: Active system with master volume control and 3-way toggle switch.
(Source: ESP GUITARS, iguitarmusic.co.th, The ESP Guitar Company)

Strings: Equipped with D’Addario® Elixir Nanoweb Super Light strings (approximate gauge .009 – .042).
(Source: ESP GUITARS, iguitarmusic.co.th, The ESP Guitar Company)

สเปคของ ESP E-II M-II FM (Made in Japan)
โครงสร้าง (Construction): คอนสตรัคชั่นแบบ Neck-thru-body — ให้ซัสเทนสูงและเข้าถึงเฟรตสูงได้ง่าย
ESP GUITARS
The ESP Guitar Company
iguitarmusic.co.th

บอดี้ (Body): วัสดุหลักเป็น Alder พร้อมหน้าไม้ Flamed Maple และขอบบอดี้สีดำ (Black Binding)
ESP GUITARS
The ESP Guitar Company

คอ (Neck): ทำจาก Hard Maple 3 ชิ้น, ทรงคอแบบ Thin U
ESP GUITARS
iguitarmusic.co.th

ฟิงเกอร์บอร์ด (Fingerboard): Ebony พร้อมขอบและอินเลย์ Dot พร้อมโลโก้ ESP ที่เฟรต 12
ESP GUITARS
iguitarmusic.co.th
The ESP Guitar Company

เรเดียส (Radius): 305 มม. (≈12″)
ESP GUITARS
iguitarmusic.co.th

จำนวน / ชนิดของเฟรต (Frets): 24 เฟรต Extra-Jumbo (XJ), สแตนเลส (รุ่นหน้าเว็บไม่ระบุแต่หลายแหล่งบอกว่า XJ)
ESP GUITARS
iguitarmusic.co.th
chorder.com

สเกล (Scale Length): 25.5″ (648 มม.)
ESP GUITARS
iguitarmusic.co.th
The ESP Guitar Company

นัต (Nut): กว้างประมาณ 42 มม. (1.65″) แบบล็อก (Locking Nut)
ESP GUITARS
iguitarmusic.co.th
The ESP Guitar Company

ฮาร์ดแวร์ (Hardware):

ลูกบิด Gotoh SG360-07 Locking Tuners

Floyd Rose Original Tremolo Bridge

ขอบสตั๊ปเปอร์ (Straplock) จาก Schaller
ESP GUITARS
iguitarmusic.co.th
The ESP Guitar Company

ปิ๊กอัพ (Pickups): คู่ EMG 81 แบบ Active ทั้งตำแหน่งคอและบริดจ์
ESP GUITARS
iguitarmusic.co.th
The ESP Guitar Company

วงจรไฟฟ้า (Electronics): ระบบแอกทีฟ พร้อมคอนโทรล Master Volume และสวิตช์ 3-ทาง (Toggle Switch)
ESP GUITARS
iguitarmusic.co.th
The ESP Guitar Company

สาย (Strings): ติดตั้ง D’Addario® Elixir Nanoweb Super Light (ประมาณ .009 – .042)