TEST: ESP Will Adler Warbird

As a guitarist, it's not necessarily easy with the last name Adler. If the name in question is mentioned in a conversation with musicians, a respectful smile immediately spreads across the faces of drummers, especially if they have a connection to modern metal drumming. What is meant is the association with one of the current top 10 drummers in this segment, Chris Adler. Only a few people know his brother Will Adler, who was the rhythm guitarist in the band “Lamb Of God” and played with his brother in the same band for several years. Particularly due to its high level of popularity in the USA, the guitarist has several custom / signature models, of which we have by far the most expensive model, the ESP Will Adler Warbird Custom Shop Distressed, available for testing.

The concept of the ESP Will Adler Warbird Custom Shop Distressed

As with the other models made for Will Adler, the Warbird model is optically a Les Paul copy, which, however, differs significantly from the original in some details. The look of the test instrument in particular stands out due to its very distressed character and the huge “bone bird” sticker. However, the instrument has no claim to realistic wear and tear on the paintwork, as occurs with real vintage instruments; in fact, the paintwork was only very badly scratched.

The varnish was also artificially removed where no wear occurs during normal playing and the edges of the body binding, which should be smeared round at the armrest after such playing, are sharp-edged like those of a factory-new instrument. The hardware has been aged much more authentically. The pickup caps in particular have been beautifully trimmed to look old in terms of the uneven oxidation under and next to the strings, although here too the two caps were only copied and turned. A true vintage instrument will always have more wear and oxidation on the rear pickup cap of the bridge than that of the neck pickup.

What is a little strange given the massively used design of the instrument is the fact that, in contrast to the heavily scratched body and headstock, the neck is brand new and completely untouched. Somehow these two parts don't really fit together visually, but as always, it's all a matter of taste.

With a retail price of just under €7,500, the instrument is well outside the segment where one can speak of a realistic equivalent value even in metal; in fact, it is already very much in the enthusiast and fan section. But you should never forget that such visually unusual Custom Shop versions always represent a great advertising effect for the entire product range of an instrument type, i.e. even the lower-priced versions of the Warbird benefit enormously in terms of sales from the presence of an optical driving force.

The technical details

In the modern metal segment, there has been a clear shift in recent decades from the dominance of the solo guitarist to the appreciation of the rhythm guitarist. Just as current metal production is almost exclusively based on the principle of pressure, pressure and even more pressure, the current song material of many bands only focuses on powerful riff cascades, almost always in down or drop tuning. Where previously a wide carpet was rolled out for the soloist, who impressed the listener with an individual tone and extravagant scales in the high-speed range, today a guitar sound is usually generated that gets the maximum mass out of the high gain, sometimes so fat that it is already I have problems even being able to identify a bassist in the sound of a record production or a live show.

With the same in mind, Will Adler's tools are tailored to his function within his band, meaning the highest possible transparency even with maximum gain, good string separation within the riffing and a solid construction that can handle even harder attacks without intonation problems . The basis for this claim is the instrument's continuous, three-piece maple neck, which has glued-on mahogany wings and a maple top and, as expected, offers an extremely long sustain. Perfect for a strong solo tone, but unfortunately just a nice bonus in Will Adler’s role.

The fingerboard is made of ebony and has a scale length of 24.75". The shaping of the neck was dubbed “Thin U”, which sums it up quite well. The neck is quite slim and comparatively wide, fits well in the hand and will suit most players in terms of handling. All hardware was finished in “yellowed” gold, giving a sort of bronze feel to the base color scheme. Very nicely crafted, if the oxidation weren't so absolutely uniform, the look would be very close to real vintage hardware. If my interpretation is correct, small “warbirds” were used as fingerboard inlays.

6 Sperzel mechanics with locking function were used as tuners, which fulfill their function absolutely evenly and smoothly. Normal pins were used as belt pins, which will probably be exchanged very quickly by the user for locking mechanisms. In keeping with his function as a rhythm guitarist, a vibrato system was omitted; instead, the guitar comes with a classic bridge and a stop tailpiece. In order to avoid Gibson's legal letters, they didn't even try to use something bell-shaped as a truss rod cover, but instead opted for an oversized, cut-off "reverse bell".

Two Fishman Fluence pickups are used, which are manufactured according to Will Adler's specifications. Unfortunately, it was not possible to find out whether these are technical changes that also influence the Klamg, or whether it is just the visual aspect that creates the signature character. Like all Fishman Fluence pickups, the pickups here have 2 different sound characteristics, with one being slightly more active and the other being more passive. These are switched using a push/pull potentiometer, in this case it is the tone control on the guitar. In addition, each pickup has its own volume control.

The power supply for the pickups is a special feature. As with other manufacturers who offer their instruments in the high price segment, the pickups are powered by a battery, which is charged via the combination of USB plug / mobile power supply. A good thing, which reduces battery waste, although the built-in battery will of course have to be disposed of at some point.

The ESP Will Adler Warbird Custom Shop Distressed in practice

It is questionable whether the ESP Will Adler Warbird Custom Shop Distressed will ever be connected to a clean channel, which actually turns out to be a shame. Depending on the setting used, the instrument can also generate very pearly, clear sounds in the various pickup constellations, especially if you use passive emulation of the pickups.

But it is also a fact that every orchestra leader or even the buddies from the local jazz quartet would get green pimples if they dared to appear at a public performance with an instrument that has these optical qualities. In return, anyone who deals with truncated half-waves will at least be left with a respectful “Oha” as soon as you take the instrument out of the supplied case.

How much of the unusual finish will reach the audience in the dark stage light is another matter, but in terms of sound, the ESP Will Adler Warbird Custom Shop Distressed delivers exactly what the optics promise. The entire construction delivers a differentiated sound even at maximum gain, combined with excellent vibration behavior. The touch more maple generated by the continuous neck also ensures a touch more freshness in the basic sound than the mostly low-mid-based sound generated by the classic mahogany neck / mahogany body combination.

Conclusion

With the ESP Will Adler Warbird Custom Shop Distressed, the Japanese company delivers an instrument that acoustically and, above all, visually meets almost all the trademarks that a high gain protagonist should fulfill. Anyone who likes to spend time in modern metal realms will find this instrument an excellent tool that shines with clean string separation, great assertiveness and outstanding sustain.

The fact that the artificial aging of the instrument only serves coolness factors and in no way corresponds to real wear and tear should be noted just as coolly and be happy for the enthusiastic owner. After all, this is not about an authentic blues tool, but rather a visually and acoustically outstanding instrument for the ambitious metalhead. In addition, anyone who can lighten their wallet by almost €7,500 for a single instrument is a very happy person anyway.

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Additional Informations:


ESP Guitars is a Japanese manufacturer of electric guitars, basses, and accessories. The company was founded in 1975 by Hisatake Shibuya, and it is currently headquartered in Tokyo. ESP guitars are known for their high quality and craftsmanship, and they are used by a wide range of professional musicians, including James Hetfield, Kirk Hammett, and Dave Mustaine.

**The Early Years**

Hisatake Shibuya was born in Japan in 1937. He developed an interest in guitars at a young age, and he began building his own instruments in his teens. In 1975, Shibuya founded ESP (Electric Sound Products) as a small workshop in Tokyo. The company initially specialized in repairing and modifying guitars, and it also sold imported guitar parts.

In the early 1980s, ESP began to produce its own line of guitars. The company's first guitars were based on popular Fender and Gibson models, but they quickly developed their own unique sound and style. ESP guitars were soon adopted by a number of Japanese metal bands, and they quickly became the go-to brand for heavy metal guitarists.

**The Rise of ESP Guitars**

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, ESP guitars began to gain popularity outside of Japan. The company's signature models, such as the LTD Viper and the ESP Horizon, were embraced by metal guitarists around the world. ESP also began to produce guitars for a number of high-profile artists, including James Hetfield, Kirk Hammett, and Dave Mustaine.

**ESP Guitars Today**

Today, ESP is one of the leading manufacturers of electric guitars in the world. The company offers a wide range of models, from entry-level guitars to high-end custom instruments. ESP guitars are used by a wide range of musicians, from metalheads to blues players.

ESP is also a major force in the guitar industry. The company owns a number of other guitar brands, including LTD, Edwards, and Schecter. ESP also produces a wide range of guitar accessories, including pickups, strings, and effects pedals.

**The ESP Legacy**

ESP Guitars has had a major impact on the world of music. The company's guitars have been used by some of the biggest names in rock and metal, and they have helped to define the sound of modern music. ESP guitars are known for their quality, craftsmanship, and performance, and they are sure to continue to be popular for many years to come.

**ESP Guitars: A Timeline**

* 1975: Hisatake Shibuya founds ESP (Electric Sound Products) in Tokyo.
* 1983: ESP begins producing its own line of guitars.
* 1984: ESP opens its first US office in Los Angeles.
* 1986: ESP introduces the LTD Viper, one of its most popular models.
* 1990: ESP introduces the ESP Horizon, another popular model.
* 1996: ESP opens a custom shop in Japan.
* 2000: ESP introduces the ESP Edwards line of guitars.
* 2002: ESP introduces the ESP Schecter line of guitars.
* 2005: ESP celebrates its 30th anniversary.
* 2010: ESP opens a new factory in Indonesia.
* 2015: ESP celebrates its 40th anniversary.
* 2020: ESP celebrates its 45th anniversary.

**ESP Guitars: A Look at the Future**

ESP Guitars is a company with a rich history and a bright future. The company has come a long way since its humble beginnings in a small Tokyo workshop. Today, ESP is one of the leading manufacturers of electric guitars in the world. The company's guitars are used by a wide range of musicians, from metalheads to blues players. ESP is also a major force in the guitar industry. The company owns a number of other guitar brands, including LTD, Edwards, and Schecter. ESP also produces a wide range of guitar accessories, including pickups, strings, and effects pedals.

ESP Guitars is a company that is always looking to the future. The company is constantly innovating and developing new products. ESP is also committed to providing its customers with the best possible service. The company has a team of experienced and knowledgeable staff who are always happy to help customers find the right guitar for their needs.

ESP Guitars is a company that is passionate about music. The company is committed to providing musicians with the tools they need to create great music. ESP guitars are known for their quality, craftsmanship, and performance.