Still used live
This guitar is mainly used to be played D-tuned
James' ESP Explorers in general:
They are all based upon the standard ESP EXP serie and were built or overseen by Matt
Masciandaro. Meanwhile the EXP serie has been replaced by the ESP EX standard serie which
has a sharp shape for its ends and headstock instead of the old EXP serie which was
comparable to the rounded shape of the Gibson Explorers.
The difference between the EXP model and James' Explorers:
In difference between James' Explorers and the standard ESP EXP serie, James guitars
have set-necks (glued joint) instead of bolt-on necks. Besides the "Black Album" guitars'
fingerboards consist of ebony instead of rosewood.
Identic to the EXP model:
The body consists of mahogany, the neck of maple and the fingerboard (with its 22XJ
[XJ=extra jumbo] frets) of rosewood. All hardware (the tune-o-matic bridge, the stop piece
and tuners) is black. It has one volume control for each pickup.