Up for sale, a 2000s ESP Custom Shop Mockingbird-style one-off guitar in exceptional, 100% original condition and in perfect working order complete with the original flight case. ESP's Japanese Custom Shop is famous for producing exceedingly unique, one-of-a-kind handmade instruments for their clientele, built to nearly any specification and catering to all idiosyncratic needs. This particular model, ostensibly built for a Japanese guitarist named “Kenji,” augments the Mockingbird body shape with a bat wing horn, grim reaper graphic on the body and flaming cross on the headstock, combining string-through and hardtail construction, and outfitted with a pair of Seymour Duncan humbuckers with a global coil tap.

The neck position humbucker is a Seymour Duncan ‘59 PAF-style humbucker; one of Seymour Duncan’s most popular offerings, this pickup is prized for its versatility and warm, full sound with clear note attack and sweet, singing sustain. The bridge pickup is an SD Custom, a slightly overwound humbucker described by Duncan as a “PAF on steroids.” It has tight lows, a bump in the upper midrange that gives more character and crunch, and an airy high end that cuts through heavy distortion and also translates to crystal-clear clean tones. This ESP Custom weighs 8lbs 15oz, professionally setup here at Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar with 9-42 strings, slinky action, and spot-on intonation.

The three-piece maple neck has a medium C-shaped profile carve with well-rounded, inviting shoulders in every register, measuring .830” deep at the 1st fret and .920” at the 12th. The bound ebony fretboard features a 16” radius and offset pearloid block inlay, with a “Kenji” logo inlay at the 12th fret. The stock medium jumbo fretwire is flawless, with its full factory height and well-rounded crowns. This guitar plays cleanly up the 24 3/4“ scale, with a heel-less neck contour for unrivaled upper fret access. The neck is straight, and the truss rod is responsive and optimally-adjusted. The nut measures 1 11/16” in width, carved from brass for optimal sustain and articulation. The bound headstock sports a ghostly burning cross graphic and ESP inlay. The chrome-plated tuning machines turn smoothly and hold accurate pitch.  

On the body, all of the electronics function as intended, with Seymour Duncan humbuckers governed by a three-way pickup selector switch and Master Volume and Tone controls. The neck pickup bobbin has a small, repaired split across the screw pole side which is purely cosmetic. The dome-topped knurled knobs and pickup rings shine like new, and the Nashville-style bridge and stopbar have a uniform dusting of surface patina on their nickel plating. This guitar features a hybrid string anchor system; the bass-side strings are strung through the body, and the treble strings are anchored by the stopbar. The rear control cavity cover features the same “Kenji” design as the 12th fret inlay.

The gloss Black finish is accented by a grim reaper graphic, complete with bloody scythe. This is a well-kept ESP, with cosmetic wear on the finish limited to a scant few tiny dings on the lower bout perimeter and a handful of faint finish scratches in the clear coat on the body as a whole. The pristine gloss Natural finish on the neck profile highlights subtle figuring in the three-piece maple neck.

This is a one-of-a-kind instrument, built to rip and chock-full of the unique, high quality appointments emblematic of the ESP Custom Shop.

The original ESP-branded padded flight case with molded interior is included.