ESP LTD RZK-III OW

Richard ZK, Rammstein's riffer-in-chief, returns with his third signature guitar, marking a departure from its predecessors with an arsenal of fun features

- PHIL WELLER

RETURNING TO THE drawing board for his third ESP/LTD signature guitar, Rammstein's Richard ZK has pivoted toward the trending offset shape and bestowed it with some killer appointments. Headlined by signature, chrome-covered Fishman Fluence active humbuckers – fast becoming go-to pickups for metal guitar – and an arcade-style kill switch, it stays true to his Strat-like tonewood preferences. But his beloved Floyd Rose is gone and new creative utilities are in.

ZK tested three different bridge options blindfolded, saying, “If I knew which one was the Floyd Rose, I would’ve chosen that.” A classic-style locking TonePros stoptail was chosen on “sound alone” but has been partially recessed into the body so that the hand comfort of a Floyd was retained.