Founded in 1975 by Hisatake Shibuya in Tokyo, ESP (Electric Sound Products) began as a specialty shop providing custom replacement parts for guitars before transitioning into building complete instruments. The company expanded into the United States in 1983, establishing a presence in New York before relocating its US headquarters to Los Angeles. ESP built its reputation on custom-crafted instruments, with early US clients including New York session musicians and rock guitarists, and its first signature model—the George Lynch Kamikaze—emerging from a chance encounter while Lynch was touring Japan in 1985.

ESP's lineup is organized into distinct tiers. The ESP Original Series represents the company's highest-quality production instruments, handcrafted in Japan with premium tonewoods and hardware. The E-II Series offers Japan-built instruments positioned between the flagship and budget lines. In 1995, ESP introduced the LTD series—manufactured in Korea and Indonesia—to bring its designs to players at lower price points, with Deluxe Series models such as the Eclipse, MH, Horizon, and Viper offering many of the same specifications as their higher-end counterparts.

The company's signature artist program has become central to its identity, particularly in the heavy metal genre. High-profile signatures include models built for Metallica's James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett, as well as artists like Gary Holt of Exodus and Slayer, and Gus G. of Firewind. The breadth of its artist roster spans from metal to rock, and ESP instruments are distributed and endorsed globally, with separate product lines maintained for the Japanese domestic market under the ESP and Navigator brands.

ESP has 1228 products cataloged on Equipboard, including Solid Body Electric Guitars, Electric Basses, and Extended Range Guitars. Their gear is featured by 576 artists, with the strongest followings in Rock, Metal, and Pop. Notable users include Kirk Hammett, James Hetfield, and Bruce Kulick. Most ESP products sit firmly in the high-end, boutique range.