E-II RZK-I
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label_quick_facts:E-II RZK-I
E-2 RZK-1 is a signature guitar by Richard.
Information[1]
First version
Built at our ESP factory in Japan, the latest addition to the Richard Z. Kruspe Signature Series comes in the form of the ESP E-II RZK-I Burnt. Its intense look reflects that of its designer, the co-founder of Neue Deutsche Härte (New German Hardness) band Rammstein. The E-II RZK-I BURNT has an amazingly distinctive finish, with heavily-distressed burn markings and gouges over the body top and headstock. Its unique asymmetrical shape offers excellent balance, with a comfortable contoured alder body and a satin-finished maple neck with rosewood fingerboard, 24 extra-jumbo frets, and white neck binding. The E-II RZK-I BURNT is a neck-thru-body design at 25.5” scale, with high-end professional components including Gotoh tuners, Schaller strap locks, a Floyd Rose Original tremolo, and a pair of red-covered EMG 81 active pickups for a super aggressive sound.
2023
Built at the ESP factory in Japan, the ESP E-II RZK-I Burnt is as unique and intense a guitar as the player who inspired it. Richard ZK is the founder of renowned Neue Deutsche Härte band Rammstein, and the E-II RZK-I Burnt is based off a guitar that he had built for him at the ESP Custom Shop. The E-II RZK-I Burnt has an amazingly distinctive finish, with heavily-distressed burn markings and gouges over the body top and headstock. Its unique asymmetrical shape offers excellent balance, with a comfortable contoured alder body and a satin-finished maple neck with rosewood fingerboard, 24 extra-jumbo frets, and white neck binding. The E-II RZK-I BURNT is a neck-thru-body design at 25.5” scale, with high-end professional components including Gotoh tuners, ESP strap locks, and a Floyd Rose Original tremolo. It also offers the innovative and flexible Fishman Fluence Richard Z Signature Series pickup set, with Modern alnico in the neck and Modern ceramic in the bridge, both with metallic red covers. These unique and toneful pickups use a hybrid magnet configuration.
ESP also have a press release considering this new version of the guitar, which is the following:
ESP Guitars (NAMM Booth 208A/B) announced that as of immediately, the Signature Series guitars for Richard ZK, founding member of the German Neue Deutsche Härte band Rammstein, will include his new Fishman Fluence Richard Z Signature Series pickup set. Richard ZK’s current ESP Signature Series guitars include the ESP RZK-II Burnt, E-II RZK-II Burnt, and the E-II RZK-I Burnt. The announcement was unveiled at the 2023 NAMM Show.
“Richard has been part of the ESP artist family for many years, and we’re always proud to be associated with one of the main creative forces in a band like Rammstein,” says Tony Rauser, ESP Director of Artist Relations. “Richard’s ESP and E-II Signature Series guitars represent his innovative approach to making music, so it’s no surprise he’s using an equally innovative pickup with Fishman Fluence.”
The Japan-built E-II RZK-II Burnt takes the single-cutaway ESP Eclipse shape and presents it in a remarkably distressed finish with burn marks and gouges over its top and headstock. It offers neck-thru-body construction with an alder body and maple neck at 25.5” scale. Its high-end professional components include Gotoh tuners, ESP strap locks, a Floyd Rose Original tremolo. His new Fishman Fluence Richard Z Signature Series pickup set are Modern alnico (neck) and Modern ceramic (bridge), using a hybrid magnet configuration. Three voicings are available for the each of the pickups. The RZK-II Burnt will feature brushed stainless covers.
Also built in Japan, the ESP E-II RZK-I Burnt has the same distinctive gouged and burned finish, but also with a unique asymmetric body style. It features neck-thru-body construction at 25.5” scale with a comfortable contoured alder body and a satin-finished maple neck. It offers pro components including Gotoh tuners, ESP strap locks, a Floyd Rose Original tremolo, as well as Richard’s signature Fluence pickups in red covers.
Specs
| Category | First version | 2023 new |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | Neck-Thru | Neck-Thru |
| Scale | 25.5" | 25.5" |
| Body | Alder | Alder |
| Neck | 3Pc Maple | 3Pc Maple |
| Fingerboard | Rosewood | Rosewood |
| Fingerboard Radius | 305mm | 305mm |
| Finish | Distressed & Burnt | Distressed & Burnt |
| Nut width | 42mm | 42mm |
| Nut type | Locking | Locking |
| Neck contour | Thin U | Thin U |
| Frets/Type | 24 XJ | 24 XJ |
| Hardware color | Chrome | Chrome |
| Strap button | Schaller Straplock | ESP Strap Lock |
| Tuners | Gotoh | Gotoh |
| Bridge | Floyd Rose Original | Floyd Rose Original |
| Neck PU | EMG 81 | Fishman Fluence Richard Z Signature Modern Alnico Metallic Red |
| Bridge PU | EMG 81 | Fishman Fluence Richard Z Signature Modern Alnico Metallic Red |
| Electronics | Active | Active |
| Electronics layout | Vol/Toggle Switch | Vol/Toggle Switch |
| Strings | Elixir Nanoweb Light (.010/.013/.017/.026/.036/.046) | |
| Case | CECFF | RZK-1 FORM FIT CASE |
| Case included | Y | Y |