RZK-III
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label_quick_facts:RZK-III
The ESP RZK-III is Richard's 2025 signature guitar. It was first used live in Munich in 2023.
Information
- The guitar was premiered by ESP during a live stream on 16 January 2025. The live stream included a pre-recorded video of Richard, sitting in his home studio.
- The RZK-III is based on the ESP Phoenix model. Richard received a Phoenix for his video shoot of Freeze My Mind and liked the shape of it so much, that he used it for his own signature model.
- ESP built three different versions of the guitar on the search for the best matching bridge: The first one had a Floyd Rose, the second as a string-through-body and the third, and final, one with a stoptail bridge.
- The ESP website describes the LTD version of the guitar as follows:
The LTD RZK-III in Olympic White finish features neck-thru-body construction at 25.5” scale, with alder body wings, a three-piece satin-finished maple neck and rosewood fingerboard with 22 extra-jumbo stainless steel frets, glow-in-the dark side markers, TonePros locking bridge and tailpiece (both recessed), a brushed black pickguard, a reversible “kill switch”, LTD locking tuners, and a set of Fishman Fluence Richard Z Kruspe signature pickups with a push-pull control and a mini-toggle switch to select voicings. Includes ESP hardshell form fit case.
- The NT version of the guitar is described like this:
Handcrafted one at a time by the master luthiers at the ESP Custom Shop in Japan, the ESP RZK-III is identical to the guitar used by Richard ZK, the legendary co-founder and lead guitarist for Rammstein. It features the smooth, flowing curves of the Phoenix body shape, and is being offered in a classy Olympic White finish with an RZK graphic on the front of the body and black binding on the body, neck, and headstock. It features neck-thru-body construction at 25.5” scale, with alder body wings and a three-piece satin-finished maple neck, and rosewood fingerboard with mother-of-pearl RZK cross inlays, 22 extra-jumbo stainless steel frets, and glow-in-the dark side markers. A series of special components are included on the ESP RZK-III, like a TonePros locking bridge and tailpiece that are both recessed, a brushed black aluminum pickguard, a reversible “kill switch” with modes controlled with a mini-toggle switch, Gotoh tuners, and a bone nut. A special pickup configuration is included on this ESP Custom Shop version of the RZK-III. It includes a Fishman Fluence Richard Z Kruspe signature pickup in the bridge, with a push-pull control to select voicings. The neck pickup is a Sustainiac Driver, with mini-toggle switches to activate and select modes of this distinctive pickup. Includes ESP hardshell form fit case.
Specs
| Category | LTD | NT |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | Neck-Thru | Neck-Thru |
| Scale | 25.5" | 25.5" |
| Body | Alder | Alder |
| Neck | 3Pc Maple | 3Pc Maple |
| Fingerboard | Rosewood | Rosewood |
| Fingerboard Radius | 350mm | 350mm |
| Finish | Olympic White | Olympic White |
| Nut width | 42mm | 42mm |
| Nut type | Molded | Bone |
| Neck contour | Extra Thin U | Extra Thin U |
| Frets/Type | 22 XJ Stainless Steel | 22 XJ Stainless Steel |
| Hardware color | Chrome | Chrome |
| Strap button | Standard | ESP Strap Lock |
| Tuners | LTD Locking | Gotoh |
| Bridge | TonePros Locking TOM w/ String Thru | Recessed TonePros TOM & Tailpiece |
| Neck PU | Fishman RZK Neck *(Pull Volume for Voice 2) | Sustainiac Driver |
| Bridge PU | Fishman RZK Bridge *(Pull Volume for Voice 2) | Fishman RZK Bridge *(Pull Volume for Voice 3) |
| Electronics layout | Volume(Push/Pull)/Toggle Switch/Kill Switch/Mini Switch | Volume(Push/Pull)/Toggle Switch/Kill Switch/Mini Switch (kill switch mode)/Mini Switch (Sustainiac activate)/Mini Switch (Sustainiac mode) |
| Strings | D'Addario XL110-6 (.010/.013/.017/.026/.036/.046) | D'Addario XL110-6 (.010/.013/.017/.026/.036/.046) |
| Case | Phoenix Guitar Form Fit Case | Phoenix Guitar Form Fit Case |
| Case included | Y | Y |
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