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ESP Explorer 'Elk Skull'

On the surface is an elk skull graphic and on its headstock a barbed wire graphic which were both made by Dino Murdian. It has the 4-M-star logo which is burnt on the back.

The replica you can see on the right side was made by Ed Roman.

Model: ESP EXP
Color: Black
Inlays: Barbed Wire
Pickups: EMG-60n, EMG-81b humbucker
Hardware: 2 volume controls
Graphic (body): Woodburned Elk Skull
Graphic (headstock): Barbed Wire
Back: 4-M logo wood burning
Appeared: "Cunning Stunts" ("So What"), "The Memory Remains" - video
First time used live: "Load" gigs. Still used live

James' ESP Explorers in general:
They are all based upon the standard ESP EXP serie and were built or overseen by Matt Masciandaro. Meanwhile the EXP serie has been replaced by the ESP EX standard serie which has a sharp shape for its ends and headstock instead of the old EXP serie which was comparable to the rounded shape of the Gibson Explorers.

The difference between the EXP model and James' Explorers:
In difference between James' Explorers and the standard ESP EXP serie, James guitars have set-necks (glued joint) instead of bolt-on necks. Aside from the "Black Album" guitars' fingerboards consist of ebony instead of rosewood.

Identic to the EXP model:
The body is composed of mahogany, the neck of maple and the fingerboard (with its 22XJ [XJ=extra jumbo] frets) of rosewood. All hardware (the tune-o-matic bridge, the stop piece and tuners) is black. It has a single volume control for each pickup.