The ESP LTD Richard ZK RZK-III Is a Surprisingly Versatile Instrument

As I mentioned, the ESP LTD Richard ZK RZK-lll is the signature model of Rammstein guitarist Richard Z. Kruspe, who we recently had an inspiring interview with. Its shape is based on the Phoenix model, which is essentially a Gibson Firebird, except in this case the body is made of alder. It is a neck-through guitar and the neck is made of three pieces of maple for better stability. The Fishman electronics are active and both pickups are made exactly to Kruspe's specifications.

As soon as I opened the case, I was struck by the giant volume knob, reminiscent of a stove knob, and the even larger and more stylish plastic kill switch, which looked like it had come straight out of an old arcade machine. There is also a classic pickup selector and a mysterious mini switch. The controls are completely different from those on the classic Phoenix, which is not necessarily a bad thing – it's a signature model, so differences from the original are to be expected.

Excellent design – except for the matte neck

Anyway, this is a minor detail in the overall assessment. The main advantage is that the guitar is very well made. The neck is in perfect condition right out of the box, the rosewood fingerboard is beautifully dark, and the frets are perfectly levelled. The only thing that bothered me a little was the back of the neck, which has a natural, matte finish. I understand that this is according to Kruspe's specifications and that it makes the neck very fast, but visually, it just doesn't sit right with me. If it were white on the back, for example, that would be a different story. Otherwise, I have no complaints about the guitar's design.

Powerful sound and addictive kill switch

So, we've covered the materials and design. But how does it actually sound? Well, loud, very loud. The two active Fishman humbuckers are powerful and won't pamper your amp. Both can also be unplugged, allowing you to explore slightly softer sounds. This makes the guitar not only a metal machine but also a fairly versatile instrument. The button kill switch is also extremely addictive, and although I turned my nose up at it at first, after a while I was pressing it like someone who had been addicted to slot machines for ten years.

But what I enjoyed most was that little switch. Paradoxically, this was because I was unable to figure out its function the entire time, other than that it seemed to turn the kill switch into a kind of revive switch – yes, when you flip that little lever, your tone actually disappears. However, only until you press the kill switch, which restores the signal while you hold the button. To this day, I'm not sure who would need this function in practice, but it's a signature model, so I won't complain.

Be careful what you wish for, or the joys and sorrows of signature models

It is difficult to evaluate instruments created according to the requirements of a specific artist, because they are always tailor-made for them, and many elements and changes compared to standard instruments may be met with slight misunderstanding by others. On the other hand, they are almost always slightly higher quality and more refined instruments than their mass-produced counterparts.

As someone who usually prefers a different type of instrument, I have to admit that this is a truly first-class product that will bring a smile to the face of any fan – not just of Rammstein, but of hard music in general.