Alexi Laiho ESP Guitars: Arrow Head, Sawtooth, Scythe and the Final Ripped and Hexed

Alexi Laiho’s ESP guitars are some of the most recognizable V-shapes in metal: an offset body, sharp stripes and a single pickup. The Children of Bodom frontman played ESP from the early 2000s until his death in 2020, and ESP has kept his line alive since. This guide explains the Arrow Head, Sawtooth and Scythe, his final Hexed and Ripped models, and the 2025 Arrow Head “Legacy”. For the brand itself, see our ESP Brand Guide.

Alexi Laiho ESP Quick Facts

Period covered: 2002 to today
Joined ESP: 2002, according to ESP
First signature models: By 2006
The platform: Offset V body, neck-through, one humbucker, one volume
Last designs: Hexed and Ripped, developed before his death in December 2020
Latest: ESP Alexi Arrow Head “Legacy”, made to order from January 2025

Table Of Contents

How Alexi Laiho Came to ESP
The Alexi Platform: One Shape, Simple Controls
Arrow Head, Sawtooth and Scythe: What the Names Mean
Hexed and Ripped: His Final ESP Designs
The Arrow Head "Legacy": His First ESP, Recreated
Alexi Laiho ESP Models by Brand
Which Alexi Laiho ESP Should You Look For?
Final Thoughts
FAQ
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How Alexi Laiho Came to ESP

Alexi Laiho was the guitarist and singer of the Finnish band Children of Bodom, and later Bodom After Midnight. ESP says he joined its artist roster in 2002 as an up-and-coming player, and by 2006 he had his first signature models.

According to ESP Japan, the very first guitar he received after signing was the Arrow Head: a black offset V with yellow stripes. It became the guitar fans picture when they think of him, and ESP describes it as his most trusted instrument.

The Alexi Platform: One Shape, Simple Controls

It is easiest to think of Alexi’s ESPs as one guitar in different outfits. Nearly every model shares the same core.

Part	Spec	What it does for you
Body	Offset V, alder, with a longer lower wing	The look everyone recognizes
Neck	Neck-through maple, ebony board, 24 frets	Easy reach to the top frets
Pickup	One EMG humbucker in the bridge	One focused sound, no switching
Controls	One volume knob	Nothing to fiddle with mid-solo
Bridge	Floyd Rose	Stays in tune through heavy whammy use

That simplicity was the point: the whole guitar is built for fast lead playing high on the neck. On ESP-level models, an MM-04 boost switch adds a little extra push for leads.

Alexi Laiho ESP platform: LTD Alexi Arrowhead — The LTD Alexi Arrowhead: one humbucker, one volume and a Floyd Rose. Image: LTD official site

Arrow Head, Sawtooth and Scythe: What the Names Mean

The names mostly describe the look, especially the fingerboard inlays and stripes. Pick the one you like to look at; the playing experience is the same idea.

ESP Alexi Arrow Head, Scythe and Greeny — Left to right: Arrow Head, Scythe and Greeny. Note the different inlays on each. Image: ESP official site

Model	What stands out
Arrow Head	The original: black with yellow stripes and arrow-head inlays
Sawtooth	Sawtooth-pattern inlays; a Pink Sawtooth version also exists
Scythe	Scythe-shaped inlays
Greeny / Blacky	Color-themed versions of the same platform
Katakana	An Edwards model with a Japanese katakana graphic

Hexed and Ripped: His Final ESP Designs

After more than seven years without a new signature model, Alexi worked with ESP on two new designs. In June 2020 ESP showed two Tokyo Custom Shop guitars in Purple Fade, and one of them broke the formula with an EMG single-coil in the neck and a selector switch.

Alexi died on December 29, 2020. In 2021 ESP released the designs he had helped create as the Alexi Hexed and Alexi Ripped.

ESP Alexi Hexed and Alexi Ripped — Alexi Hexed (top, one pickup) and Alexi Ripped (bottom, with a neck single-coil). Image: ESP official site

	Alexi Hexed	Alexi Ripped
Pickups	One EMG HZ humbucker	EMG HZ humbucker + EMG stacked single-coil in the neck
Controls	Volume (+ MM-04 boost on ESP)	Volume, 3-way switch, MM-04 boost on ESP and E-II
Finish	Purple Fade with light purple pinstripes	Purple Fade Satin with black “ripped” pinstripes
Shared	Alder wings, 3-piece maple neck, ebony board, frets 19-24 scalloped, glow side markers	Same
Versions	ESP, LTD	ESP, E-II, LTD

Why the Ripped matters

It is the first Alexi signature ESP with more than one pickup. After years of one-knob guitars, his last design added a neck pickup, a hint of where his playing was heading.

The Arrow Head “Legacy”: His First ESP, Recreated

In January 2025 ESP Japan opened orders for the ESP ALEXI ARROW HEAD “Legacy”, a made-to-order recreation of his own first ESP. The Distressed Black with Yellow Stripe finish reproduces the tour wear and even the scratches he carved into the body, though stickers and the largest damage were left off.

Each one carries a special serial number on the back of the headstock and comes with a certificate. It is built in Japan with an alder body, neck-through maple neck, an EMG HZ humbucker and a Floyd Rose.

Alexi Laiho ESP Models by Brand

Alexi models exist at every level of the ESP family. The differences between the tiers are explained in our ESP vs LTD guide.

Alexi Laiho ESP Ripped in ESP, E-II and LTD versions — The Alexi Ripped in its ESP, E-II and LTD versions. Images: ESP, E-II and LTD official sites

Brand	Alexi models	Made in
ESP	Arrow Head “Legacy”, Arrow Head, Sawtooth, Pink Sawtooth, Scythe, Greeny, Hexed, Ripped	Japan (Tokyo)
E-II	Ripped	Japan
Edwards	Arrow Head, Sawtooth, Pink Sawtooth, Scythe, Greeny, Blacky, Katakana	Asia (sold mainly in Japan)
LTD	Hexed, Ripped, and 20th Anniversary Arrowhead and Sawtooth models	Outside Japan

Lineups change often; the ESP, E-II and Edwards list follows ESP Japan’s artist page at the time of writing.

Which Alexi Laiho ESP Should You Look For?

You want…	Look for
His classic look on a budget	LTD Arrowhead or Sawtooth
His last design at a fair price	LTD or E-II Ripped
His classic shapes at a mid price	Edwards E-ALEXI models
The real thing	ESP Alexi models
The ultimate collector piece	ESP Arrow Head “Legacy”

Final Thoughts

Rather than a list of separate models, I find it easier to see Alexi’s ESPs as one guitar he refined over almost twenty years. Different colors, different stripes, different graphics, but the same simple, fast instrument underneath.

That ESP was still building his new designs after his passing, and later recreated his very first one, says a lot about the relationship. It is also a very ESP story: a guitar built around one player’s ideas.