Few guitarists command as much cross-genre respect as Alex Skolnick. Rising to prominence as the teenage lead guitarist for Bay Area thrash legends Testament, Skolnick later carved out an entirely separate path in modern jazz with the Alex Skolnick Trio, showcasing a rare breadth of musical fluency. His signature LTD AS-1 model reflects that versatility – and with the new AS-1FR update, it’s even more performance-focused than before.
The standout feature on the latest AS-1FR is the addition of a Floyd Rose 1000 double-locking tremolo, giving players expressive pitch control and rock-solid tuning stability. Whether you’re pushing dive-bombs in metal solos or adding subtle vibrato to jazz voicings, the Floyd upgrade dramatically increases the guitar’s expressive range.
This version also introduces a bold Lime Burst finish over a flamed Maple top, giving the guitar a modern visual flair without abandoning its classic single-cut silhouette. Set-thru construction and a 24.75” scale length ensure a smooth playing experience with excellent sustain and upper fret access, thanks to its carefully sculpted neck joint.
Tonewoods remain traditional yet tone-rich: a Mahogany body with a Maple cap, and a three-piece Maple neck topped with a Macassar Ebony fingerboard. Combined with 22 extra-jumbo frets, a U-shaped neck contour, and a 305mm radius, the AS-1FR offers both comfort and fast playability, whether you’re chugging, sweeping, or comping jazz chords.
The electronics layout provides both simplicity and sonic flexibility. A pair of Seymour Duncan Alex Skolnick Signature Humbuckers deliver articulate, full-bodied tones with plenty of headroom and dynamics. A push/pull tone control adds coil-splitting capability for single-coil textures, and dual volume knobs with a three-way toggle provide classic tonal navigation with modern precision.
Hardware appointments are all tour-ready, including Grover tuners, a locking nut, black hardware, and Dunlop Straplok strap buttons for secure, gig-proof performance. It ships with a form-fit ESP hardshell case, ensuring the instrument stays protected during travel or storage.
Get the ESP LTD Alex Skolnick AS-1 here for $1,899 and check out all our coverage of ESP’s newest products right here!
