Back to navigation


Voltaic V for a Thrash Metal Legend





This article was


Written By





Our Product Research Team





Get to know them!





Gary Holt is one of the select few guitarists who can say they’ve taken the helm of two of thrash metal’s most influential acts, and it takes a special kind of sonic arsenal to handle the heavyweight tones of both Exodus and Slayer. This is where Gary’s newest signature weapon comes into play: the ESP LTD Gary Holt GH-SV-200. From its selection of premium tonewoods to the high-octane pickups and wailing Floyd Rose tremolo, the Gary Holt GH-SV-200 is engineered to serve up a wealth of tonal flexibility in an instantly recognizable and aggressive form. Guitarists of every style at Sweetwater are enamored with the versatility of this electrifying axe. Frankly, you really need to play one for yourself!





Related Videos: LTD Gary Holt GH-SV-200 Signature Electric Guitar - Black


Tremendous tonewoods for metal and so much more





Though the GH-SV-200 is nothing short of aesthetically striking, its sleek finish conceals a few tonally significant details that make this axe much more than a simple metal machine. Its mahogany body serves as an excellent anchor to the guitar’s profile, serving up harmonic-rich, dense mids with a balance throughout the lows and highs of the spectrum. This is doubly true for its use in the neck, adding resounding sustain to get even more mileage with every riff. ESP selected roasted jatoba for the fingerboard, which offers more projection and strong balance. The jatoba fingerboard is great for articulating every nuanced lick and riff.





Serial WI23070026


Serial WI23070026


High-voltage sonics





To capture the scope of the GH-SV-200’s distinct tonewoods, you’re treated to a house-made set of direct-mounted, visually striking, ESP pickups. This pair of LH-301 humbuckers is designed to give you plenty of firepower while preserving tonal flexibility. Your bridge pickup is never less than smoldering, taking riffs into seriously searing territory. Meanwhile, the neck pickup is great for classic crunch and smooth leads. But wait, there’s more! Using the neck-volume knob’s push-pull function, you can instantly toggle rich, articulate, strat-style tones with the single-coil mode, keeping it closer to the neck.





Unmatched speed, accommodating comfort, complete expression





ESP’s luthiers opted to build the GH-SV-200 with a 3-piece mahogany neck. This ensures two important details: the 3-piece design substantially reduces the risk of warping, as well as maintaining the tonewood’s harmonic complexity without compromising the benefits of the neck profile. Ultra-fast and incredibly comfortable, the bolt-on construction masterfully preserves harmonic integrity. A carefully sculpted heel pairs well with the ergonomic cutout, ensuring uninhibited access to all 22 extra-jumbo frets that span the axe’s 24.75-inch scale. And you’ll want access to every bit, too, with the double-locking Floyd Rose Special system, dive-bombing away. While this quite literally locks you perfectly in tune, you can rest assured that the LTD tuning machines will reliably keep things in place.





Serial WI23070026


ESP LTD Gary Holt GH-SV-200 Signature Electric Guitar Features:


Signature Gary Holt model immediately commands the stage with its visual and aural aesthetics


Mahogany body and neck provide harmonic-rich tones with dense mids and blossoming overtones


Roasted jatoba fingerboard serves up plenty of projection with balanced articulation


Bolt-on construction means a sculpted heel and body cutaway for unimpeded access to all 22 extra jumbo frets


Sleek neck profile accommodates numerous playing styles, masterfully blending speed and comfort across its 24.75” scale


Direct-mounted ESP LH-301 humbuckers deliver high-octane sonics with tremendous flexibility


Double-locking Floyd Rose Special system maximizes expressivity without compromising tuning or intonation