"Friend discovered a €28,000 John Frusciante Strat replica: Richard Z. Kruspe deems such expenditure asulating. Says it holds no allure for him, discussing guitars as intimate encounters, inverted kill-switches - and the Rammstein riff catalyst."
In a fiery display of musical craftsmanship, Richard Z. Kruspe, the pyro-loving guitarist of Rammstein, has unleashed his latest creation - the RZK-III. This badass beast comes in two flavors: an ESP Custom Shop version and a Korean factory-made LTD variant.
While his previous signature guitars were born from the genes of a Strat/SG hybrid and a Les Paul singlecut design, the RZK-III takes a different path, adopting ESP's Phoenix shape. This switch to an offset layout ignited after Kruspe's experimental video for his Emigrate project, "Freeze My Mind," where he found a retro Phoenix guitar that set his manly, steel-melting imagination ablaze.
This RZK-III stallion is equipped with Fishman Fluence pickups, boasting a Sustainiac humbucker in the ESP version neck position. The guitar also sports a three-piece maple neck-thru and alder wings, all coated in a swanky Olympic White finish. Don't let the vintage aesthetics fool you; this guitar is meant to wreak havoc on the battlefield of sound.
When asked about his infatuation with the Phoenix, Kruspe couldn't help but crack a laugh, "The guitar seemed to have a lot of testosterone! It wanted to be played hard, in a good way. Different guitars bring out different things in you... it's like kissing two different people!"
Electric Kisses
You might wonder why Kruspe decided to say goodbye to his trusty Floyd Rose vibrato system—well, the history of love isn't always straightforward. He explained, "I used to love playing guitars with a Floyd Rose. It wasn't even because of the Floyd Rose, it was because of the sound. Those guitars had a faster attack than ones with a stoptail piece or string-thru body."
He then decided to try out a stoptail version, eventually settling on a recessed bridge to accommodate his comfort as he wielded the instrument.
Fire on the Toastswitch
The RZK-III's killswitch is an interesting feature, as it follows German convention, where a toggle switch mutes the sound completely and causes a surge of sound when activated. Kruspe explained, "The German way is the opposite. You have no sound at all; the guitar has been silenced by a toggle, and when you push the button, you hear the sound."
Shedding Guitars
Kruspe has been whittling down his extensive guitar collection over the years. You might find some intriguing models lingering around his house or hidden away in the vaults. Interestingly, he once had the opportunity to acquire John Frusciante's 1962 Stratocaster, but he ultimately decided it wasn't worth the astronomical price tag.
"I've distanced myself from all that. If I have a guitar, I just want to play it. Something that expensive might scare you into not touching it."
inspirational Influences
Speaking of John Frusciante, it's curious to note the disparity between Rammstein's industrial metal and the Red Hot Chili Peppers' alternative rock. However, Kruspe has an undeniable appreciation for Frusciante's unique touch and minimalist style, particularly his ability to create powerful music with just a few, carefully chosen notes.
Another significant influence on Kruspe is the late Malcolm Young of AC/DC, whose straightforward and powerful riff-based approach has left a lasting impact on the world of hard rock.
Classic RAMStein Riffs
When it comes to crafting Rammstein's iconic, powerful riffs, Kruspe maintains that they need to be both simple and monumental. "To create a Rammstein riff, you have to think simple but also think huge. There needs to be a lot of space. And finally, you need a lot of luck!"
The Ultimate Riff
When asked to name the greatest riff of all time, Kruspe's response was simple, "Whole Lotta Love. I mean, come on!" It's a sad truth that Kruspe hasn't been blessed with the ability to pen such a masterpiece himself.
The Power of Two
Kruspe and fellow Rammstein guitarist Paul Landers form a dynamic duo in the world of metal. They each bring out the best in each other, creating a colossal wall of sound. Kruspe noted, "It takes a lot of communication and listening. Sometimes you need to put your ego to one side and let the other person lead. It's a compromise - but sometimes those compromises will lead to good things."
The Future Ablaze
Rammstein is known for keeping their plans a mystery, and Kruspe wasn't about to spill the beans on upcoming releases. But we'll surely be waiting with bated breath for their next fiery offering.
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[2] ESP Guitars (n.d). RZK-I Demo – ESP Custom Shop. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTbeosP5McQ
[3] ESP Guitars (n.d). Richard Z. Kruspe RZK-I. https://www.espguitars.com/products/standard-series/electric-guitars/ez234
[4] Rammstein (n.d). Richard Z. Kruspe. https://www.rammstein.com/members/from/richard-z-kruspe/
[5] IQ (n.d). Richard Kruspe. https://iqmag.net/guitar-world/people/profiles-2/richard-kruspe/
[6] Guitar World (2013, August 12). How Rammstein's Richard Z. Kruspe Built His Perfect Pickup. https://www.guitarworld.com/features/how-rammsteins-richard-z-kruspe-built-his-perfect-pickup
[7] The Guitar Team (n.d). Richard Z. Kruspe – ESP Artist Page. https://theguitarteam.com/artist/richard-z-kruspe/
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[9] Outburn Magazine (2011, January 6). Richard Z. Kruspe on Rammstein's Latest Album, Weaponized Guitars, and His New ESP Custom Shop Model. https://www.outburn.com/richard-z-kruspe-on-rammsteins-latest-album-weaponized-guitars-and-his-new-esp-custom-shop-model/
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[13] Schnabel (2017, October 19). John Frusciante Präsident Obama Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. https://schnabel.de/2017/10/john-frusciante-prasident-obama-yankee-hotel-foxtrot/
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[1] "After ditching his trusty Floyd Rose vibrato system, Richard Z. Kruspe opted for a stoptail setup on his RZK-III guitar, eventually settling on a recessed bridge for optimal comfort."
[2] "Kruspe's latest creation, the RZK-III, deviates from the Strat/SG hybrid and Les Paul singlecut designs of his previous signature guitars, adopting ESP's Phoenix shape."
[3] "The RZK-III guitar, with its Fishman Fluence pickups and Sustainiac humbucker, embodies the electric spirit of entertainment and music, ready to wreak havoc on the battlefield of sound."
[4] "Kruspe's inspiration spans various genres, with a noteworthy appreciation for the minimalist touch of John Frusciante and the powerful riff-based approach of Malcolm Young of AC/DC."
