Alan Ashby, rhythm guitarist for the American metalcore band Of Mice & Men, is well known for his aggressive playing style and meticulous attention to tone.
His unique sound and style paved the way for a collaboration with ESP to create two signature guitars: the ESP LTD AA-600 and the ESP LTD AA-1.
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Who is Alan Ashby?
Alan Ashby is the guitarist and songwriter for Southern California Metalcore band Of Mice & Men.
Alan Ashby was born on May 22, 1991 in Long Beach, California.
Alan was a huge music fan growing up and learned to play guitar by jamming to albums like Guns N’ Roses’ Appetite for Destruction, Linkin Park’s Hybrid Theory, and Papa Roach’s Infest.
Before joining the band, Alan worked at a KFC restaurant. In 2011, Alan joined the Of Mice & Men, alongside the return of Austin Carlile. This period marked a major reformation of the band’s lineup following internal tensions between the members.
The band’s story began in 2009, when original members Austin Carlile and Jaxin Hall posted a cover of Lady Gaga’s “Poker Face” on MySpace. Within two months, the video had over a million views, and the band was starting to gain popularity.
The band’s name, Of Mice & Men, is a reference to Steinbeck’s classic novel, reflecting the theme of chasing the American dream.
“What is a rock band if not the American dream?” — Ashby muses.
Since Ashby became a member of the band, their success has grown at an incredible pace – they played three times on the Warped Tour, released several albums and toured all over the world.
Touring with Of Mice & Men has allowed Ashby to share the stage with some of his idols such as A Day to Remember, Bring Me The Horizon and Pierce The Veil.
Before joining the band, Alan had never left the country, but now he tours all over the world.
As the rhythm guitarist, Alan Ashby has played an integral role in shaping the band’s sound. He contributed to the success of such acclaimed albums as “The Flood” in 2011 and “Restoring Force” in 2014.
ESP LTD AA-600
As the guitarist for a metalcore band, Alan Ashby needed a guitar that would give him both sonic power and rugged suitability for high-energy shows and a relentless touring schedule.
Alan’s signature LTD AA-600 is based on his custom shop model, and features a one-pickup, one-knob configuration, neck-thru construction, and a clean black satin finish.
It was crafted with precision to embody Alan’s desire for a sleek design, robust build, and, most importantly, a versatile and powerful sound.
The sound of the AA-600 is characterized by its clarity, punch, and versatility, essential for the dynamic and aggressive nature of metalcore.
Specification Table
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| General | |
| Brand | ESP LTD |
| Configuration | H |
| Strings | 6 |
| Made in | Indonesia |
| Series | Signature |
| Colors | Black |
| Left-Handed Version | No |
| Body | |
| Type | Solid Body |
| Body Material | Mahogany |
| Bridge | Tonepros Locking TOM w/ String Thru |
| Neck | |
| Neck Joint | Neck-Through |
| Tuners | LTD Locking |
| Fretboard | Macassar Ebony |
| Neck Material | 3pc Maple |
| Decoration | – |
| Scale Size | 24.75″ |
| Shape | Thin U |
| Thickness | 1st Fret: 0.787” (20mm) – 12th Fret: 0.866” (22mm) |
| Frets | 24 XL Jumbo |
| Fretboard Radius | 13.78″ |
| Nut | Plastic |
| Nut Width | 42mm (1.654”) |
| Electronics | |
| Switch | 0 Way |
| Knobs | Dome |
| Volume Controls | 1 |
| Tone Controls | 0 |
| Bridge Pickup | EMG 81 (Humbucker / Active) |
ESP LTD AA-1
In 2021, Ashby and ESP have unveiled the LTD AA-1, an update to Alan’s previous signature model that adds Black Satin finish/gold hardware design theme.
The body is a classic traditional shape, but everything about the AA-1 is designed for modern music, including the neck-through-body construction, fast, thin 3-piece U-shaped mahogany neck, Macassar ebony fingerboard, 24 extra-jumbo stainless steel frets, and one EMG 81 active pickup with a matte gold finish.
This guitar has sustain for days, that’s increased even more by the TonePros locking TOM bridge with string-thru-body design.
It includes ESP hardshell case.
Specification Table
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| General | |
| Brand | ESP LTD |
| Configuration | H |
| Strings | 6 |
| Made in | Indonesia |
| Series | Signature |
| Colors | Black |
| Left-Handed Version | No |
| Body | |
| Type | Solid Body |
| Body Material | Mahogany |
| Bridge | Tonepros Locking TOM w/ String Thru |
| Neck | |
| Neck Joint | Neck-Through |
| Tuners | LTD Locking |
| Fretboard | Macassar Ebony |
| Neck Material | 3Pc Mahogany |
| Decoration | – |
| Scale Size | 24.75″ |
| Shape | Thin U |
| Thickness | 1st Fret: 0.787” (20mm) – 12th Fret: 0.866” (22mm) |
| Frets | 24 XL Jumbo Gold |
| Fretboard Radius | 13.78″ |
| Nut | Plastic |
| Nut Width | 42mm (1.654”) |
| Electronics | |
| Switch | 0 Way |
| Knobs | Dome |
| Volume Controls | 1 |
| Tone Controls | 0 |
| Bridge Pickup | EMG 81 (Humbucker / Active) |