Ben Weinman is the founder and lead guitarist of The Dillinger Escape Plan. Ben’s unique approach to guitar playing has not only defined the band’s chaotic and unpredictable sound, but has also influenced countless young guitarists. His penchant for jazzy, unconventional rhythms and aggressive playing style have set him apart in a genre often criticized for its lack of innovation.
Tapping, sharp staccato rhythms, pure aggression – these are all elements that require a durable, reliable and versatile guitar to embody. One such instrument created with Ben’s participation is the ESP LTD BW-1 Evertune.
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Who is Ben Weinman?
Before we dive into the specifics of the guitar, let’s get to know the musician himself.
Ben Weinman is best known as the lead guitarist and primary songwriter for the mathcore band The Dillinger Escape Plan (DEP). He is the founder and sole constant member of DEP, and currently plays rhythm guitar in the crossover thrash band Suicidal Tendencies and lead guitar in the progressive rock band Giraffe Tongue Orchestra.
Benjamin A. Weinman was born on August 8, 1975. He grew up in Morris Plains, New Jersey. He is of Austrian-Jewish and Polish descent. His grandparents fled to the United States before World War II. Ben was diagnosed with attention deficit disorder (ADD) as a child. He has said that music helped him discover new ways to learn, make friends, and gave him a sense of purpose.
Ben’s influences include John McLaughlin, Robert Fripp, Greg Ginn, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Marty Friedman, and Steve Vai. Weinman credits McLaughlin’s Mahavishnu Orchestra album Apocalypse for changing his life and was a huge part of what led him to create Dillinger.
Weinman attended Fairleigh Dickinson University in Madison, New Jersey. He earned a degree in psychology in 2000, then a degree in corporate communications, and worked briefly at a web company.
Ben played in several New Jersey bands, and in 1996, he founded the hardcore punk band Arcane with Chris Penney on drums, Dimitri Minakakis on vocals, Bruce Fulton on bass, and Brad McMann on second vocals. Within a few months, they changed their style, with Adam Doll replacing Fulton and Derek Brantley taking over second guitar from McMann.
Arcane eventually became The Dillinger Escape Plan in 1997. Weinman decided to pursue music full-time, and quit his corporate job.
Ben has appeared on all of the band’s releases since their self-titled debut EP. He has also spoken at universities and conferences on music production and music business. Weinman’s business methods and philosophies have been featured in publications such as Forbes, Huffington Post, and Bloomberg Businessweek.
On February 6, 2012, Weinman appeared on the VH1 series Metal Evolution in the final episode about progressive metal.
Weinman’s first full-length studio album with The Dillinger Escape Plan, Calculating Infinity (1999), was included in Martin Popoff’s book The Top 500 Heavy Metal Albums of All Time.
Calculating Infinity was also named one of the “100 Best Rock Albums of All Time” by Kerrang magazine, which presented Weinman with the Spirit of Independence award.
The band’s second full-length album, Miss Machine (2004), was the first album released by Relapse Records to chart on the Billboard charts.
Over two decades, the band has released six full-length albums, each an exploration of what’s possible in metal and hardcore.
In addition to his work with The Dillinger Escape Plan, Ben has collaborated with a variety of other artists, such as Soundgarden’s Kim Thayil and drummer Travis Barker.
In 2012, Weinman founded the band Giraffe Tongue Orchestra.
In 2016, he released their debut album, Broken Lines.
Weinman has collaborated with rapper Wyclef Jean, contributing drums to his song.
He has performed with artists such as Nine Inch Nails and System of a Down.
In 2017, he served as guitarist/bassist for electronic ensemble The Prodigy.
He also joined Suicidal Tendencies as a temporary guitarist for their 2018 summer tour. Weinman was later confirmed as a permanent member of Suicidal Tendencies.
Weinman has also written music for the films Alien Abduction, Red 48, The Survivalist, and Banshee.
Ben currently manages two-time Grammy Award-winning singer Kimbra, with whom he also collaborated on her second studio album, The Golden Echo.
Weinman was named one of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time by SPIN Magazine and one of the 20 Most Influential Metal Guitarists of the Modern Era by VH1. He was also named one of the 50 Fastest Guitarists of All Time by Guitar World Magazine and one of the Top 25 Iconic Guitarists by Guitar World in 2009.
Signature Guitar – ESP LTD BW-1 Evertune
At the 2014 NAMM show, ESP announced the release of Weinman’s first signature guitar, the BW-1 Evertune, which is based on the PS-1 “Xtone” model.
According to ESP, the BW-1 EverTune is one of the most unique and innovative high-performance guitars in the LTD Signature Series.
Design
The first thing you’ll notice about the ESP LTD BW-1 Evertune is its impeccable design. Crafted with a semi-hollow body, this guitar promises resonance and depth. The use of mahogany for the body provides a warm tone, while the flame maple top adds clarity.
One of the standout features is the EverTune bridge. This revolutionary bridge system ensures that the guitar stays in tune, no matter how the environment changes or how hard you play. For a touring musician, this is invaluable. No more constantly adjusting in the middle of a gig.
Neck and Playability
Made from three pieces of maple and reinforced with Macassar ebony for the fingerboard, the neck promises durability and smooth playability. The “Thin U” neck contour is perfect for players who like to move quickly across the fretboard.
The 24 extra-jumbo frets are designed for those complex tapping sequences and fast solos that Weinman is known for.
Electronics and Sound
This guitar’s tone is provided by a set of Fishman Fluence® Modern Humbucker active pickups with nickel-plated covers. These pickups provide a remarkable degree of sonic flexibility.
Controls are simple and versatile. Two separate voices can be selected via a push-pull on the tone control – down for a “Modern Active” tone or up for a “Modern Passive Attack” tone.
The guitar comes in a See Thru Black finish.
Specification Table
| Category | Specification |
|---|---|
| General | |
| Brand: | ESP LTD |
| Configuration: | HH |
| Strings: | 6 |
| Made in: | Indonesia |
| Series: | Signature |
| Colors: | Black |
| Left-Handed Version: | No |
| Body | |
| Top: | Flamed Maple |
| Type: | Semi-Hollow |
| Body Material: | Mahogany |
| Bridge: | Evertune (F model) |
| Neck | |
| Neck Joint: | Neck-Through |
| Tuners: | LTD Locking |
| Fretboard: | Macassar Ebony |
| Neck Material: | 3pc Maple |
| Decoration: | Offset Blocks |
| Scale Size: | 25.5″ |
| 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: | 43mm (1.693”) |
| Electronics | |
| Switch: | 3 Way |
| Knobs: | Speed |
| Pickup Mods: | Multi-Voicing |
| Volume Controls: | 1 |
| Tone Controls: | 1 |
| Bridge Pickup: | Fishman Fluence Modern Ceramic (Humbucker / Active) |
| Neck Pickup: | Fishman Fluence Modern Alnico (Humbucker / Active) |