Super Rare 2015 Navigator N-SG Custom Order 3 Pickup SG Standard White - With Original Hard Shell Case - Made By ESP Technical House Custom Shop in Japan MIJ

Super Rare 2015 Navigator N-SG Custom Ordered SG Standard in gloss White finish - 3 x Seymour Duncan APH-1 Humbuckers - With original Navigator hard-shell case - Made by the famous ESP Technical House Custom Shop in Japan - MIJ

• Serial Number: MK1516301
• Body: Mahogany (likely Honduras and 1 piece)
• Neck: Mahogany (likely Honduras and 1 piece)
• Fretboard: Rosewood (likely Honduras)
• Fretboard Radius: About 12"
• Fret Edge Binding: Yes (custom shop level)
• Inlays: Acrylic celluloid looking trapezoid inlays
• Frets: 22 x Medium Jumbo (0.95mm tall x 2.7mm wide)
• Nut Width: 43.5mm
• Width at 1st Fret: 43.9mm
• Width at 12th Fret: 52.9mm
• Thickness at 1st Fret: 21.2mm
• Thickness at 12th Fret: 23.3mm
• Nut: Bone
• Tuners: Original nickel Gotoh SD90 MG-T locking tuners with C-A-R-D inserts
• Bridge & Tailpiece: Original nickel TABR-1 bridge and Gotoh GE101A aluminum tailpiece
• Pickups: Original Seymour Duncan APH-1N x 2 and APH-1B x 1 nickel covered humbuckers
• Neck Pickup Resistance: 7.55K ohm
• Middle Pickup Resistance: 7.39K ohm (currently not connected - wired as a dummy)
• Bridge Pickup Resistance: 8.05K ohm
• Pots: Original ESP Pots
• Strings: Ernie Ball Regular Slinky 2221 10-46 strings - E Standard tuning
• Weight: 6.95lbs
• Non Original Parts: Truss rod cover & screw
• Case: Original Navigator SG case with dark green interior & key
• Truss Rod: Works as expected with room in both directions

Update: Mar 25 2026 - ESP Japan has confirmed via email this was custom ordered from the ESP Technical House Custom Shop in 2015.

This is a super rare custom ordered 2015 Navigator N-SG SG Standard made by the ESP Technical House Custom Shop factory, sporting 3 Seymour Duncan APH-1 humbuckers, with a gloss white finish and white pickguard and tenon cover.

ESP (yes that ESP) is the parent company of the Navigator brand of guitars. Navigator dates back to at least 1975, it was the first brand from ESP, and generally focused on making high end copies of vintage American models, as well as artist models and other custom models for their artists - along with custom orders. Navigator stopped making guitars as of August 2025 - so these are no longer being made.

Navigator has a standard lineup of guitars, but of course also have a custom shop - and this is a custom ordered guitar - this finish was not available on the Standard N-SG model and neither was the 3 pickup configuration. Since this is a custom ordered guitar, I am not sure how much of the guitar is original, so I am guessing based on observations and experience with other N-SG models I have owned.

Other than the pickups and colour, this model also sports luminlay side dots on the neck, which glow in the dark when charged (with light).

In terms of a Japanese made SG Standard, the Navigator N-SG models could easily be considered the final boss - you could easily argue there is nothing better than this. The Navigator brand of guitars typically are in the same ball park as the Gibson Custom shop in terms of materials used, craftsmanship, components, finishing, and cost - and this N-SG is easily comparable to a Gibson Custom Shop SG.

The standard N-SG-LTD model model in 2015 originally had an MSRP of 480,000 YEN in Japan, so I can only assume that this one - being custom ordered - would have cost more than the standard model.

Other than what appears to be a replaced truss rod cover, and possibly one of the tone caps, everything else on this particular N-SG appears to be original (again no way to know for sure), and in very good shape. It has definitely been played - it's no case queen, but it does have a natural amount of mojo that looks and feels right. Being a gloss white guitar, it hides scratches and swirling in the finish really well.

The 2011 ESP catalog lists the N-SG-450 LTD (the standard model) to have a Honduras Mahogany neck and body, along with a Honduras Rosewood fretboard, so I am guessing that this is similar. Although impossible to tell for certain under the white finish, it appears to be a 1 piece neck, and a 1 piece body (I can't see any seams).

All of the components on this guitar are top shelf - including the nickel TABR-1 bridge and Gotoh aluminum tailpiece, the nickel Gotoh SD90-MGT locking tuners with Gotoh's C-A-R-D inserts, ESP pots, Switchcraft output jack, and bone nut. These features alone are rarely seen on Japanese made guitars, and only on the high end models.

The 1 piece mahogany neck on this is a joy to play, with a comfortable and wide U shaped carve, and has a down the middle neck carve - not super thin, and not super thick, starting out at 21.2mm at the 1st fret and making it up to 23.3mm at the 12th fret. If you like wide and flat necks, that aren't super thin, you'll love this neck. These Navigator N-SG models are as close to the Gibson Custom Shop neck I have had - with very similar dimensions and very similar carve.

This neck has a really nice medium brown rosewood fretboard, with expertly done acrylic trapezoid inlays that resemble vintage celluloid. These inlays are some of the best I have seen - the corners are pointy, but not overly pointy, resembling that of a vintage SG.

The 22 medium jumbo frets have been played, but the fret wear is minimal, and overall these frets have nearly their full life left and the guitar plays exceptionally well up and down the entire neck.

This neck also features custom shop level fret edge binding - and this is the best I have seen on a Japanese made SG. It has the same look and feel as the Gibson Custom shop guitars - the binding is rounded over perfectly with the frets, not squared edges like the USA Standard models.

The original Seymour Duncan APH-1 pickups pair nicely in this guitar. They are very warm, with lots of mids, and a defined low end, and smooth but present top end. Although they are lower wind, they have a good amount of output, and can easily push your amp into breakup, but sound ground with the volume rolled down. They can easily recreate many classic SG tones you'll want.

All the guitars I sell, I test, thoroughly clean, and setup completely before I list them. Anything that is missing, damaged, or non original is mentioned in the listing.

I setup all my Gibson style guitars to Gibson factory specs - including neck relief, action, pickup height, intonation, and tailpiece height. So this guitar will be ready to play out of the box (after you tune it up - I ship my guitars with the strings loosened).

Of course with an instrument of this caliber, it came from the factory with a high quality case - and that is also included with this guitar. The case is in good usable condition, all hinges and latches are in tact, but there are some typical scratches and scuffs on the outside of the case. Comes with the case key and the original truss rod wrench.

Overall, this is a 1 of 1 custom ordered professional level Japanese made SG made by one of the best guitar shops in the world.

If you're looking for a unique Japanese made SG Standard than it doesn't get any better than this.

CONDITION ------------

Overall it's in very good player grade shape.

I've tried to capture all of the flaws in the photos and in the description - if you want more photos or details just let me know.

The truss rod cover appears to be non original. There are 3 additional holes underneath the truss rod cover, likely from a different custom cover installed at some point. They are covered when the truss rod cover is installed.

The middle pickup is currently not wired to anything - it is a dummy pickup right now. But the pickup works, and can or could be wired to the guitar. Note: if this is something you'd like me to do, send me a message and we can work out how you want it wired, and I can handle that for you.

Across the entire body, top, back side, neck, and headstock, there are numerous dings, dents, scratches, and swirling in the white finish.

There are a few scratches and small dents on the back of the neck.

There are some small chips in the finish mainly on the sides of the body, and some typical buckle rash.

There is evidence of a wireless system being used with a small area on the back of the body by the control cavity based on what looks like a yellow stain on the finish.

There's some heavier buckle rash in the finish on the back of the body.

All of the nickel hardware, including the pickup covers & pole pieces, screws and tuners are all in good shape with only minor degrees of light corrosion, tarnish, pitting, peeling and/or rust in areas, but everything works as expected, and everything has been cleaned and polished - what you see is patina on the metal parts but everything is smooth to the touch.

The white and black plastics are in tact with typical scratches and pick marks.

All of the nickel Gotoh locking tuners are are straight and working properly.

Around the strap buttons there's some larger strap marks/swirling.

The 22 medium jumbo frets have been played although the play wear is minimal, and overall there is nearly the full life left in these frets, and the guitar plays exceptionally well up and down the entire fretboard.

There's no signs of a headstock, heel or any other repair.

The truss rod works as expected, with room in both directions.

SHIPPING ------------  

Every shipment is expertly packed with great care and includes tracking, signature required on delivery, and full insurance coverage for both the purchase price and shipping.

Every guitar is fully wrapped in bubble wrap, in a cardboard box meant for guitars, with proper support inside. To reduce environmental impact, the packing material (paper, newsprint, gift wrap, bubble wrap, air packets, foam, carboard boxes and/or tube supports, etc...) used may be recycled.

Package dimensions are 118cm x 47cm x 17cm

Note: if you want an exact shipping quote, just send me a note with your postal/zip code, and I'll get a proper quote for your address. 

Note: If you're buying from outside of Canada, you as the Buyer may be required to pay import duties, tariffs, taxes and/or VAT upon delivery, depending on your location and the purchase price.

QUESTIONS ------------

Any questions? Want more photos or detailed shots? Measurements? Shoot me a message, and I'll be happy to answer them, or send more pics, or take any measurements you want/need.

Thanks for looking!