ESP KH-3 Spider Kirk Hammet 30th Anniversary

ESP KH-3 Spider Kirk Hammet 30th Anniversary Overview

This is a special 30th Anniversary reissue of the original KH-3 model that Kirk Hammett used on Metallica tours in the ‘90s, which was created at his request, combining the features of his KH-2 guitar with a single-cutaway design and a spider graphic on the body.

Made in Japan, this model has an Alder body and a 3-piece Maple neck with an Extra Thin ‘U’ profile making it super comfortable to play, as well as an Ebony fretboard with 24 extra-jumbo frets. It also features a Floyd Rose Original bridge, a locking nut, and Grover tuners. This model comes with Elixir Nanoweb Spider Light strings.

For pickups, it has Kirk’s signature EMG BoneBreaker pickups which combine Alnico 5 and ceramic magnets to offer crisp, crushing leads and smooth rounded rhythm tones, without having to sacrifice gain for clean and vice versa. This is perfect for anyone wanting to get the Black Album sound.

To complete the look is a unique spider graphic on the body, spider and skull inlays, black hardware and a Black finish.

Overview by ESP

IIn 1991, Kirk Hammett of Metallica came to ESP with a request for a new guitar with a single cutaway design, but with the features of his KH-2 guitar. Metallica’s graphic artist Pushead designed a spider graphic specifically for this new instrument. The KH-3 was played by Kirk throughout the ’90s on tours supporting the legendary Black Album. After spending a number of years on display at the Rock and Roll Hall of fame, the original KH-3 was returned to ESP so we could reference it for this 30th Anniversary edition. Handcrafted at the ESP Custom Shop in Japan, the ESP Kirk Hammett Signature Series 30th Anniversary KH-3 Spider is a reissue of the original KH-3 model with a few upgrades. In addition to neck-thru-body construction, a Floyd Rose Original bridge, and a fast extra-thin U-shaped neck with an ebony fingerboard which is scalloped from #17-24. Also new for the anniversary model are Kirk’s signature EMG Bonebreaker pickups.