ESP Announces LTD KH-V Kirk Hammett Signature Series Guitars

ESP Guitars has just unveiled the brand new Kirk Hammett LTD KH-V Signature Series of guitars.  The LTD KH-V is being made available in three finish/hardware choices: Black Sparkle, Red Sparkle, and Metallic Gold and is based on 3 distinct custom shop ESP Vs developed by Hammett in 2019.

“I actually got goosebumps when I saw the KH-V for the first time,” says Hammett. “It was like the perfect hybrid of reality and my vision. It’s such a beautiful guitar. I strapped it on and played it later that day; just jamming out with friends for four or five hours. It’s an amazing, amazing guitar.”

“For over three decades, ESP has been honoured to create the guitars Kirk Hammett uses as an integral part of Metallica’s sound,” says Matt Masciandaro, president and CEO of the ESP Guitar Company. “The KH-V is yet another distinctive guitar that Kirk will use to further Metallica’s legacy.

As mentioned the LTD KH-V is available in three different versions: Black Sparkle with black hardware and black pickguard; Red Sparkle with gold hardware and gold pickguard; and Metallic Gold with gold hardware and cream pickguard. The KH-V offers neck-thru-body construction at 25.5” scale with a korina body and a three-piece extra-thin U-shaped maple neck. It’s Macassar ebony fingerboard features pearloid wave inlays and 24 extra-jumbo frets. The sound of the KH-V is powered by a set of Kirk’s signature EMG Bone Breaker pickups, with the BB-B ceramic bridge and the BB-N alnico 5 neck pickups . Controls of the KH-V include volume, tone, and a three-way pickup selector toggle. Other pro features include a TonePros bridge with string-thru-body and LTD locking tuners. The LTD KH-V includes a deluxe ESP hardshell case.

ESP will be shipping all three versions of the LTD KH-V  in March 2023. More information and detailed specs on the LTD KH-V can be found on the ESP website at espguitars.com.

ESP Guitars is distributed by CMI Music & Audio in Australia