ESP LTD Kirk Hammett Signature KH-3 Spider 30th Anniversary Edition with Case

General

Every guitarist with a love for Metallica has no doubt heard of the Spider, the custom single-cut guitar that ESP built at the request of Kirk Hammett back in 1991. The KH-3 Spider replaced Hammett's old trusty KH-2 model and was subsequently used for years during the band's Black Album tour. In honour of this iconic guitar's 30th birthday, ESP LTD present a thoughtfully refreshed version: the Kirk Hammett Signature KH-3 Spider 30th Anniversary Edition.

The KH-3 Spider: Worthy Upgrades

While the guitar has remained true to the original and still bears that iconic Pushead-designed Spider graphic, ESP LTD did take their chance to implement a fistful of upgrades here. This means the maker has opted for a neck-thru construction, with the 3-piece maple neck running all the way through the alder body. On top of that, this Anniversary Edition of the KH-3 Spider features a macassar ebony fretboard that's been scalloped from the 17th through to the 24th fret for enhanced string-grip and effortless note bending.

EMG BoneBreaker Pickups

The fresh build also means that ESP LTD have done away with the set of classic EMG 81 pickups, which have been swapped out for a pair of EMG Kirk Hammett Bone Breakers that come with the support of a tweaked preamp. These active humbuckers not only serve up iconic trash metal tone, but are perfectly capable of delivering crystal-clarity. For screaming leads, a Floyd Rose 1000 Series double locking tremolo has been mounted, which ultimately combines with Grover machine heads for fully anchored tuning stability.