ESP LTD Vulture James Hetfield Signature Black Satin

General

James Hetfield is probably best known for his EX-style guitars, but during the early Metallica years, he was often spotted playing a Flying V model. For a while, he even used his own JH-1 Signature, which is featured in the video for 'Whiskey in the Jar'. The LTD Vulture, however, is something entirely different, designed in collaboration with ESP LTD. Boasting a style that's reminiscent of James Hetfield's Snakebyte, this edgy, tough-looking V is a real player that's quite comfortable thanks to the slanted wing.

The Vulture: a high-grade metal guitar

As is to be expected, the LTD Vulture is equipped with high-grade components. Its mahogany body, for instance, features a set of EMG 'HET'-set pickups, ensuring that characteristic Metallica sound. The neck is also made of mahogany, giving the Vulture a heavy, rich sound, and the slim, U-profile ebony fretboard is fitted with 24 XJ frets. Finally, thanks to LTD locking machine heads and a TonePros locking tune-o-matic bridge, excellent tuning stability and intonation are guaranteed.

The ESP brand

In 1975, Hisatake Shibuya opened his Electric Sound Products shop in Japan. His high-quality replacement parts soon earned him the reputation he deserved, and it wasn't long before the shop started to turn out its very own guitars under the name ESP. In the 1980s, the brand got a real boost when numerous metal bands, such as Metallica, started to use its guitars. These days, ESP offers a wide range of versatile instruments, from high-grade Custom Shop models to the affordable LTD series.