“Less versatile than the Greeny tributes… but it’s the perfect weapon to seek and destroy”: ESP LTD KH-V Kirk Hammett review

A quick glance at recent signature releases might lead you to believe it’s Kirk Hammett’s world and we’re just living in it. There was the purple sparkle edition of his KH95X Cry Baby back in 2022, and then a lot of excitement over replicas of his prized ‘Greeny’ 1959 Les Paul Standard – previously owned by Peter Green and Gary Moore – through the Gibson and Epiphone brands. 

But those who prefer an all-out metal machine may find such tools a little too vintage-leaning in both appearance and design, with one of the PAF-style humbuckers wired upside down and a Greeny Burst finish to replicate the original’s fade from Cherry Sunburst to Lemon after all those decades of heavy usage.

Which is precisely where ESP come in. Following a recommendation from Anthrax’s Scott Ian in 1987, the Metallica axeman has been using their instruments for nearly 40 years, famously relying on horror-themed models like ‘The Mummy’ and ‘White Zombie’.

The new line of KH-Vs, through ESP’s affordable Korean-made LTD brand, are certainly striking, arriving in three loud finishes for a modern twist on Gibson’s classic Flying V shape, doubling up on inspiration by the choice of korina for the body.

Most importantly of all, they come fitted with the guitarist’s signature EMG Bone Breaker set, utilising Alnico 5 and ceramic magnets in the neck and bridge, respectively.

As you’d expect from active humbuckers of this nature, they’re very much voiced for high-gain players, catering to the muscular aggression Metallica pioneered and helped popularise.

Of course, every instrument comes with its own unique compromises and, as is often the case with high-output EMGs, the clean tones aren’t particularly versatile or inspiring.

On the other hand, they’re not as compressed as Hammett’s 81/81 sets of the past – if you’re in a band like Metallica, the less driven sounds are still perfectly usable, as the four horsemen themselves have proven time and time again on live renditions of Nothing Else Matters, Fade to Black and One. 

Other notable appointments include the TonePros Locking Tune-O-Matic bridge with strings coming through the body – increasing both stability and sustain – with more reassurance provided by the locking tuners.

Extra tonal reinforcement is provided by the neck-through design, allowing resonance to travel from the very top of the guitar to its base to produce chords that never seem to stop ringing, while the 24 extra jumbo frets make the Hammett style of soloing as seamless as possible. 

It comes as little surprise that this latest signature is less versatile than the Greeny tributes, though there can be no doubt it’s the perfect weapon to seek and destroy.

Specs

• BODY: Korina
• NECK: Three-piece maple neck-thru
• FINGERBOARD: Macassar Ebony
• FRETS: 24 XJ
• PICKUPS: 2x EMG Bone Breaker humbuckers
• CONTROLS: Three-way toggle, volume and tone
• HARDWARE: TonePros Locking TOM bridge with String Thru, LTD locking tuners
• FINISH: Red Sparkle (as reviewed), Black Sparkle, Metallic Gold
• CASE: ESP Deluxe Hardshell
• CONTACT: ESP Guitars