Description
ESP LTD KH-V Kirk Hammett Signature Electric Guitar - Metallic Gold
Product Description:
The ESP LTD Kirk Hammett KH-V is a long-awaited 21st-century take on a metal classic, infused with metal magic and its namesake’s custom-voiced signature pickups. Diehard fans will find plenty to love, but there’s more to this guitar than sheer fandom. For starters, the KH-V’s korina body honors the “V” shape traditions with resonant mahogany-like tone and sustain. Tone quality is enhanced further with a string-through body for extra sustain. The KH-V’s set-through maple neck comes complete with ESP’s speedy “Extra Thin-U” profile so players can ride the lightning to smashing solos, even when playing close to the neck joint. Speaking of the neck’s upper frets, the access is phenomenal, with a subtle body cutaway inspired by ESP’s V-II body style. And for electronics? The KH-V wouldn’t be complete without Kirk Hammett’s signature pickups: two active EMG Bone Breakers, individually voiced humbuckers with ceramic and alnico magnets. True to their name, these Bone Breakers pack a mean punch and offer a wide dynamic range that lets you dial in the loud, organic cleans that Kirk Hammett regularly conjures up.
Coveted korina tonewood: the sonic harbinger of true “V” tone
Korina (sometimes known as limba wood) is a lightweight tonewood native to West Africa. Resonant with an open, heavy sound that’s a hallmark of classic “V” guitars, korina’s use in guitars dates back to the 1950s. Countless players compare korina to mahogany because it delivers the hard rock necessities — depth, sustain, and a complex low-mid range — but with a snappy, brighter midrange bump that translates into a captivating presence fit for an arena. Korina also generally clocks in at lower weights than mahogany, which makes it the tried-and-true pick for balancing the weight of jutting V-style wings.
Next-gen V-II body shape
Every aspiring metal player needs a good V for the stage presence alone, but some players find such guitars fit like tight jeans: great for the right occasion but not a go-to daily outfit. The KH-V remedies this with cues lifted from ESP’s next-gen V-II shape. The V-II shape features advanced contour edges with an upper contour that doubles as an armrest for improved fret-hand comfort across all 24 frets. As you near the 24th fret, a subtle V-II body cutaway makes its presence known. Many might not notice this discrete touch at first glance. Still, it accommodates players like never before and speaks volumes to the V-II shape’s playability, all while preserving that iconic “V” look. Between that and a low-profile set neck joint, shredders at Sweetwater found hitting high notes as solos climax easier than ever with the KH-V!
EMG Bone Breakers — Kirk’s secret weapon
Bone Breaker pickups from EMG are your ticket to dynamic metal tones with serious range. These medium-hot active humbuckers equip you with Kirk Hammett’s signature sounds ranging from clean to downright brutal. Powering tone is a custom preamp tweaked to Kirk’s satisfaction. The ceramic Bone Breaker in the bridge is ready to erupt with searing gain for driving rhythms, while mellow Alnico V magnets in the neck Bone Breaker offer a breath of fresh air when it's time to churn out soaring stadium leads. Between the two, players never have to trade volume for gain or vice versa. In summary, these are Bone Breakers, not bone crushers, with just the right amount of force to get the job done. Such balance is critical to Kirk Hammett’s style, and the ESP LTD KH-V earns its bona fides with a genuine piece of Metallica’s tone onboard.
ESP LTD Kirk Hammett KH-V Signature Electric Guitar Features:
- The definitive signature “V” of Metallica’s Kirk Hammett
- 25.5-inch scale with 24 extra-jumbo frets for low action and accurate, smooth bends
- Solid korina body — historically accurate V-tone with rich depth, sustain, and midrange presence
- “Extra Thin-U” neck profile for unfettered fretboard access
- Fingerboard adorned with symmetric wave inlays, made from fine Macassar ebony, 350mm radius
- Set maple neck — massive sustain with a low-drag feel
- 2 signature active EMG Bone Breaker humbuckers with a custom blend of ceramic and Alnico V magnets
- Custom-voiced preamp balances volume and gain for dynamic cleans and punishing riffs
- Equipped with tone-saving, gig-ready hardware: a graphite nut, locking LTD tuners, and a locking TOM-style bridge
✔ Same-Day Order Processing
✔ Free Returns
✔ No Restocking Fees
✔ Financing Options Available
Order Confirmation:
As soon as you place your order, you will receive a confirmation email. After that, we double-check if all items ordered are in stock and available for immediate shipment. If your order is available for the delivery within the advertised time frame, we will submit it for shipment to the warehouse. If the expected delivery time exceeds the advertised time frame, we'll reach out to you via email and/or phone to confirm the order.
Order Shipment:
Within 1 business day from the time the item has been shipped, you will receive an email confirmation with tracking number. If you would not receive tracking information within six business days of your order, feel free to follow up with us.
Estimated Time of Arrival:
We typically deliver within 2-10 business days. Custom made products are usually delivered within 3-5 weeks. If the expected delivery date for your order would fall outside of the advertised 2-10 business day time frame, our customer service team will reach out to you to confirm if you are OK with that date.
Areas Covered:
All estimated delivery dates and shipping costs advertised on the website apply the the Contiguous United States only. Please contact our customer service team to discuss the time and cost of shipping to Hawaii or Alaska. We don't ship directly to Canada, but we can ship your order to the freight carrier of your choice.
Damages:
It is very important that you inspect the packaging of your items when they arrive and check if you received all boxes listed on the delivery receipt.If you notice any damage or shortage of packages, you must make note of it on the bill of lading, take pictures, and refuse delivery.Your note should say "refused due to damage". You must also take photos of all sides of the box and send them to us within 2 days. If there are no damages visible before opening the box, you must note "subject to further inspection may contain concealed damage". If you notice any damage after receiving the delivery, do not throw the box away, and contact us with the photos. After we receive information from you about the refused delivery or concealed damage, we immediately initiate a claim with the shipping company or with the manufacturer. After the claim is fully processed, we ship all replacements at absolutely no cost to you.
Cancellations & Refunds:
We can cancel your order at absolutely no cost to you before the shipping label or Bill of Lading has been created, or before production of a custom order has started. Custom made items are not eligible for refunds after production has started. To be eligible for a return, the item must be unused and in the same condition as you received it. It must also remain in the original packaging, and the packaging must be in a perfect condition. We do not charge restocking fees or return shipping fees. All eligible returns are 100% free. Orders delivered outside the United States are not eligible for refunds. If your order arrived damaged, "Damages" section applies. Our refund policy lasts 45 days. If 45 days have gone by since your purchase, unfortunately, we can’t offer you a refund. Please contact us before returning an item to discuss shipping details. All refunds will be issued to the credit card or PayPal account you used for your purchase within 2 days after all returned items arrived at our warehouse.
We work very hard to ensure that we offer the absolute best prices online. If you find another legitimate online store that offers a lower prices on an identical item we stock (including shipping, tax, etc), we will beat the competitor's price by 10% of the difference! Please see below for complete details.
Please fill out the form below to find out if you qualify for the discount. In most cases you will receive a response within 1 business day.
To request your 110% Best Price Guarantee simply e-mail us a link to the same product on our website, or on our competitors' website.
Our 110% Price Guarantee has some limitations:
Promotions such as rebates and buy one, get one free offer are not eligibleThe item must be in stock on the competitors' websiteThe competitor must be an online store, they may not have a retail locationThe website can not be a discounter or auction website (ie; eBay, overstock, etc..)The competitor must be an Authorized Retailer of the product in question, and must not be violating advertising price agreements with the manufacturerThe Price Match Guarantee includes the item price and the shipping charges, it excludes sales tax
There may be brands excluded from that offer. Please contact us for further information.
Payment & Security
Your payment information is processed securely. We do not store credit card details nor have access to your credit card information.