ESP LTD KH-V Kirk Hammett Signature Guitar Metallic Gold 0282
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- SKU
- LKHVMGO-B0282
- Color
- Gold
. Description
Sound & Tone
The EMG Bone Breaker set drives a high-output, aggressive voice: the ceramic BB-B bridge gives tight, cutting attack for palm-muted rhythm work, while the alnico 5 BB-N neck stays warmer and vocal for lead lines. Neck-thru construction with a korina body, three-piece maple neck, and macassar ebony fingerboard adds sustain and a firm, articulate response, and the 25.5" scale keeps low tunings taut and defined. It's built squarely for metal and hard rock, particularly fast soloing and complex lead playing where note separation under heavy gain matters.
ESP LTD KH-V Kirk Hammett Signature Guitar in Metallic Gold
The KH-V is built for tracking high-gain leads and capturing articulate rhythm tones in the studio—an extra-thin U-shaped neck with 24 extra-jumbo frets that make rapid position shifts feel effortless, paired with a razor-sharp V-shaped body designed for both comfort and visual clarity on camera. This neck-thru instrument feels responsive and balanced, engineered to handle the intensity of heavy lead work and complex soloing without fatigue during extended tracking sessions. The metallic gold finish and pearloid wave inlays deliver visual presence in any recording setup.
Playability & Recording Performance
The extra-thin U-shaped neck profile combined with 24 extra-jumbo frets on a macassar ebony fingerboard creates a platform for fast, articulate playing across the entire 25.5" scale—essential for capturing clean takes without muting or accidental string noise during production. The molded nut and LTD locking tuning machines ensure session-stable tuning so you're not re-tracking sections between punches, while the Tonepros locking TOM-style bridge with string-thru design locks in your setup so you focus on performance and tone capture.
Tone & Tracking Electronics
Two EMG Bone Breaker pickups—a ceramic bridge (BB-B) and alnico 5 neck (BB-N)—deliver high-output aggression with clarity and sustain that cuts through dense mixes and tracks cleanly at high gain. The active electronics configuration includes volume, tone, and three-way pickup selector controls, giving you immediate access to everything from cutting rhythm tones to searing lead voices without reaching for an amp knob or re-patching your signal chain mid-session.
Key Features
- Neck-thru-body construction with three-piece maple neck and korina body
- 25.5" scale length
- V-shaped body with metallic gold finish
- Extra-thin U-shaped neck profile
- Macassar ebony fingerboard with pearloid wave inlays and 24 extra-jumbo frets
- Two EMG Bone Breaker pickups (BB-B ceramic bridge and BB-N alnico 5 neck)
- Gold hardware with cream pickguard
- Gold LTD locking tuning machines, molded nut, and Tonepros locking TOM-style bridge with string-thru design
- Active electronics: volume, tone, and three-way pickup selector toggle
- ESP deluxe hardshell case included
This is a genuinely ready-to-play instrument backed by ESP's build quality and Kirk Hammett's exacting specifications, with only a minor finish flaw at the 8th fret noted—visible in photos but hard to catch at performance distance.
More Information
| Condition | Refurbished |
|---|---|
| Dexterity | Right handed |
| Country of Manufacture | South Korea |
Reviews
Specifications
| Body Style | Explorer |
|---|---|
| Scale Length | 25.5" Scale |
| Frets | 24 Frets |
| Fretboard | Ebony |
| Neck Wood | Maple |
| Bridge | Fixed |
| Strings | 6 |
| Orientation | Right handed |
| Model Year | 2023 |
| Made In | South Korea |
Who This Is For
| Best suited for | Metal, Thrash Metal, Hard Rock, Extended Range, Live Performance |
|---|---|
| Tonal character | High-output aggression, articulate cleans, searing leads, clarity with sustain, ceramic bridge bite |
| Less specialized for | Jazz, Folk, Country (it will do it; instruments voiced for that style do it more easily) |
| Skill level | Advanced / Professional |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the minor finish flaw mean, and will it affect playability or sound?
There is a minor finish flaw at the 8th fret visible only up close in photos; it has no impact on playability, tone, or performance and is inconsequential during live play or recording. The guitar is fully functional and backed by ESP's build quality.
Is this guitar suitable for jazz or blues, or is it metal-only?
The KH-V is optimized for metal, thrash metal, hard rock, and extended-range lead work. Its high-output ceramic bridge pickup and active electronics are voiced for aggression and articulation rather than the warm, complex tones needed in jazz or blues.
How does the neck profile affect fast playing and position shifts?
The extra-thin U-shaped neck is designed to minimize hand fatigue during rapid position shifts and complex soloing. Combined with 24 extra-jumbo frets and a 25.5" scale, it creates a responsive platform built explicitly for fast, articulate metal playing.
What tuning stability features does this guitar have?
The guitar includes LTD locking tuning machines, a molded nut, and a Tonepros locking TOM-style bridge with string-thru design—all working together to lock in your setup so tuning never shifts during intense playing sessions or live performance.
What pickups are in this guitar, and what tonal range do they cover?
Two EMG Bone Breaker pickups deliver high-output aggression: the ceramic bridge pickup (BB-B) provides cutting, searing lead tones, while the alnico 5 neck pickup (BB-N) offers clarity with sustain. Active electronics with volume, tone, and three-way selector let you dial from cutting rhythms to articulate leads.
Do I pay sales tax on this order?
Sales tax is collected only on orders shipped to California; orders shipped to any other US state are not charged sales tax at checkout when you buy direct from our website. At a typical 7% rate that is an estimated $101 less at checkout than the same listed price on a marketplace, which collects sales tax as the facilitator in most states. Buyers remain responsible for any use tax their state applies. Free US shipping and 30-day returns are included.
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