Kirk Lee Hammett (born November 18, 1962) is the lead guitarist and a songwriter in the band Metallica and has been a member of the band since 1983. Before joining Metallica he formed and named the band Exodus. In 2003 Hammett was ranked 11th in Rolling Stone's list - The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.

Equipment

Guitars

Hammett, along with rhythm guitarist James Hetfield, have been major endorsers of ESP Guitars since the 1980s. Hammett was only the second person to have a signature guitar with the company. He is best known for playing his signature model guitars, with EMG pickups and Ernie Ball strings.

In 2007, ESP Guitar Company announced the release of a 20th Anniversary Limited KH-20 Guitar to celebrate 20 years of relationship with Kirk Hammett (based upon the KH-2 guitar with some modification). Only 41 guitars were in production, with the price at $9,999.USD a piece.

In January 2009, ESP also announced the rare release of Hammett's famous "ouija" guitar, which was very limited and for 2009 only.

Hammett's love of horror movies is reflected in several of his guitars.

Kirk Hammett's current tour guitars:

• ESP M-II "Zorlac" - This was the starting line for the whole KH series. It features a vertical skull & crossbones as opposed to the horizontal ones featured on today's KH's, and an upside down Jackson Guitars style headstock which is what Hammett originally intended. However, Jackson Guitars threatened law suits if this model was ever sold. As a result, the headstock was changed to the typical ESP style, but flipped upside down.

• ESP M-II Standard - EMG and Seymour Duncan, Kirk used this a lot in the studio and live.

ESP MII 'Bride of Frankenstein' graphics
ESP MII Standard with chrome pickguard and hardware
ESP MII NT with 'Occult themed' graphics
ESP KH2 Ouija white

• ESP KH-2 "Skully" - Hammett's main touring guitar. This signature model is based upon the modifications he made to his M-II.

• ESP KH-2 M-II "Boris Karloff Mummy" #I - This has been Hammett's favourite guitar for many years. It features the Boris Karloff Mummy I graphic of which Hammett owns the rights to. It will not be released by ESP. Hammett has 2 of these guitars, one with Eye of Horus inlays and the other with hieroglyphics inlays.

• ESP KH-2 M-II "Ouija" - This guitar contains 2 spelling errors. It sports the words "WILLIAM FUED TALKING BAARD SET" but it in fact should say "WILLIAM FULD TALKING BOARD SET". Hammett also now plays a White Version of this guitar on tour.

• ESP KH-3 Eclipse - Pushead Spider graphic. It is taken from a classic Les Paul Jr. shape with a Floyd Rose vibrato and EMG pickups.

• ESP Flying V copy - Cherry Red with white pickguard and gold hardware. Kirk uses this live mostly for the song Seek & Destroy.

• ESP Michael Schenker Flying V

• Gibson 1968 Les Paul Custom - Mostly on ballads such as "Fade to Black" and "Welcome Home (Sanitarium)".

• Gibson Les Paul Standard - Used on songs from St. Anger.

• Ibanez RG - Used during the Wherever We May Roam American and European tour. It was used as a stunt guitar and for Deep Purple covers.

• Jackson Randy Rhoads Model RR1T - Custom-Made specifically for Hammett. It is usually tuned one step down from standard tuning, and used for songs like Harvester of Sorrow, One and Sad but True".

• Teuffel Birdfish - Designed and produced by German guitar designer/builder, Ulrich Teuffel. The model is limited (500 made) and is made to amplify sound using various pickups. This guitar is used live for "The Judas Kiss".

On the 25th anniversary of Metallica's Kill 'Em All, Kirk Hammett appears on the cover of Feb. 2008's Guitar World sporting his new custom ESP. This model is the KH20, the 20th anniversary model from ESP.

In the video for "One", Kirk Hammett is seen using what is most likely an ESP Vintage Plus. It appears however to be modified; it has a Floyd Rose tremolo, which could have been Hammett's own work or a custom model.

Amplifiers & Cabinets

Throughout Metallica's career, Hammett has used a range of different amplifiers. For the first two albums, he used Marshall amplifiers and cabinets, with occasional effects. For the recording of 1986's Master of Puppets, he and James Hetfield bought a Mesa/Boogie MarkIIC+ amplifier, and used Mesa/Boogies until he made his move to Randall Amplifiers in 2007.

In September 2007, Randall Amplifiers announced a partnership with Hammett to design a line of signature amps, heads, combos and preamp modules.

Hammett has also been seen using a wide range of different amplifiers in the studio and during live performances.

• Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier (x2)

• Randall RM100KH Signature Model (modified version of the MTS series RM100) (x2)

• Randall 4x12 Cabinets (x4)

Effects

To avoid problems with pedals being damaged during live performances, Hammett keeps his effect pedals in a rack along with his amplifiers and his tech controls them through a pedalboard sidestage. The pedal controller allows him to change between different effect pedals and amplifiers.

In 2008, Jim Dunlop started working in partnership with Hammett to create a signature Wah-wah pedal, the KH95. It is now available to buy in stores.

• TC Electronics G-Major 2 effects processor

• Boss NS-2 Noise Suppressor

• Dunlop KH95 Kirk Hammett Signature Crybaby

• Ibanez Tube Screamer (Modded by Keeley)

• DigiTech Whammy WH-1

• Line 6 DL4 Delay Modeler

• Line 6 MM4 Modulation Modeler

• Shure UR-4D Wireless Receiver

• GCX Audio Switcher

• Voodoo Lab Ground Control Pro floorboard

• DBX 1074 Quad Gate

• MXR Eddie Van Halen Flanger

• MXR Bass Octave Deluxe

• DigiTech Space Station

Accessories

• Ernie Ball "Power Slinky" strings (.11-.48)

• Jim Dunlop Dunlop Jazz III picks(green)

• Levy Custom Straps

• Peterson Strobe 420 Tuner

• Bridge position: EMG 81

• Neck position: Some Guitars EMG 81 Others EMG 60 (EMG 60 usually used for clean and to match harmony sections with James Hetfield)

Discography

Death Angel

• Kill As One Demo (Producer)

Exodus

• 1982 Demo

Metallica

• Kill 'Em All

• Ride the Lightning

• Master of Puppets

• ...And Justice for All

• Metallica

• Live Shit: Binge & Purge

• Load

• ReLoad

• Garage, Inc.

• S&M

• St. Anger

• Death Magnetic''

See also

• ESP Kirk Hammett