Ltd KH-3LH Spider Lefty

Every guitarist with a love for Metallica has no doubt heard of the Spider, the custom single-cut guitar that ESP built at the request of Kirk Hammett back in 1991. The KH-3 Spider replaced Hammett's old trusty KH-2 model and was subsequently used for years during the band's Black Album tour. In honour of this iconic guitar's 30th birthday, ESP LTD present a thoughtfully refreshed version: the Kirk Hammett Signature KH-3 Spider 30th Anniversary Edition. (FYI, this is the left-handed version.)

While the guitar has remained true to the original and still bears that iconic Pushead-designed Spider graphic, ESP LTD did take their chance to implement a fistful of upgrades here. This means the maker has opted for a neck-thru construction, with the 3-piece maple neck running all the way through the alder body. On top of that, this Anniversary Edition of the KH-3 Spider features a macassar ebony fretboard that's been scalloped from the 17th through to the 24th fret for enhanced string-grip and effortless note bending.

The fresh build also means that ESP LTD have done away with the set of classic EMG 81 pickups, which have been swapped out for a pair of EMG Kirk Hammett Bone Breakers that come with the support of a tweaked preamp. These active humbuckers not only serve up iconic trash metal tone, but are perfectly capable of delivering crystal-clarity. For screaming leads, a Floyd Rose 1000 Series double locking tremolo has been mounted, which ultimately combines with Grover machine heads for fully anchored tuning stability.