Kirk Hammett Gear Guide
A quick-reference table guide to Kirk Hammett's guitars, amplifiers and effects, organized by gear category and musical period.
ESP KH guitars and expressive wah are signature parts of Hammett's stage identity. Amplifiers and guitars changed across Metallica albums and tours.
Quick overview
| Category | Details | Era / use |
|---|---|---|
| ESP KH-2 “Mummy” | Custom KH-2 with mummy graphics, associated with Hammett's touring collection. | Signature guitar |
| Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ | High-gain head associated with the Master of Puppets era. | Main amp reference |
| Wah pedal | Hammett's expressive wah use is a signature feature of many solos. | Recognizable effect |
Guitars
| Gear / reference | Details | Era / use |
|---|---|---|
| ESP KH-2 “Mummy” | Custom KH-2 with mummy graphics, associated with Hammett's touring collection. | Metallica live use |
| ESP KH-2 “Skully” | One of the best-known skull-graphic KH instruments. | Stage and studio periods |
| ESP KH-2 Vintage | Single-cut inspired signature design adapted to Hammett's requirements. | Selected touring |
| ESP KH-3 / Spider | Distinctive signature variants with custom graphics and hardware. | Touring and collection |
| Gibson Les Paul “Greeny” | Vintage Les Paul once associated with Peter Green and Gary Moore, later acquired by Hammett. | Selected performances |
| ESP KH-V | Later V-shaped signature collection. | Modern product / touring options |
| Floyd Rose-equipped guitars | Locking tremolo setups support dive effects and stable tuning. | Metallica lead parts |
Amplifiers
| Gear / reference | Details | Era / use |
|---|---|---|
| Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ | High-gain head associated with the Master of Puppets era. | 1980s recording and touring |
| Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier | High-gain amp used in later rigs. | Later tours and sessions |
| Randall KH signature amp | Signature amplifier developed around Hammett's preferences. | Selected period |
| Marshall amplifiers | Used in earlier Metallica and studio contexts. | Period-specific |
| Cabinets and rack systems | Multiple cabinets and effects routing used for large touring setups. | Concert rigs change over time |
Effects
| Gear / reference | Details | Era / use |
|---|---|---|
| Wah pedal | Hammett's expressive wah use is a signature feature of many solos. | “Enter Sandman,” “The Unforgiven” |
| Kirk Hammett signature wah | Artist model based on his preferred wah response. | Modern product |
| KHDK overdrive / distortion | Effects from Hammett's co-founded pedal company. | Selected boards |
| Delay | Adds repeats and depth to lead parts. | Solo and live use |
| Chorus / modulation | Adds width to selected clean or lead sounds. | Album and tour dependent |
| Floyd Rose tremolo | Pitch dives and vibrato with tuning stability. | Lead playing |
Era and song guide
| Gear / reference | Details | Era / use |
|---|---|---|
| Kill 'Em All (1983) | Early Metallica guitars, Marshall-era amplification and wah lead sound. | “Seek & Destroy” |
| Ride the Lightning (1984) | Changing guitars and amps; wah-led solos remain prominent. | “Fade to Black” |
| Master of Puppets (1986) | Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ era with ESP / Gibson guitars. | “Master of Puppets,” “Orion” |
| …And Justice for All (1988) | ESP guitars, high-gain amps and layered parts. | “One,” “Blackened” |
| Black Album (1991) | High-gain rig, ESP instruments and prominent wah solos. | “Enter Sandman,” “The Unforgiven” |
| “One” | Wah and multiple lead layers. | Studio arrangement differs from live |
| Later tours | ESP KH models, Mesa / Randall / other amps and effects backups. | Rig updated across tours |