Kirk Hammett

Kirk Hammett is confirmed to use the Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC++ Head, as detailed in the article "A History of the Mesa Boogie Mark II Series." The "++ Mod" was a special modification for artists like Hammett, which increased gain in the Lead Channel, and was performed on approximately 20 units before the end of the IIC+ production.

In this Instagram post, Kirk Hammett can be clearly seen holding a korina Gibson Flying V.

Ground Guitar states that Kirk Hammett uses Ernie Ball Ultra Slinky Guitar Strings (10-48). Additionally, when I attended his Gibson book event and asked him directly, he confirmed that he uses these strings.

In the provided image, Kirk Hammett is seen using a Gibson SG guitar at the final black sabbath preformance.

According to the official Gibson site, Kirk Hammett uses the Gibson "T-Top" Patent # Humbucker 60s/70s in his 1979 Gibson Flying V.

At 3:23, Kirk Hammett uses the Shure Super 55 for the backing vocals of St. Anger. Like James Hetfield, Kirk and Robert use the Shure Super 55 Limited Edition for the backing vocals whilst performing live.

Kirk Hammett used the Dunlop Straplok Dual Design Strap Retainer System on most of his guitars during the 90s with Metallica, as evidenced by a photograph showing the gear in use.

Gibson announced the limited-edition Kirk Hammett Raven Acoustic-electric Guitar, a collaboration with Kirk Hammett and the master luthiers at Gibson Custom, as confirmed by an Instagram post by the official Gibson Garage.

From this photo in 2008, Kirk Hammett used a Whammy 4th Gen, for Devil's Dance, it presumably hasn't been on his board since.

Kirk Hammett uses the EMG 85 Active Alnico Humbucker pickup, as evidenced by his description of his 1989 Les Paul Custom on Instagram. Hammett notes that this guitar, which he played live during the "And Justice For All" tour, was modified by his tech with various hardware adjustments. The modification details and the guitar's use over decades strongly indicate the presence of the EMG 85 pickups. This information was shared by Kirk Hammett in a post on January 23, 2024.

Kirk Hammett has been confirmed to use the Bigsby B7 Vibrato as part of his gear after purchasing a 1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard equipped with this vibrato system. This information is detailed on the My Les Paul Forum under the thread titled "Kirk Hammett Purchases Rare Les Paul."

In a photo from 1986, Kirk Hammett is seen warming up backstage using a Marshall 5005 Lead 12 Combo Amp adorned with many stickers.

According to his artist page on the official MESA/Boogie® website, guitarist Kirk Hammett uses the Mesa/Boogie Rectifier 4x12 Traditional Straight.

In a video by Gibson TV titled "The Collection: Director’s Cut, Part One," Kirk Hammett is shown with his 1956 Gibson Les Paul Custom featuring "staple" pickups, which previously belonged to Mick Ralphs, around the 18:00 mark.

In the YouTube video "The Collection: Director’s Cut, Part One" by Gibson TV, at timestamp 25:51, Kirk Hammett showcases a custom ordered original Gibson 1958 Les Paul Standard in a cherry finish.

At 56:38 Kirk shows his 1960 Les Paul named “Sunny.”

A 1990 Ibanez RG560 electric guitar, serial #F043093, in black finish. Acquired by Kirk Hammett of Metallica at some point on tour in the early 1990s. During this period, Kirk would use Ibanez guitars to play an extended guitar solo which climaxed in the destruction of the guitar

https://youtu.be/Z9oTvlQwt6I

This one survived, according to Kirk, because he “wanted a guitar to keep, not smash!” This surviving Ibanez RG560 features a 25.5 inch scale length maple neck with a 24 fret rosewood fretboard, pearl dot inlays, a black locking nut and string retainer, and six black chrome Gotoh tuners. The basswood body is finished in black and features black plastics, black chrome knurled control knobs, and a black chrome locking tremolo bridge. It retains its original Ibanez pickups (two S1 single coils and a V2 humbucker in the bridge position) wired to a five way selector switch and master volume and tone controls.

A 2000s Gibson Mastertone Granada Five String Banjo, FON #8906-85, with gold hardware and a sunburst back finish.

This Gibson Mastertone Granada banjo features a 26.44 inch scale length flame maple neck with a bound 22 fret rosewood fretboard, mother of pearl position marker inlays, five gold-plated planetary Gibson branded tuners with pearloid buttons, and mother of pearl headstock inlays. The Body features gold plated rim hardware including the armrest and the “Granada” tailpiece, and a flame maple resonator finished in sunburst with multi ply top and back binding.

A 2005 ESP Alexi Laiho Signature Series V electric guitar, serial #SS0545103, in black finish with yellow pinstripes. A signature model for the late Children of Bodom frontman. It features a 25.5 inch scale length thru-body maple neck with a bound 24 fret ebony fretboard with pearloid sawtooth inlays, a bout headstock, a black locking nut, string retainer, and six black chrome Gotoh tuners. The offset V-shaped alder body is finished in black with yellow pinstripes and black pickup surround, a black chrome Floyd Rose bridge, an EMG pickup, and a single volume control. On the bass side of the headstock is a piece of tape that is inscribed D#, which refers to tuning a half step down.

A screen matched 2022 LTD KH-2 electric guitar, serial #W22051837, featuring an Arctic Metal finish and covered in artwork done by Kirk Hammett of Metallica in black felt tip pen. The guitar can be seen being played by Kirk Hammett in the official music video for the Metallica song “Sleepwalk My Life Away”

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=r7TYA7UcQlE

Kirk can be seen drawing on the guitar in his Instagram post from February 11th, 2023 (https://www.instagram.com/p/CojKHo1rtZY/?img_index=2).

The guitar features a 25.5 inch scale length neck with a bound 24 fret rosewood fretboard, no inlays, a LTD emblem affixed to the bound headstock, and six black chrome locking LTD branded tuners. The body and neck are finished in Arctic Metal with white plastics, a black chrome hardtail bridge, and a black chrome control knob mounted to a single push-pull volume pot for coil splitting the EMG pickup.

In Metallica’s YouTube video of the Helping Hands Concert & Auction performance on December 13, 2024, Kirk Hammett is seen using a Fender Roland Ready Stratocaster during “Low Man’s Lyric”; the guitar appears to be modified with Lace Sensor Blue single-coil pickups and a hardtail bridge.