Back to navigation


James Hetfield's Signature Guitar





This article was


Written By





Our Product Research Team





Get to know them!





Built for performance and loaded with aggressive features, the ESP LTD Snakebyte James Hetfield signature electric solidbody guitar doesn't just look impressive ? it delivers the sound that made metal what it is today. The edgy design of the body confronts you with a look that is combative while maintaining great balance on your knee or strap. A set of Hetfield's signature EMG pickups balances the best of active and passive tones, and high-end hardware and tonewoods make the LTD Snakebyte a good option for the gigging rock or metal guitarist.





Sleek and balanced Snakebyte body





Aside from being instantly recognizable as one of the world's most iconic metal guitars, ESP LTD's Snakebyte body style makes it one of the most playable and well-balanced guitars you can get your hands on. The body shape ensures the guitar won't neck dive when it's on your knee or strapped over your shoulder. And you'll appreciate how your arm naturally rests on the body for optimal picking placement. There's a reason Snakebytes are a favorite among metal purists here at Sweetwater.





High-performance features





This LTD Snakebyte James Hetfield signature electric guitar boasts a lot of appointments that are normally reserved for guitars costing considerably more. The headstock is outfitted with six of ESP's LTD locking tuners to make string changes a breeze while keeping your tuning stable. A TonePros locking Tune-o-matic bridge and tailpiece lock the hardware down to the body, giving you optimal string vibration transfer to your guitar's body. And the sleek ebony fretboard displays James's Snakebyte inlay on the 12th fret.





EMG JH Het Set active pickups





Metallica and EMG have both individually and collectively helped define the modern sound of heavy metal guitar. When James got together with EMG to design his signature set of pickups, they set out to create a pair of active humbuckers that offered the output and clarity of the 85 and 81 pair Hetfield had been using for decades, but with the nuance, punch, and dynamics of a great set of passive pickups. The JH pickup set uses oversized ceramic and steel pole pieces to give your LTD Snakebyte that exact combination for a powerful rock sound.





ESP LTD James Hetfield Signature Snakebyte Left-handed Features:


Signature guitar designed by and for James Hetfield of Metallica


Balanced mahogany body adds huge, warm tones


EMG active JH Het Set humbuckers


LTD locking tuners keep your tuning stable


TonePros locking TOM bridge ensures reliable intonation


Stark ebony fretboard with custom Snakebyte inlay