ESP Double-Neck Explorer 'Ducks'

This electric-guitar is a black double-necked ESP Explorer with a mahogany body and a rosewood fretboard. This guitar has 12 strings on the top neck and 6 strings on the bottom neck. The inlays are ducks.

Model: ESP EXP (double-neck) Color: Black Inlays: Duck Pickups: EMG-60, EMG-81 hum (each neck) Hardware: 2 volume controls (each neck) Can Be Seen: "Binge & Purge" booklet Only used live: "Black Album" gigs Last used live: Same tour 8th August '92 in Montreal This guitar was exclusively played for the live performance of "Fade To Black".

The supposed end of its days:
James get burned with that guitar during a gig in Montreal on the 8th August '92 when the pyros to the song "Fade To Black" set in. It happened because the pyro-tech didn't inform the band that new pyro would be going along with the old pyro which only ignited along the wings of the stage. James assumed that the new pyro canceled out the previous pyro, so he stood on a point where a 12 foot flame from the old pyro ignited.

He also used exact the same double-necked ESP EXP model later on Woodstock'94. So this guitar either has been restored or rebuild for this show.

James' ESP Explorers in general:
They are all based upon the standard ESP EXP serie and were built or overseen by Matt Masciandaro. Meanwhile the EXP serie has been replaced by the ESP EX standard serie which has a sharp shape for its ends and headstock instead of the old EXP serie which was comparable to the rounded shape of the Gibson Explorers.

The difference between the EXP model and James' Explorers:
In difference between James' Explorers and the standard ESP EXP serie, James guitars have set-necks (glued joint) instead of bolt-on necks. Besides the "Black Album" guitars' fingerboards consist of ebony instead of rosewood.

Identical to the EXP model:
The body consists of mahogany, the neck of maple and the fingerboard (with its 22XJ [XJ=extra jumbo] frets) of rosewood. All hardware (the tune-o-matic bridge, the stop piece and tuners) is black. It has one volume control for each pickup.

ESP Explorer 'Snake'

Model: ESP EXP Color: Black Inlays: Black Album Snake Pickups: 2x EMG-81 humbucker Hardware: 2 volume controls Can be seen: Live Shit: San Diego ("Sad But True") First time used live: "Black Album" gigs Still used live This guitar is mainly used to be played D-tuned James' ESP Explorers in general: They are all based upon the standard ESP EXP serie and were built or overseen by Matt Masciandaro. Meanwhile the EXP serie has been replaced by the ESP EX standard serie which has a sharp shape for its ends and headstock instead of the old EXP serie which was comparable to the rounded shape of the Gibson Explorers. The difference between the EXP model and James' Explorers: In difference between James' Explorers and the standard ESP EXP serie, James guitars have set-necks (glued joint) instead of bolt-on necks. Besides the "Black Album" guitars' fingerboards consist of ebony instead of rosewood. Identical to the EXP model: The body consists of mahogany, the neck of maple and the fingerboard (with its 22XJ [XJ=extra jumbo] frets) of rosewood. All hardware (the tune-o-matic bridge, the stop piece and tuners) is black. It has one volume control for each pickup.

The Black Album Era : James Hetfield's Equipments

Guitars:

Black ESP Explorer #2 Custom - (Recording/Live)
Short description: Set Neck, Ebony Fretboard, Black Hardware.
Inlays: Dots
Pickups: EMG 81/60
Controls: 1 Volume, 1 Tone
Note: James' first truly Black Esp Explorer. Used on the road and recording up to this day. Can be seen: "Live Shit: San Diego" - most songs. Last time used live: Before the "Load" gigs.


Black #3 ESP Explorer Man To Wolf Inlays - (Live)
Short description: Set Neck, Ebony Fretboard, Black Hardware.
Inlays: Man to Wolf inlays
Pickups: EMG 81/60
Controls: 1 Volume, 1 Tone
Note: Used a ton during the Roam Tour, and still used live today. Can be seen in the video "Live Shit: San Diego" during "Harvester of Sorrow".


Black ESP Custom Explorer #4 Snake Inlays - (Recording/Live)
Short description: Set Neck, Ebony Fretboard, Black Hardware.
Inlays: Snakes
Pickups: EMG 81/60
Controls: 1 Volume, 1 Tone
Note: James Still Uses this on the road from time to time. Can be seen in the video "Live Shit: Seattle" during "Sad But True". Mainly used as a D-tuned guitar

Black ESP Explorer #5 NRA logo inlays - (Recording/Live)
Short description: Set Neck, Ebony Fretboard, Black Hardware.
Inlays: NRA (National Rifle Association) Logo
Pickups: EMG 81/60
Controls: 1 Volume, 1 Tone
Note: Not Seen or Used a lot, probably never played live.


Black ESP Explorer #6 Deer Skull Inlays - (Recording/Live)
Short description: Set Neck, Ebony Fretboard, Black Hardware.
Inlays: Deer Skull
Pickups: EMG 81/60
Controls: 1 Volume, 1 Tone
Note: Later Converted to the Diamond Plate Top. Last used live: Before the "Load" gigs








Black ESP Doubleneck Explorer - (Live)
Short description: Set Double Neck, Rosewood Fretboard, Black Hardware.
Strings: 12 on Top, 6 on bottom.
Inlays: Black Ducks
Pickups: EMG 81/60 x 2
Controls: 1 Volume, 1 Tone x 2
Note: Used For Fade To Black Live. In Montreal on 8 August 1992 James was burnt in a pyrotechnics accident with this guitar.



Gibson Chet Atkins Acoustic/Electric (Live)
Short description: Solid Spruce top, acoustically chambered Mahogany back. Black with gold hardware. Rosewood fingerboard.
Inlays: None
Pickups: Gibson Hex piezo bridge transducer
Controls: Active volume, Active volume, treble and bass (boost and cut)
Note: Can be seen in the video" Live Shit: San Diego" during "The Unforgiven".


Gretsch White Falcon (Recording)
Short description: The maple body has two F-perforations. The 22 frets large fretboard consists of ebony. White with gold hardware. Model 7594.
Inlays: Pearl blocks
Pickups: 2 Filtertron pickups
Controls: 2 volume controls for each pickup, 1 master volume control and 1 tone control Note: In Gretsch's tradition this guitar was constructed by hand. It is a reissue of the original White Falcon series which has been constructed for the first time in 1950. In contrast to the 'White Falcon I' series that reissue has a double-cutaway Used on the recording of Nothing Else Matters.
Fender 1952 Telecaster (Recording)
Short description: Butterscotch with black hardware.
Inlays: Dots
Pickups:
Controls: Parsons-White B-bender system
Note: Used mainly for recording in the studio. The only live performance was during the "1998 American Music Awards" for "The Unforgiven II".








Other Guitars Used During The Metallica Era:

Olympic White Danelectro 12 string - (Recording) - Nothing Else Matters
Blue Jerry Jones Dano Longhorn Baritone - (Recording - Sad But True main riff)
Red Vincent Bell Coral Sitar - (Recording) - Where Ever I May Roam And My Friend Of Misery
Natural "Hetfield" Stratocaster style - (Recording)
Black Gibson Moderne
Red Gibson SG Doubleneck - Another Trial on Nothing Else Matters
Guild 12 string - Another Trial On Nothing Else Matters
Tom Anderson Electric - Man Guitar Used on Nothing Else Matters
Aria Nylon String Acoustic (Gift from Cliff Burton) - Probably for The Unforgiven
Fender Shenandoah Steel String - Used for its "shimmery, high end qualities."
Red Coral Electric Sitar

Amplifiers:

Mesa Boogie Mk IIC+ - Main Sound Combined With Below
Mesa Boogie Mark IV - Main Sound Combined With Above
Jose Arrengando Modified 100 watt Marshall Head
Roland JC-120 Combo - Used for Pretty Cleans
ADA MP1 - Preamp Modded By Voodoo Amps. Makes for some killer high gains...for crunchy Rhythm tones.
ADA MQ1 - Preamp
Aphex Parametric EQ - Just for Tightning Tones
Marshall 4x12
Mesa Boogie 4x12
Mesa Boogie Studio Preamp
Mesa Boogie Strategy 400 Power Amp

Note: For the "Black Album" gigs and beyond, equipment manager and bass roadie Zack Harmon designed speaker coffins for consistent tone. These were essentially large road cases housing a speaker cabinet, sound dampening and fixed position microphones (Senheiser 421s).

Picks:

Dunlop Green Tortex .88 mm imprinted with the Metallica logo / The Black Album snake.

...And Justice for All Era : James Hetfield's Equipments

Guitars:


Olympic White ESP Custom #1
Short description: Set Neck, Rosewood Fretboard, Black Hardware
Inlays: Middle Fingers
Pickups: EMG 60/81
Controls: 1 Volume, 1 Tone
Note: Refferred to as the "EET FUK" Guitar. Favorite road guitar used by James. Can be seen: "Live Shit: Seattle" - most songs. Only used live: "...And Justice For All" gigs. The EET FUK Explorer was autographed by him and now resides at "House of Guitars" (641 Titus Ave. Rocester, NY) the place where the "Kill 'Em All" album was recorded.


Olympic White ESP Stock #2
Short description: Rosewood Fretboard, Black Hardware.
Inlays: Dots
Pickups: EMG 60/81
Controls: 1 Volume, 1 Tone
Note: Seen With "So Fucking What" Written on the rear horn and "Mud flap woman" on lower horn. Hetfield's main recording guitar for the "Metallica" and "Load" album. Can be seen: "A Year and a Half..." and "Nothing Else Matters" video.



Satin Black/Purple Esp Custom Explorer
Short description: Set Neck, Ebony Fretboard, Black Hardware. LA Raiders sticker between the pickups and a FUK EM UP sticker on the body.
Inlays: Dots
Pickups: EMG 81/60
Controls: 1 Volume, 1 Tone
Note: Used in the later part of the Justice Tour, and some of 1990. And It actually is a Purple tinted guitar. Can be seen: "Live Shit: Seattle" - ("The Thing That Should Not Be"). Last time used live: "... And Justice For All" gigs or possibly "Black Album" gigs.

Amps:

Replacement 100 watt Marshall Heads that were later modified - Replaced after searching 2 continents for the amp that was stolen before a gig in Boston on a cold night of January. It was James' First Amp. Marshall 4x12 Cabinet James found his love for Mesa Boogie Products Due to the popularity of Marshalls and Tryed Mesas after his Marshall was stolen
Mesa Boogie Mk IIC+ - Responsible for a major part of the sound in this. Mesa Boogie Quad Preamp Marshall JCM 800 Marshall JMP Heads Marshall 4x12 with 65 watt speakers Mesa Boogie Heads slaved into Marshalls Marshall 4x12 Cabinets

Picks:

Dunlop Green Tortex .88 mm

Effects and Other Stuff:
Ibanez Tube Screamer- used as an overdrive/distortion pedal. - James didn't use this often, Pretty much never again after 1984.
Boss Flanger Pedal
Boss Tuner
Rocktron Compressor/Limiter/Hush - Used on the mics for reducing background noise, making vocals alive and real. Also can be used to balance out Instrument feedback and such. Only mono.
ADA 2FX Multi Effects Processo - A popularly used 80's Rack mount product. With 3 separate purposes Flanger (4 Nobs), Chorus (2 Nobs), And a Delay of 1 second maximum (4 Nobs)
Ibanez UE400 Multi-F - Just guitar effects
Furman PQ4 parametric E - Good for boosting EQ and fine tuning guitar tones.

Olympic White ESP Custom #1, Olympic White ESP Stock #2, ESP Stock #2 Custom Explorer

Garage Days Re-Revisited Era : James Hetfield's Equipments

Guitars:

White Gibson Explorer #2
Short description: Cream White Stock 1984 Explorer,
Inlays: Dot
Pickups: Gibson 500T in the bridge, 496R in the neck. In 1988 EMGS 81/81 Installed
Controls: 2 Volume, 1 Tone.
Note: This guitar will be seen with a lot of different artwork throughout 1984-1988. Including the "More Beer" Sticker with "Jaggermiester."

Amps:

Mesa-Boogie Mark C+ amp (re-wired as a pre-amp)

Marshall 100 watt power amp

Marshall 4x12 cabinets

Pics:

Dunlop Green Tortex .88 mm

Effects and Other Stuffs:

Ibanez Tube Screamer- used as an overdrive/distortion pedal. - James didn't use this often, Pretty much never again after 1984.
Boss Flanger Pedal
Boss Tuner
Rocktron Compressor/Limiter/Hush - Used on the mics for reducing background noise, making vocals alive and real. Also can be used to balance out Instrument feedback and such. Only mono.
ADA 2FX Multi Effects Processo - A popularly used 80's Rack mount product. With 3 separate purposes
Flanger (4 Nobs), Chorus (2 Nobs), And a Delay of 1 second maximum (4 Nobs)
Ibanez UE400 Multi-FX - Just guitar effects
Furman PQ4 parametric EQ - Good for boosting EQ and fine tuning guitar tones.

White Gibson
Explorer #2

Master of Puppets Era : James Hetfield's Equipments

Guitars:

Jackson King V
Short description: Neck-Thru-Body, Ebony Fretboard, 24 Jumbo Frets,
Inlays: Shark Fin
Pickups: Duncan Invaders
Controls: 2 Volume, 1 Tone
Note: Dubbed the "Kill Bon Jovi" guitar. Jackson Wanted James to endorse this guitar but James Felt it hurt his image and he looked better with the explorer. Never-the-less he used this one mostly on the road in 1986 for down tuned songs such as "The Thing That Should Not Be."

Amps:

Mesa-Boogie Mark C+ amp (re-wired as a pre-amp)
Marshall 100 watt power amp
Marshall 4x12 cabinets

Picks:

Dunlop Green Tortex .88 mm

Effects and Other Stuffs:

Ibanez Tube Screamer- used as an overdrive/distortion pedal. - James didn't use this often, Pretty much never again after 1984.
Boss Flanger Pedal
Boss Tuner
Rocktron Compressor/Limiter/Hush - Used on the mics for reducing background noise, making vocals alive and real. Also can be used to balance out Instrument feedback and such. Only mono.
ADA 2FX Multi Effects Processo - A popularly used 80's Rack mount product. With 3 separate purposes
Flanger (4 Nobs), Chorus (2 Nobs), And a Delay of 1 second maximum (4 Nobs)
Ibanez UE400 Multi-FX - Just guitar effects
Furman PQ4 parametric EQ - Good for boosting EQ and fine tuning guitar tones.

Jackson
King V

Ride The Lightning Era : James Hetfield's Equipments

Guitars:

White Gibson Explorer #1
Short description: Cream White Stock 1984 Explorer,
Inlays: Dot
Pickups: Gibson 500T in the bridge, 496R in the neck. In 1988 EMGS 81/81 Installed
Controls: 2 Volume, 1 Tone.

Amps:

Marshall 100 watt head and 4x12 cabinets

Picks:

Dunlop Green Tortex .88 mm

Effects and Other Stuffs:

Ibanez Tube Screamer- used as an overdrive/distortion pedal. - James didn't use this often, Pretty much never again after 1984.
Boss Flanger Pedal
Boss Tuner
Rocktron Compressor/Limiter/Hush - Used on the mics for reducing background noise, making vocals alive and real. Also can be used to balance out Instrument feedback and such. Only mono.
ADA 2FX Multi Effects Processo - A popularly used 80's Rack mount product. With 3 separate purposes
Flanger (4 Nobs), Chorus (2 Nobs), And a Delay of 1 second maximum (4 Nobs)
Ibanez UE400 Multi-FX - Just guitar effects
Furman PQ4 parametric EQ - Good for boosting EQ and fine tuning guitar tones.

White Gibson
Explorer #1

Kill 'Em All Era : James Hetfield's Equipments

Guitars:


Epiphone Flying V
Short description: Alder Body, Croe Hardware.
Inlays: Dot
Pickups: Stock / Later Seymour Duncan Invaders were installed.
Controls: 2 Volume, 1 Tone.
Note: This is not a real Gibson though it was treated by James as a Gibson. James had taken a truss-rod cover off of a Gibson and placed it on his to make it appear to be a "real" Gibson.

Amps:

Marshall 100 watt SLP - Jose Arrengando Modified
Pro Co. Rat Distortion Pedal
Marshall 4x12 Cabinet

Picks:

Dunlop Green Tortex .88 mm

Effects and Other Stuff:

ProCo Rat Distortion

Epiphone
Flying V

Summation of James Hetfield's Equipments

Summation of James Hetfield's Equipments According to Metallica.com

Guitars:

Ken Lawrence Custom Explorer Natural

ESP Custom Black Explorer - Deerskull Inlay

ESP Custom Black Explorer - Snake Inlay

ESP Custom Black Explorer - Wood-Burn Deer

ESP Custom Black Explorer - Black Diamond Plate

ESP Custom Black Explorer - Silver Diamond Plate

ESP Custom Black Explorer - Bright Diamond Plate

ESP Custom Black Flying V - Green Flames

ESP Custom Black Flying V - Hot Rod Flames

ESP Custom Black "Fuel" Les Paul Style with Gold Pinstripe

ESP Custom Black & White Pinstripe Les Paul

ESP Custom Black & Gold Pinstripe Les Paul

ESP New Model Black Explorer - Mother-of-Pearl Inlay

Amplifiers:

Mesa Boogie 4x12 Speaker Cabinets

Wizard 4x12 Speaker Cabinets

4x Costumized Mesa Boogie Tri-Axis Pre-Amps

4x Mesa Boogie Strategy 400 Power Amps

Mesa Boogie Tremoverb 2x12 Combo Amp

Strings:

Ernie Ball (.010-.046)

Picks:

Dunlop Custom Nylon Picks (Green Tortex .88 mm Guitar)

Differences of ESP Guitars

ESP Guitars

James' ESP Explorers
They are all based upon the standard ESP EXP series and were built or overseen by Matt Masciandaro. Meanwhile the EXP series has been replaced by the ESP EX standard series which has a sharp shape for its ends and headstock instead of the old EXP series which was comparable to the rounded shape of the Gibson Explorers.

The difference between the EXP model and James' Explorers
In difference between James' Explorers and the standard ESP EXP series, James guitars have set-necks (glued joint) instead of bolt-on necks. Besides the "Black Album" guitars' fingerboards consist of ebony instead of rosewood.

Identical to the EXP model
The body consists of mahogany, the neck of maple and the fingerboard (with its 22XJ [XJ=extra jumbo] frets) of rosewood. All hardware (the tune-o-matic bridge, the stop piece and tuners) is black. It has one volume control for each pickup.