ESP Snakebyte
James Hetfield
- Brand / model
- ESP Snakebyte
- Year
- 2011
- Guitarist
- James Hetfield
- Band
- Metallica
The guitar James Hetfield designed with ESP: the spirit of the Explorer, sharpened up, with a snake on the neck. If you're a Metallica fan, you'll spot this silhouette a mile away.
The story
If there's one guitar shape I associate with Metallica, it's the Explorer: that angular body James Hetfield has been playing on stage for decades. The Snakebyte is his personal take on that idea.
ESP unveiled it in January 2011 at NAMM, the big musical instrument trade show, alongside a new Kirk Hammett model. According to ESP, it's based on James's own original design. The body clearly recalls an Explorer, but with more modern lines of its own.
The details I love most:
- A snake inlay at the 12th fret.
- Mahogany body and neck, with an ebony fingerboard.
- Active EMG JH "Het Set" pickups, James's signature set.
The ESP version is handmade at the ESP Custom Shop in Japan, and LTD (ESP's other brand) offers more affordable versions so anyone can have one.
My miniature is the white LTD version (Snow White), one of the two finishes the model launched in alongside black. Check out the LTD logo on the headstock and the snake at the 12th fret.
On stage
Here you can see James tearing it up on his Snakebyte. Notice how that sharp shape suits the way he attacks a riff.
I'm gathering freely licensed photos and videos of this guitar on stage. They'll be here very soon!
Where to get it
The miniature
Miniatura ESP Snakebyte de James HetfieldAmazon→The real guitar
ESP LTD Snakebyte (la alternativa asequible)Thomann→For your collection
Púas James Hetfield / MetallicaAmazon→Some links are affiliate links: if you buy through them, this site earns a small commission at no extra cost to you.
