kirk hammett

The Kirk Hammett “Greeny” 1959 Les Paul Standard is aged to match the original by the Murphy Lab and was inspired by the legendary guitar, once owned by Peter Green.

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A hot-rodded TS-style box that scores high in versatility.


You need not be a Kirk Hammett fan to appreciate or use the KHDK Ghoul Screamer. But its versatility hints at Hammett’s multifaceted tastes and abilities, as well as the wide-open potential of a TS-style circuit in the hands of a creative circuit tweaker.

I used the Ghoul with the fat, twangy, and rather un-Hammett-like setup of a humbucker-equipped Telecaster and a ’60s Bassman. But even with this rig the Ghoul’s lively, eager-to-please malleability shines. The Ghoul is more airy and hotter-sounding than my vintage TS-9 at equivalent settings, but I suspect the wide-spectrum harmonic profile will appeal to most—not least those who like fast picking response. The five switches that complement the wide-ranging tone, volume, and gain controls add true versatility. Bass and body switches were especially transformative at mid-to-high gain settings, generating burly, sustain-heavy lead tones and silky but massive rhythm. Taking bass and body out and activating the treble makes the pedal cut like a laser.

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