“I actually got goosebumps when I saw the KH-V for the first time,” says Hammett. “It was like the perfect hybrid of reality and my vision. It’s such a beautiful guitar. I strapped it on and played it later that day; just jamming out with friends for four or five hours. It’s an amazing, amazing guitar.”
The LTD KH-V is the newest addition to the Kirk Hammett Signature Series. It’s available in three different versions: Black Sparkle with black hardware and black pickguard; Red Sparkle with gold hardware and gold pickguard; and Metallic Gold with gold hardware and cream pickguard. The KH-V offers neck-thru- body construction at 25.5” scale with korina body and a three-piece extra-thin U-shaped maple neck. Its Macassar ebony fingerboard features pearloid wave inlays and 24 extra-jumbo frets. The sound of the KH-V is powered by a set of Kirk’s signature EMG Bone Breaker pickups, with the BB-B ceramic bridge and the BB-N alnico 5 neck pickups for crisp, crushing leads or smooth, rounded rhythm tones at the flip of a switch. Controls of the KH-V include volume, tone, and a three-way pickup selector toggle. Other pro features include a TonePros bridge with string-thru-body and LTD locking tuners. The LTD KH-V includes a deluxe ESP hardshell case.
ESP will be shipping all three versions of the LTD KH-V to US dealers and international distributors in March 2023. More information and detailed specs on the LTD KH-V can be found on the ESP web site at espguitars.com.
For more information, please visit espguitars.com.
Portals is described as a collection of gateways to myriad musical and psychic destinations. Recorded in multiple locales ranging from Los Angeles to Paris to Oahu, Portals was created to be the result of musical and metaphysical journeys. An invitation to inner worlds accessible only by music and the psyche it fuels.
“This music was created with what I describe as an Audio-Cinematic approach. They’re soundtracks to the movies in your mind.” - Kirk Hammett
Produced by Kirk, Portals is comprised of the songs Maiden and the Monster and The Jinn on side A, followed by High Plains Drifter and The Incantation on side B (both co-written with Edwin Outwater, who contributes keyboards and leads the orchestral players from the LA Philharmonic on Portals — and with whom Kirk had previously collaborated on Metallica's S&M2 concerts and releases). Other familiar names amongst the Portals players include drummers Jon Theodore and Abraham Laboriel, Greg Fidelman on bass, Emmy-winning arranger Blake Neely, and Bob Rock.
Photo by Ross Halfin
