The second Explorer had the words 1984 Gibson Explorer “So What” written on it in 1985. James used it as a backup guitar from around 1984 to 1988.Īlthough almost identical to the “So What” Explorer, this one featured different stickers on it – making it easier to separate the two. This guitar is essentially a twin sister to the previously mentioned Gibson Explorer. Just like his Electra Flying V, James restored his white Explorer and played it on “Death Magnetic” in 2008.

EMGs didn’t come into play until the EP: Garage Days Re-revisited (1987) and …And Justice for All (1988). Knowing that, and the fact that this was James’ favorite guitar at the time, the album Ride the Lightning (1984) was largely recorded using this particular guitar equipped with the stock Gibson pickups. This guitar was originally equipped with Gibson Dirty Fingers pickups (496R/500T ), but sometime in the late 80s – presumably around 1987 when Kirk Hammett switched to EMGs as well – James took the pickups out and replaced them with the EMG 81/60 set. What soon came to be his main one was a white 1984 Gibson Explorer decorated with a sticker on it reading “So What”. He changed a couple of things, including the pickups which he replaced with the EMG 81/60 set, and reparation of the headstock which was broken more than one time in the past.Īfter the neck snapped on his Electra Flying V in 1984, James started using couple of different guitars. Just prior to recording “Death Magnetic” in 2008 James decided to restore this guitar. He played it on Metallica’s first album “Kill ’em All”, and kept playing it up until 1984 when the neck snapped after an accident on stage. At that point the guitar had two Seymour Duncan Invader humbuckers, a Tune-o-Matic Bridge.

James bought this guitar in 1980 for $200, and it was his second electric guitar. If still in his possession, this guitar certainly holds a great sentimental value since James mother died just year later after buying him this guitar. James used this guitar to write some of his first songs, and while in playing couple of high school bands. What happened to it after Metallica was formed is unfortunately unknown, since James started using a white Flying V by that time. His mother helped him out with the payment, which was around $200. James bought this guitar from a friend from high school who played with him in the school’s jazz band. James Hetfield’s Electric Guitars: 1969 Gibson SG Standard His early sound was a result of using a Mesa Boogie Mark IIC+ as preamp slaved into moded 100W Marshall JCM800 for the dirty tones, while using a Roland JC120 for cleans.

Since the late 80s he’s been almost exclusively using ESP guitars, equipped with a pair of EMG 81/60 pickups – which eventually led to James’ own signature pickups dubbed the “Het” Set released in 2009. In 2009, Hetfield was ranked number 8 in Joel McIver’s book The 100 Greatest Metal Guitarists.Īs far as his gear goes, James started out with a relatively cheap Gibson Flying V copy which he used on Metallica’s debut album “Kill ’em All”, but soon replaced it with a couple of white 1984 Gibson Explorers that served him well for the next two albums. Since then, Metallica has earned nine Grammy Awards and gone on to release nine studio albums, three live albums, four EPs, 24 music videos, and 45 singles. Hetfield co-founded Metallica in October 1981 after answering a classified advertisement by drummer Lars Ulrich in a Los Angeles newspaper, searching for band mates. James Alan Hetfield (born Augin Downey, California, United States) is the rhythm guitarist, co-founder, main songwriter, and lead vocalist for the American heavy metal band Metallica.

James hetfield done time