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Used ESP LTD Kirk Hammett Signature Demonology - Black
listed for $1470.00
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ESP LTD Kirk Hammett Signature Demonology - Black

Solidbody Electric Guitar with Alder Body, Maple Neck, Ebony Fingerboard, 2 Humbucking Pickups, and Floyd Rose Tremolo - Black with Demonology Graphic
$1,699.00

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ESP LTD Kirk Hammett Signature Demonology - Black
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Unique Demonology Graphic

The ESP LTD Kirk Hammett signature Demonology solidbody electric guitar is a bold-looking addition to Kirk's lauded line of instruments. It boasts the same iconic body style, duo of high-output active EMG Bone Breaker humbucking pickups, and rock-solid Floyd Rose that have made these guitars popular. But the Demonology is clothed in a striking Demonology graphic that is sure to turn heads at your next gig. If you're surfing the Sweetwater site for a guitar that looks as aggressive as it plays and sounds, stop at the LTD Demonology — you've found your guitar.

Hammett's Demonology delivers savage looks

Nothing screams hard rock like ESP's high-mass, double-cutaway alder design, which gives the ESP Demonology incredible sustain and incredible bite. Its unique graphic finish is based on a guitar that Hammett is working hard on Metallica's world tours. Not only does the finish stand out, but the all-black hardware — including a bullet-proof Floyd Rose double-locking tremolo — furthers its sinister appearance.

ESP LTD — the perfect guitar for rock or metal

ESP LTD guitars were created to bring more affordable versions of their classic designs and quality to a new market. The entire ESP LTD line of instruments features premium tonewoods, quality pickups, and solid hardware for a lifetime of use. An exacting eye to detail and quality means that every instrument is ready to rock when it leaves the factory. An impressive list of signature guitars by some of today's biggest guitar heroes shows the popularity and respect held by ESP LTD.

EMG humbucking pickups

Hard rockers and aggressive players have turned to EMG active pickups for years for their amazing tone, exceptional dynamic response, and reliable performance. Delivering the Demonology's tone are EMG Bone Breaker humbucking pickups. The high output and extended low and high frequencies are fantastic for pummeling your amplifier. And the humbucker in the neck position retains a bell-like clarity through even the highest gain settings.

ESP LTD Demonology Solidbody Electric Guitar Features:

  • Kirk Hammett signature guitar with striking graphic
  • Neck-through-body construction adds great sustain
  • Deeply contoured alder body with double cutaway
  • Maple neck with extra-thin "U" shape and ebony fingerboard
  • 1.614" locking nut; 24 extra-jumbo frets
  • Floyd Rose double-locking tremolo for ultimate pitch control
  • Active EMG Bone Breaker humbucking pickups

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Tech Specs

  • General
  • Number of Strings 6
  • Left-/Right-handed Right-handed
  • Body
  • Body Type Solidbody
  • Body Shape Hammett
  • Body Material Alder
  • Body Finish Gloss
  • Color Black with Demonology graphics
  • Neck
  • Neck Material 3-piece Maple
  • Neck Shape Extra Thin U
  • Neck Joint Neck-through
  • Radius 13.77"
  • Fingerboard Material Macassar Ebony
  • Fingerboard Inlay Skull & Crossbones
  • Number of Frets 24, Extra Jumbo
  • Scale Length 25.5"
  • Nut Width 1.653"
  • Nut Material Locking
  • Hardware
  • Bridge/Tailpiece Floyd Rose Tremolo
  • Tuners LTD tuning machines
  • Electronics
  • Neck Pickup EMG Bone Breaker Humbucker
  • Bridge Pickup EMG Bone Breaker Humbucker
  • Controls 2 x volume, 1 x tone
  • Switching 3-way blade pickup switch
  • Miscellaneous
  • Strings D'Addario, .009-.042
  • Case/Gig Bag Tombstone Hardshell Case
  • Manufacturer Part Number: LKHDEMON

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Customer Reviews

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Rated 5/5

Stunning Quality

This is my first instrument from the ESP family of brands, and if ESP are slumming with their popularly-priced LTD line of guitars and basses, I can only imagine what the "real" ESPs are like now.
I've played plenty of LTDs and a few of the older ESP Standards over the years, and while some budget LTDs might have failed to impress, the nicer ones have been very good guitars. An encounter with a newer KH-602 a while back got me to thinking that LTD these days has it going on, kind of like Schecter — just killing it for certain types of mid-priced instruments.
I'm something of a Jackson and Ibanez fan going way back, with some Fender and Gibson and others. I have some nice Japanese and American guitars, a few of which cost a lot more than the Demonology (especially adjusted for inflation and considering some newer pricing strategies). Some of them are fancier, but I don't think any of them actually beat it for playability or tone. An old SL3 import Soloist, that got a Floyd Rose Original early on, is rather close in feel, but it didn't come with a fret job nearly as good as what's on this LTD. It's kind of shocking how good it really is.
The feature set is very smart. As a "VVT", having a separate volume for each pickup on a two-humbucker guitar makes a lot of sense. It's the first Strat-shaped guitar I've had with two volume knobs, and of course I'm constantly grabbing the neck volume to adjust the bridge volume. I'll get used to it. The tone knob is a good idea; I could see myself putting in an EMG concentric BTC at some point. The 3-way knife switch, I actually prefer in some ways over a toggle, especially on a guitar shaped like this. Force of habit.
The pickups are Kirk's signature EMG Bone Breakers, the bridge based on an 81 and the neck on a 60A. I have a lot of experience with the 81, and I think the BB bridge is a little less compressed and cleans up better than an 81 — not just clean-clean, but with crunch and overdrive amp tones that fall short of full high-gain saturation. You can bust out classic rock riffs convincingly, at least more so than with the 81. The neck pickup, I've never spent much time with the 60-series pickups, but I'm really loving the Bone Breaker neck model. I don't think I've ever been this happy with the sound of a neck humbucker in a 24-fret guitar. It can do sweet and singing like very few others I've tried, sailing right between the extremes of brittle and syrupy with a lot of rich complexity and character. Playing with the volume and tone knobs, and different amp tones and playing styles, all bring out different things in it. Love it, love it, love it.
The hardware is good stuff. The bridge is a Floyd Rose 1000, which these days I'm having a harder and harder time telling from an OFR, especially in terms of feel and tone. The nut is sized so that it sits slightly inside the edges of the neck, which I like because I can't feel it sticking out when I'm playing first-position chords and the like. The top outside corners of the outer string guides, where they flair out a bit, do poke the sides of your thumb and forefinger, if you slide all the way to the headstock. This is the kind of thing I file and sand down when the nut isn't made from plated steel; not sure how I want to handle this without making it look trashy. The LTD-branded tuners are as good as any house-brand inline non-locking tuners I've used. The battery cover on the back is held in place not with wood screws but with machine screws that thread into metal body inserts. This is a nice touch. The Demonology graphic is fairly tame by Kirk standards, conveying all the seriousness of a shiny black shred machine with just a touch of ominous supernatural whimsy.
It plays great. The bridge was floating rather high when the guitar arrived, but I've just tightened the springs and retuned to bring it down parallel with the body. At that point the action was pretty low with no buzz and just a touch of relief, and the intonation was almost exactly there. I think I'm going to keep this one set pretty low with a standard 9-42 set in standard tuning. The fret crown and polish is so good that every single note rings out consistently. As I've gotten used to seeing on a good neck-through, there are no duff notes or dead spots. Chords, double stops, bends, vibrato, soaring lead lines, crunchy thrash riffs, everything comes out the way it's supposed to. I think I've played two guitars in my life that hands-down played decidedly better. Both of them were ugly and three times the price.
I'm very pleased with the LTD Demonology. I know ESP makes a version of this guitar that costs… a bit more… but the LTD delivers everything I really wanted in a guitar like this. Even at this midrange price that's kind of the poor cousin to what he actually plays, I kind of feel like Kirk Hammett wants his fans to have nice things.
I have to mention my Sweetwater Sales Engineer, Cliff Hackleman. Cliff has been great to work with these past few years, and he's one of the reasons I keep coming back to Sweetwater. (But do I ever really leave? No, not really,)
Music background: De Facto Solo Specialist, Demonologist
Rated 5/5

The best purchase

A very comfortable guitar with very powerful tones, gloss finish with demonology symbols, I am delighted with this guitar, the only negative point is that the guitar arrived a little scratched but this guitar is the best I have ever had
Rated 5/5

One of the Best guitars I have ever played

This thing came right out of the case in unreal playing action was perfect! By far the best guitar I have ever played that fast
Music background: Guitarist fot The Four Horsemen
Rated 5/5

Great sound!!

This is a great guitar for metal
Rated 5/5

Awesome Guitar!

I knew this guitar would be amazing before I ordered it, but it exceeded my expectations! I already own a custom shop ESP KH-2 Bolt-On made in 2000. This complements it perfectly. Being a neck thru, it has a deeper tone. The demonic runes look incredible. Very nice touch. I really like the feel of the painted neck. It's very smooth. Very different feel than the lacquered neck on the KH-2. The 81/60 pairing is also nice. My KH-2 has the old 81/81 pairing Kirk used to use. The case is also really something. Very unique. I just love this guitar!
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