The ESP Custom Shop Kirk Hammett Signature KH1 KH-1 Flying V Black is an Esp electric guitar. Close alternatives include the ESP LTD Kirk Hammett Signature White Zombie Electric Guitar and the ESP Custom V Red Sparkle. It pairs well with the Peavey VTM-120 and the Magnatone Super Fifteen 15W 1x12 Combo.
ESP Custom Shop Kirk Hammett Signature KH1 KH-1 Flying V Black
Esp · electric guitar
The ESP Custom Shop Kirk Hammett Signature KH-1 in black is a Flying V built to the Metallica guitarists specification, drawing on the aggressive angular shape Gibson introduced in the 1950s but built to ESPs high-gain metal-oriented standards with active or hot-output pickups suited to Hammetts lead and rhythm playing. Hammett has been an ESP signature artist since the mid-1990s, and the KH-1 designation marks one of the earliest and most enduring models in that long-running partnership. It suits metal and hard rock players wanting a Flying V voiced for high gain.
- articulate
- complex
- metal
- bloom
- sustain
- high gain
- midrange
- gain
Genres the ESP Custom Shop Kirk Hammett Signature KH1 KH-1 Flying V Black is commonly used in
- Metal
- Hard Rock
- Heavy Metal
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Djent
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Progressive Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the ESP Custom Shop Kirk Hammett Signature KH1 KH-1 Flying V Black
Peavey VTM-120
Peavey
30% matchThe VTM-120's tight, aggressive metal gain gives the KH1's articulate, high-gain pickups serious weight to push against.
Magnatone Super Fifteen 15W 1x12 Combo
Magnatone
29% matchThe Super Fifteen's bold, punchy pitch-vibrato gives the KH1's articulate, high-gain pickups a genuinely unexpected amp voice to sing through.
Marshall JCM800 2203
Marshall
29% matchDocumented together — the JCM800's aggressive midrange gain gives the KH1's articulate, high-gain pickups a genuinely classic metal amp voice to push into. — also used together by 1 artist
PRS Archon
PRS
28% matchBoth aim squarely at metal lead tone — the KH-1's high-gain humbuckers and the Archon's modern high-gain voicing don't have to fight each other.
Fender Hot Rod Series Blues Junior 15W 1x12 Tube Guitar
amplifier
23% matchThe KH-1's articulate, sustain-heavy metal pickups are a sharper edge than the Blues Junior's own natural, balanced blues voice usually gets.
Peavey Invective 120
Peavey
23% matchThe Invective's tight, gated metal channel gives the KH1's articulate, high-gain pickups a controlled amp voice to sing through.
Carr Viceroy Combo 2x12" Black
Carr
22% matchThe KH1's articulate, high-gain pickups suit the Viceroy's explosive, dynamic crunch — plenty of headroom for that metal bite to bloom.
Soldano SLO 100R
Soldano
22% matchThe SLO 100R's quiet, studio-grade headroom gives the KH1's articulate, high-gain pickups a genuinely clean amp voice to sing through.
See all 69 amps that pair with the ESP Custom Shop Kirk Hammett Signature KH1 KH-1 Flying V Black →
Pedals that stack with the ESP Custom Shop Kirk Hammett Signature KH1 KH-1 Flying V Black
Soldano SLO
Soldano
28% matchPush the SLO pedal's tight, articulate high-gain platform with the KH-1's sustain-forward pickups for a rowdier, more saturated lead tone.
Sola Sound Tone Bender MkII
Sola Sound
27% matchThe KH-1's articulate, high-gain-ready pickups push the Tone Bender's throaty germanium fuzz hard enough to keep definition on fast runs.
Benson Amps Delay PT2399 Echo
Benson Amps
tonal matchESP Custom Shop Kirk Hammett Signature KH1 KH-1 Flying V Black leans into a clean amp's front end, precisely the platform Benson Amps Delay PT2399 Echo wants — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Beetronics Wannabee
Beetronics
tonal matchInto ESP Custom Shop Kirk Hammett Signature KH1 KH-1 Flying V Black, Beetronics Wannabee is right at home: it's built around a clean amp's front end
DOD YJM308 Preamp Overdrive
Dod
tonal matchDOD YJM308 Preamp Overdrive's own voicing points at a clean amp's front end, and ESP Custom Shop Kirk Hammett Signature KH1 KH-1 Flying V Black delivers it
Laney TI-Boost
Laney
tonal matchLaney TI-Boost is voiced for a clean amp's front end — ESP Custom Shop Kirk Hammett Signature KH1 KH-1 Flying V Black gives it exactly that
Mooer Flex Boost
Mooer
tonal matchMooer Flex Boost's own voicing points at a clean amp's front end, and ESP Custom Shop Kirk Hammett Signature KH1 KH-1 Flying V Black delivers it
Electro-Harmonix Nano Deluxe MM
Electro-Harmonix
tonal matchESP Custom Shop Kirk Hammett Signature KH1 KH-1 Flying V Black leans into a clean amp's front end, precisely the platform Electro-Harmonix Nano Deluxe MM wants — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Alternativessee all similar tone character →
ESP LTD Kirk Hammett Signature White Zombie Electric Guitar
Esp
70% similarity“ESP's documented Kirk Hammett signature guitars, including the KH-1 Flying V and the horror-themed Mummy model”
ESP Custom V Red Sparkle
Esp
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Charvel Model 2 (1980s)
electric guitar
94% similaritysimilar tone character
ESP Phoenix
electric guitar
94% similaritysimilar tone character
Gibson Buckethead Les Paul
Gibson
94% similaritysimilar tone character
Dean V
Dean
94% similaritysimilar tone character
Hamer Phantom GT
Hamer
94% similaritysimilar tone character
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the ESP Custom Shop Kirk Hammett Signature KH1 KH-1 Flying V Black?+
The closest matches in character are the ESP LTD Kirk Hammett Signature White Zombie Electric Guitar, the ESP Custom V Red Sparkle, the Charvel Model 2 (1980s).
What pairs well with the ESP Custom Shop Kirk Hammett Signature KH1 KH-1 Flying V Black?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Peavey VTM-120, Magnatone Super Fifteen 15W 1x12 Combo, Marshall JCM800 2203 — The VTM-120's tight, aggressive metal gain gives the KH1's articulate, high-gain pickups serious weight to push against..