The ESP Iron Cross is an Esp electric guitar, currently around $1418.53. Close alternatives include the ESP Vulture and the B.C. Rich Beast. It pairs well with the Orange Rockerverb 50 MkIII 2-Channel 50W Head and the Blackstar St. James 100.
ESP Iron Cross
Esp · electric guitar
The ESP Iron Cross is a James Hetfield signature guitar based on his personal custom design, a Les Paul-style single-cutaway with a set mahogany body and maple cap, three-piece mahogany neck, ebony fingerboard and an iron cross inlay at the twelfth fret. It is loaded with his EMG JH Het Set active humbuckers and a TonePros locking bridge. The pickups deliver the brutal, tight, high-output EMG metal voice Hetfield is known for, with crisp highs, tight bass and a pronounced midrange, but add an old-school clarity from their passive-style visible pole pieces. Reviewers note it handles clean, blues and even jazz tones better than most metal guitars. It is tied to heavy metal and thrash.
- metal
- tight
- midrange
- clarity
- rhythm
- jazz
- blues
- thrash
Price updated Aug 27, 2026
Genres the ESP Iron Cross is commonly used in
- Heavy Metal
- Blues
- Metal
- Jazz
- Thrash Metal
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Hard Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the ESP Iron Cross
Orange Rockerverb 50 MkIII 2-Channel 50W Head
Orange
17% matchESP Iron Cross's tight character and Orange Rockerverb 50 MkIII 2-Channel 50W Head's full voice sit in the same lane rather than fighting each other
Blackstar St. James 100
Blackstar
17% matchBlackstar St. James 100's high gain fills in what this transparent tone doesn't make on its own
Synergy SL2 Module
Synergy
tonal matchInto a transparent tone, Synergy SL2 Module brings the high gain it's missing
Friedman BE-Mini Head
Friedman
tonal matchThe transparent tone has headroom to spare — Friedman BE-Mini Head gives it high gain to fill it with
Hughes & Kettner Warp 7
Hughes & Kettner
tonal matchInto a transparent tone, Hughes & Kettner Warp 7 brings the high gain it's missing
Ceriatone 2202H
Ceriatone
tonal matchInto a transparent tone, Ceriatone 2202H brings the high gain it's missing
Hiwatt Hi-Gain 100W Head
Hiwatt
tonal matchInto a transparent tone, Hiwatt Hi-Gain 100W Head brings the high gain it's missing
Friedman Jose LTD
Friedman
tonal matchThe transparent tone has headroom to spare — Friedman Jose LTD gives it high gain to fill it with
Pedals that stack with the ESP Iron Cross
Wren and Cuff Box of War OG
Wren And Cuff
18% matchWren and Cuff Box of War OG's fuzzy fills in what this transparent tone doesn't make on its own
ThorpyFX The Dane
ThorpyFX
18% matchInto a transparent tone, ThorpyFX The Dane brings the fuzzy it's missing
Black Arts Toneworks LSTR Fuzz
Black Arts Toneworks
tonal matchBlack Arts Toneworks LSTR Fuzz's own voicing points at a clean amp's front end, and ESP Iron Cross delivers it
Dr. Scientist Frazz Dazzler V2
Dr Scientist
tonal matchThe transparent tone has headroom to spare — Dr. Scientist Frazz Dazzler V2 gives it fuzzy to fill it with
Electro-Harmonix EH-1335/EH-3075 Hot Tubes
Electro-Harmonix
tonal matchESP Iron Cross leans into a clean amp's front end, precisely the platform Electro-Harmonix EH-1335/EH-3075 Hot Tubes wants
MXR M249 Super Badass Dynamic O.D.
MXR
tonal matchESP Iron Cross leans into a clean amp's front end, precisely the platform MXR M249 Super Badass Dynamic O.D. wants
Catalinbread MontaVillian
Catalinbread
tonal matchCatalinbread MontaVillian's own voicing points at a clean amp's front end, and ESP Iron Cross delivers it — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Ashdown Geezer Butler Signature
Ashdown
tonal matchInto ESP Iron Cross, Ashdown Geezer Butler Signature is right at home: it's built around a clean amp's front end
Boutique & premium upgrades
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
ESP Vulture
Esp
97% similaritysimilar tone character
B.C. Rich Beast
B.C. Rich
96% similaritysimilar tone character
Gibson ES-350T
Gibson
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Dean V
Dean
95% similaritysimilar tone character
ESP Truckster
Esp
95% similaritysimilar tone character
ESP Phoenix
electric guitar
95% similaritysimilar tone character
See all alternatives to the ESP Iron Cross (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the ESP Iron Cross?+
The closest matches in character are the ESP Vulture, the B.C. Rich Beast, the Gibson ES-350T. Boutique upgrades: 1955 Gibson Les Paul Goldtop.
What pairs well with the ESP Iron Cross?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Orange Rockerverb 50 MkIII 2-Channel 50W Head, Blackstar St. James 100, Synergy SL2 Module — ESP Iron Cross's tight character and Orange Rockerverb 50 MkIII 2-Channel 50W Head's full voice sit in the same lane rather than fighting each other.
How much does the ESP Iron Cross cost?+
Around $1418.53 (live listing price, updated Aug 27, 2026).