When one of metal’s most iconic frontmen designs a guitar, you can expect nothing less than pure attitude and precision — and the ESP LTD James Hetfield Vulture delivers exactly that.

Crafted in collaboration with Metallica’s James Hetfield, the Vulture brings a fresh take to the classic V-style body, dressed in a stealthy Black Satin finish. With its sharp lines, aggressive tone, and high-performance build, this signature axe is built for commanding the stage and delivering punishing riffs with relentless clarity.

The set-neck construction ensures seamless access to all 22 extra-jumbo frets along the ebony fingerboard, which features Hetfield’s custom inlay and a fast-playing Thin U neck contour. The one-piece mahogany neck and matching mahogany body provide rich resonance and sustain, while the 24.75" scale keeps it familiar for Les Paul players wanting something far more sinister.

Loaded with Hetfield’s own EMG JH “Het Set” active pickups, this guitar punches with tight lows, aggressive mids, and the singing clarity needed for both chug-heavy rhythms and lead lines. With dual volume controls and a three-way toggle, you’ve got straightforward control with no-nonsense tone shaping.

Rugged black hardware includes Gotoh locking tuners, TonePros locking TOM bridge and tailpiece, and ESP strap locks to keep you locked in at all times — whether you’re tearing through solos or diving into detuned madness.

Each Vulture comes equipped with Elixir Nanoweb light gauge strings and ships in a form-fit hard case, ready for the road, studio, or stage.