Best ESP Guitars With EMG JH James Hetfield Pickups in 2024

Here you'll find the best ESP guitars with EMG JH James Hetfield pickups.

After comparing the 2000+ guitars in our database, these are the best scoring ones with these characteristics. You can use our filters to the left to narrow down these results, or click on "Compare" to get a deep comparison between them. Our automated scoring system takes into account the ratings from ours users who own the guitar, and dozens of parameters to determine the build quality, playability, pickups quality, value for money, and more.

There are affiliate links on this page that may earn us a commission if you purchase after clicking. We are members of the Amazon Associates Program, and many others. However, we compare each guitar against each other under the same parameters, so this doesn't influence our scoring.

1. ESP Iron Cross

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ESP Iron Cross
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Playability 80
Sound 79
Build quality 77
Value for money 64
Overall Score 79

What our users think

  • Pickups noise: Slightly Noisy (1 vote)
  • Pickups power: Hot (1 vote)
Own it? Share your opinion
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  • 1 Prices - Used from $6,746.22 >
  • From ESP's 2014 Signature series
  • Made in Japan
  • 6 strings
  • 24.75"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Maple top
  • Mahogany body
  • 1Pc Mahogany neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: EMG JH James Hetfield (Humbucker/Active)
  • Neck pickup: EMG JH James Hetfield (Humbucker/Active)
  • 2 volume and 1 tone Bell knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Tonepros Locking TOM & Tailpiece bridge
  • Thin U Set neck
  • 22 XL Jumbo frets
  • Sperzel Locking tuners
  • See all specs and compare >
Show all Specs
  • 1 Prices - Used from $6,746.22 >
  • From ESP's 2014 Signature series
  • Made in Japan
  • 6 strings
  • 24.75"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Maple top
  • Mahogany body
  • 1Pc Mahogany neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: EMG JH James Hetfield (Humbucker/Active)
  • Neck pickup: EMG JH James Hetfield (Humbucker/Active)
  • 2 volume and 1 tone Bell knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Tonepros Locking TOM & Tailpiece bridge
  • Thin U Set neck
  • 22 XL Jumbo frets
  • Sperzel Locking tuners
  • See all specs and compare >
Strengths & Weaknesses
ESP Iron Cross
  • Locking Tuners
  • Made in Japan
  • Expensive Wood
  • Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Strap Lock
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio

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2. ESP Snakebyte Camo

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ESP Snakebyte Camo
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Playability 80
Sound 79
Build quality 75
Value for money 63
Overall Score 78

What our users think

  • Pickups noise: Slightly Noisy (1 vote)
  • Pickups power: Hot (1 vote)
Own it? Share your opinion
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  • 4 Prices - New from $1,899 >
  • From ESP's 2022 Signature series
  • Made in Japan
  • 6 strings
  • 24.75"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Mahogany body
  • 1Pc Mahogany neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: EMG JH James Hetfield (Humbucker/Active)
  • Neck pickup: EMG JH James Hetfield (Humbucker/Active)
  • 2 volume and 0 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Tonepros Locking TOM & Tailpiece bridge
  • Thin U Set neck
  • 22 XL Jumbo frets
  • Sperzel Locking tuners
  • See all specs and compare >
Show all Specs
  • 4 Prices - New from $1,899 >
  • From ESP's 2022 Signature series
  • Made in Japan
  • 6 strings
  • 24.75"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Mahogany body
  • 1Pc Mahogany neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: EMG JH James Hetfield (Humbucker/Active)
  • Neck pickup: EMG JH James Hetfield (Humbucker/Active)
  • 2 volume and 0 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Tonepros Locking TOM & Tailpiece bridge
  • Thin U Set neck
  • 22 XL Jumbo frets
  • Sperzel Locking tuners
  • See all specs and compare >
Strengths & Weaknesses
ESP Snakebyte Camo
  • Locking Tuners
  • Made in Japan
  • Expensive Wood
  • Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Strap Lock
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio

All Prices

3. ESP Vulture

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ESP Vulture
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Playability 80
Sound 79
Build quality 75
Value for money 63
Overall Score 78

What our users think

  • Pickups noise: Slightly Noisy (1 vote)
  • Pickups power: Hot (1 vote)
Own it? Share your opinion
FIND IT ON:
Reverb logoSweetwater logo
  • 2 Prices - New from $1,599 >
  • From ESP's 2016 Signature series
  • Made in Japan
  • 6 strings
  • 24.75"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Mahogany body
  • 1Pc Mahogany neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: EMG JH James Hetfield (Humbucker/Active)
  • Neck pickup: EMG JH James Hetfield (Humbucker/Active)
  • 2 volume and 0 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Tonepros Locking TOM & Tailpiece bridge
  • Thin U Set neck
  • 22 XL Jumbo frets
  • Gotoh Locking tuners
  • See all specs and compare >
Show all Specs
  • 2 Prices - New from $1,599 >
  • From ESP's 2016 Signature series
  • Made in Japan
  • 6 strings
  • 24.75"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Mahogany body
  • 1Pc Mahogany neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: EMG JH James Hetfield (Humbucker/Active)
  • Neck pickup: EMG JH James Hetfield (Humbucker/Active)
  • 2 volume and 0 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Tonepros Locking TOM & Tailpiece bridge
  • Thin U Set neck
  • 22 XL Jumbo frets
  • Gotoh Locking tuners
  • See all specs and compare >
Strengths & Weaknesses
ESP Vulture
  • Locking Tuners
  • Made in Japan
  • Expensive Wood
  • Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Strap Lock
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio

All Prices

4. ESP Snakebyte

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ESP Snakebyte
FIND IT ON:
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Playability 80
Sound 79
Build quality 75
Value for money 63
Overall Score 78

What our users think

  • Pickups noise: Slightly Noisy (1 vote)
  • Pickups power: Hot (1 vote)
Own it? Share your opinion
FIND IT ON:
Reverb logoSweetwater logo
  • 3 Prices - New from $1,899 >
  • From ESP's 2011 Signature series
  • Made in Japan
  • 6 strings
  • 24.75"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Mahogany body
  • 1Pc Mahogany neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: EMG JH James Hetfield (Humbucker/Active)
  • Neck pickup: EMG JH James Hetfield (Humbucker/Active)
  • 2 volume and 0 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Tonepros Locking TOM & Tailpiece bridge
  • Thin U Set neck
  • 22 XL Jumbo frets
  • Sperzel Locking tuners
  • See all specs and compare >
Show all Specs
  • 3 Prices - New from $1,899 >
  • From ESP's 2011 Signature series
  • Made in Japan
  • 6 strings
  • 24.75"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Mahogany body
  • 1Pc Mahogany neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: EMG JH James Hetfield (Humbucker/Active)
  • Neck pickup: EMG JH James Hetfield (Humbucker/Active)
  • 2 volume and 0 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Tonepros Locking TOM & Tailpiece bridge
  • Thin U Set neck
  • 22 XL Jumbo frets
  • Sperzel Locking tuners
  • See all specs and compare >
Strengths & Weaknesses
ESP Snakebyte
  • Locking Tuners
  • Made in Japan
  • Expensive Wood
  • Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Strap Lock
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio

All Prices

5. ESP Eclipse Custom

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ESP Eclipse Custom
FIND IT ON:
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Playability 80
Sound 78
Build quality 72
Value for money 62
Overall Score 77

What our users think

  • Pickups noise: Slightly Noisy (1 vote)
  • Pickups power: Hot (1 vote)
Own it? Share your opinion
FIND IT ON:
Reverb logoSweetwater logo
  • 3 Prices - New from $5,723.39 >
  • From ESP's 2017 Eclipse series
  • Made in Japan
  • 6 strings
  • 24.75"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Mahogany w/ Maple Cap body
  • Honduras Mahogany neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: EMG JH James Hetfield (Humbucker/Active)
  • Neck pickup: EMG JH James Hetfield (Humbucker/Active)
  • 2 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Tonepros Locking TOM & Gotoh Tailpiece bridge
  • Thin U Set neck
  • 22 XL Jumbo frets
  • Gotoh Locking tuners
  • See all specs and compare >
Show all Specs
  • 3 Prices - New from $5,723.39 >
  • From ESP's 2017 Eclipse series
  • Made in Japan
  • 6 strings
  • 24.75"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Mahogany w/ Maple Cap body
  • Honduras Mahogany neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: EMG JH James Hetfield (Humbucker/Active)
  • Neck pickup: EMG JH James Hetfield (Humbucker/Active)
  • 2 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Tonepros Locking TOM & Gotoh Tailpiece bridge
  • Thin U Set neck
  • 22 XL Jumbo frets
  • Gotoh Locking tuners
  • See all specs and compare >
Strengths & Weaknesses
ESP Eclipse Custom
  • Locking Tuners
  • Made in Japan
  • Expensive Wood
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Strap Lock
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No High-Quality Nut
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio

All Prices

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