Review of the ESP LTD KH-202 BLK Kirk Hammett Electric guitar. Where to buy it?

I’ll tell you how this post is built. First I list the features of the ESP LTD KH-202 BLK Kirk Hammett guitar. Then you have a video or two, purchase links and useful comments from other users and then you have one of the most useful parts; comparison tables with similar items so you can compare.

  • Kirk Hammett (Metallica) Signature Model
  • Body: Basswood
  • Bolt-on neck: Maple
  • Fretboard: Roasted jatoba
  • Radius: 350 mm
  • Nut width: 42 mm
  • Scale: 648 mm
  • 24 XJ Frets
  • Pickups: 2x ESP-designed LH-301N (neck) / LH-301B (bridge) humbuckers
  • Controls: 2 x Volume- and 1 x tone
  • 3-Way toggle switch
  • Floyd Rose special tremolo
  • LTD machine heads
  • Black hardware
  • Colour: Black
  • Optional case available under Article Nr 177636

review esp-ltd-kh-202-blk-kirk-hammett

This guitar usually has a price around 518.00 €

Now that we’ve seen the features of this guitar ESP LTD KH-202 BLK Kirk Hammett watch these related videos to learn more.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lx44ZhHCOrg

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Some comments from people who come to the forum about this model:

Comment:

For a budget guitar, it feels very premium!
Ticks all the boxes I was looking for in a new guitar:
24 XJ-frets
Floyd Rose
Thin Neck
Well balanced
Gig worthy

Also, the passive pickups are quiet aggressive, I’m thinking I won’t bother converting the guitar to active pickups, maybe in the future

Since getting the guitar I’ve re-stringed with ernie ball extra slinky and the guitar has stayed mostly in tune over the last 2 weeks and I am fairly tremolo happy

Visually the guitar looks great, I immediately associate the looks with the Black album era of Metallica. Just watch A Year & A Half In The Life Of Metallica part 1 when Kirk nails the Unforgiven solo!

Overall, the guitar is perfect for what it is. My ratings is based on the price, it think it would be unfair to compare to a more deluxe model or premium guitar. The guitar is well made and has some great features like Floyd Rose Special. ESP humbuckers, 24 XJ-Frets. Visually you get the upside down headstock and skull & crossbones inlays, the Kirk Hammett look basically

Out of the box, the only thing I needed to do was adjust the Floyd Rose, action was just too low and I got buzzing frets. Don’t "fret" if this happens to you (sorry for the bad pun), just re-adjust and carry on 🙂

Comment:

You don’t love this guitar that much until you plug it in and play some Metallica stuff. it juist feels right. The sound is very aggressive and heavy, but passive pick-ups give you smooth clean tone. The Floyd rose system is pretty nice, keeps tune for a long time but not that perfect. The quality is so nice, guitar is ready to play just as you take it from the box. Highly recommend this guitar!

ESP LTD KH-202 BLK Kirk Hammett vs ESP LTD KH 602 BLK

The guitar ESP LTD KH-202 BLK Kirk Hammettis usually 592 € cheaper than ESP LTD KH 602 BLK.

Below have a look to the video of this guitar

ESP LTD KH-202 BLK Kirk Hammett

ESP LTD KH 602 BLK
  • Kirk Hammett (Metallica) Signature Model
  • Body: Basswood
  • Bolt-on neck: Maple
  • Fretboard: Roasted jatoba
  • Radius: 350 mm
  • Nut width: 42 mm
  • Scale: 648 mm
  • 24 XJ Frets
  • Pickups: 2x ESP-designed LH-301N (neck) / LH-301B (bridge) humbuckers
  • Controls: 2 x Volume- and 1 x tone
  • 3-Way toggle switch
  • Floyd Rose special tremolo
  • LTD machine heads
  • Black hardware
  • Colour: Black
  • Optional case available under Article Nr 177636
  • Kirk Hammett (Metallica) Signature Model
  • Body: Alder
  • Neck-thru-body: Maple
  • Fretboard: Pau Ferro (Libidibia ferrea)
  • Neck profile: Extra Thin U
  • 24 Extra jumbo frets
  • Locking nut
  • Nut width: 42 mm (1.65″)
  • Scale: 648 mm (25.5″)
  • Fretboard radius: 350 mm (13.78″)
  • Pickups: 2 Active EMG Bone Breaker humbuckers
  • 2 Volume controls and 1 tone control
  • 3-Way toggle switch
  • Floyd Rose 1000 tremolo
  • LTD machine heads
  • Black hardware
  • Ex-factory stringing: D’Addario XL120 .009 – .042
  • Colour: Black
  • Case included

Below have a look to the video of this guitar ESP LTD KH 602 BLK

ESP LTD KH602 - Kirk Hammett signature

If you want to know more about this option, click on the following link to see the ESP LTD KH 602 BLK review

ESP LTD KH-202 BLK Kirk Hammett vs Fender Player Series Strat MN BCR

The guitar ESP LTD KH-202 BLK Kirk Hammettis usually 37 € cheaper than Fender Player Series Strat MN BCR, but the difference is so small that this can vary..

Below have a look to the video of this guitar

ESP LTD KH-202 BLK Kirk Hammett

Fender Player Series Strat MN BCR
  • Kirk Hammett (Metallica) Signature Model
  • Body: Basswood
  • Bolt-on neck: Maple
  • Fretboard: Roasted jatoba
  • Radius: 350 mm
  • Nut width: 42 mm
  • Scale: 648 mm
  • 24 XJ Frets
  • Pickups: 2x ESP-designed LH-301N (neck) / LH-301B (bridge) humbuckers
  • Controls: 2 x Volume- and 1 x tone
  • 3-Way toggle switch
  • Floyd Rose special tremolo
  • LTD machine heads
  • Black hardware
  • Colour: Black
  • Optional case available under Article Nr 177636
  • Body: Alder
  • Maple neck
  • Fretboard: Maple
  • Matte neck finish
  • 22 Frets
  • Scale: 648 mm
  • Nut width: 42 mm
  • Pickups: 3 New Player AlNiCo V single coils
  • Controls: Volume, tone (neck & middle) and tone (bridge)
  • 5-Way toggle switch
  • 2-Point tremolo
  • Standard sealed machine heads
  • Ex-factory stringing: Fender .009 – .042 (article nr 133191)
  • Colour: Buttercream

Below have a look to the video of this guitar Fender Player Series Strat MN BCR

Fender Stratocaster Player Series HSS MN BCR | demo

If you want to know more about this option, click on the following link to see the Fender Player Series Strat MN BCR review

ESP LTD KH-202 BLK Kirk Hammett vs Fender Player Series Strat MN PWT

The guitar ESP LTD KH-202 BLK Kirk Hammettis usually 37 € cheaper than Fender Player Series Strat MN PWT, but the difference is so small that this can vary..

Below have a look to the video of this guitar

ESP LTD KH-202 BLK Kirk Hammett

Fender Player Series Strat MN PWT
  • Kirk Hammett (Metallica) Signature Model
  • Body: Basswood
  • Bolt-on neck: Maple
  • Fretboard: Roasted jatoba
  • Radius: 350 mm
  • Nut width: 42 mm
  • Scale: 648 mm
  • 24 XJ Frets
  • Pickups: 2x ESP-designed LH-301N (neck) / LH-301B (bridge) humbuckers
  • Controls: 2 x Volume- and 1 x tone
  • 3-Way toggle switch
  • Floyd Rose special tremolo
  • LTD machine heads
  • Black hardware
  • Colour: Black
  • Optional case available under Article Nr 177636
  • Body: Alder
  • Maple neck
  • Fretboard: Maple
  • Matte neck finish
  • 22 Frets
  • Scale: 648 mm
  • Nut width: 42 mm
  • Pickups: 3 New Player AlNiCo V single coils
  • Controls: Volume, tone (neck & middle) and tone (bridge)
  • 5-Way toggle switch
  • 2-Point tremolo
  • Standard sealed machine heads
  • Ex-factory stringing: Fender .009 – .042 (article nr 133191)
  • Colour: Polar white

Below have a look to the video of this guitar Fender Player Series Strat MN PWT

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0lPIkYB5mnE

If you want to know more about this option, click on the following link to see the Fender Player Series Strat MN PWT review

ESP LTD KH-202 BLK Kirk Hammett vs Fender Player Series Strat MN TPL

The guitar ESP LTD KH-202 BLK Kirk Hammettis usually 37 € cheaper than Fender Player Series Strat MN TPL, but the difference is so small that this can vary..

Below have a look to the video of this guitar

ESP LTD KH-202 BLK Kirk Hammett

Fender Player Series Strat MN TPL
  • Kirk Hammett (Metallica) Signature Model
  • Body: Basswood
  • Bolt-on neck: Maple
  • Fretboard: Roasted jatoba
  • Radius: 350 mm
  • Nut width: 42 mm
  • Scale: 648 mm
  • 24 XJ Frets
  • Pickups: 2x ESP-designed LH-301N (neck) / LH-301B (bridge) humbuckers
  • Controls: 2 x Volume- and 1 x tone
  • 3-Way toggle switch
  • Floyd Rose special tremolo
  • LTD machine heads
  • Black hardware
  • Colour: Black
  • Optional case available under Article Nr 177636
  • Body: Alder
  • Maple neck
  • Fretboard: Maple
  • Matte neck finish
  • 22 Frets
  • Scale: 648 mm
  • Nut width: 42 mm
  • Pickups: 3 New Player AlNiCo V single coils
  • Controls: Volume, tone (neck & middle) and tone (bridge)
  • 5-Way toggle switch
  • 2-Point tremolo
  • Standard sealed machine heads
  • Ex-factory stringing: Fender .009 – .042 (article nr 133191)
  • Colour: Tidepool

Below have a look to the video of this guitar Fender Player Series Strat MN TPL

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0lPIkYB5mnE

If you want to know more about this option, click on the following link to see the Fender Player Series Strat MN TPL review

Where to buy the guitar ESP LTD KH-202 BLK Kirk Hammett

Thomann

  • Free Shipping.
  • Full warranty. If you have any problems, they take care of everything.
  • 100% reliable payment.
  • Leader in trouble-free shipping.
  • Usually Best price.
  • Best Reputation: They are the leading online store in Europe and have the best catalogue and information.

Amazon

  • Free Shipping and possibility of shipping in one day with Amazon Premium.
  • Full Guarantee but they are no experts in music equipment.
  • Sometimes better price.
  • He’s got worse stock than Thomann.

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Jaime Echagüe

Hi! I'm Jaime Echagüe, a musician and an authentic fan of musical instruments. With this blog I want to give general information about musical instruments in an easy, direct and honest way. I hope you enjoy my website and that you find it very useful.

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