ESP Snakebyte SW James Hetfield
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ESP
Snakebyte SW James Hetfield
Product Info
Article Number:
486724
Brand:
ESP
Model:
Snakebyte SW James Hetfield
Category:
Heavy Guitars
Price:
$6,488.90
* Prices may vary. Check retailer for current pricing and availability.
This Snakebyte is a serious instrument built for aggressive, high-gain playing. The combination of mahogany, ebony, and EMG JH pickups nails Hetfield's signature sound, and the Japanese craftsmanship ensures top-tier build quality. It’s a premium-priced axe geared towards experienced players seeking a focused, powerful metal machine.
Product Description
- ESP Snakebyte SW James Hetfield
- Electric Guitar
- James Hetfield (Metallica) signature model
- Body: Mahogany
- One-piece neck: Mahogany
- Fretboard: Ebony
- Scale: 628 mm (24.75")
- Fretboard radius: 305 mm
- Nut width: 42 mm (1.65")
- Frets: 22 XJ
- Pickups: 2 Active EMG JH humbuckers
- 2 Volume controls
- 3-Way switch
- Bridge & Tailpiece: TonePros locking Tune-O-Matic
- Machine heads: Sperzel locking
- Hardware: Black
- Strings: Elixir Nanoweb Light
- .010" - .046"
- Colour: Snow White
- Includes a Snakebyte form fit case
- Made in Japan
PROS
- • Mahogany body delivers a thick, resonant, and aggressive low-end response.
- • Active EMG JH pickups provide high-output, articulate crunch ideal for Metallica’s signature tone.
- • Ebony fretboard offers a slick, fast playing experience with excellent note definition.
- • Sperzel locking tuners guarantee exceptional tuning stability under heavy picking and aggressive playing.
CONS
- • The one-piece mahogany neck can feel substantial, potentially unwieldy for smaller players.
- • Active pickups require a power source, limiting versatility with passive amp setups.
- • The premium-priced tag makes it inaccessible for many aspiring guitarists.
Product Video
Key Features
Body Material
Mahogany
Neck Material
Mahogany
Fingerboard
Ebony
Pickups
Active EMG JH Humbuckers
Scale Length
628 mm (24.75 in)
Frets
22 XJ
Bridge
TonePros Locking Tune-O-Matic
Weight
Approximately 9.5 lbs (4.3 kg)
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Frequently Asked Questions
The one-piece mahogany neck is thicker and has a more substantial feel than some of ESP’s thinner profiles, offering excellent stability but a different playing experience.
While versatile, the active pickups thrive with high-gain amps, and you might need to adjust your amp’s EQ to tame their output with cleaner settings.
The shorter scale contributes to a slightly looser feel and a fatter low-end, which is characteristic of James Hetfield’s playing style and enhances sustain.
