Kirk Hammett, lead guitarist of Metallica, recently opened up about his prized guitar collection and the deep significance some instruments hold for him—especially one rare piece formerly owned by Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist John Frusciante. In a conversation with Guitar World, Hammett shared how he considers Frusciante a kindred spirit, describing him as “super-eccentric,” a trait he sees in himself as well. This connection adds another layer of appreciation to the three-pickup 1961 Gibson SG that now sits among Hammett’s most cherished guitars.
The acquisition of this SG was a special moment for Hammett, who had been on the hunt for exceptional models of that kind for years. While acknowledging the difficulty in finding high-quality SGs, he expressed his admiration for Frusciante not just as a musician, but as a person. Owning a guitar that Frusciante once played feels, to Hammett, like a true honor, further enriching the personal and historical weight of his collection.
Hammett revealed that his fascination with SGs didn’t take full form until around Metallica’s Load era. One standout guitar from that period is a white two-pickup SG featured in the Gibson-issued book The Collection: Kirk Hammett. Unbeknownst to him at first, this instrument had belonged to none other than Les Paul himself. Les Paul had played the guitar on an album, adding a surreal twist to Hammett’s initial discovery. This moment underlines how many of Hammett’s instruments carry unexpected and powerful legacies.
The Metallica guitarist also discussed how, over the years, iconic guitars once played by rock legends have gradually found their way into his hands. Among them is Michael Schenker’s Flying V, a guitar Hammett had long admired since his teenage years. He recalled gazing at it on the back cover of UFO’s Force It album, awestruck by its design and mystique. Decades later, that very instrument—now painted in a style reminiscent of a V-2 rocket—sits in his collection. Hammett even speculated that Schenker himself might not recognize it in its current form.
While Hammett doesn’t keep track of the exact monetary value of his guitar arsenal, he acknowledges that the collection has appreciated significantly over the years. Many of his acquisitions were made before the vintage guitar market exploded, and some were secured through trades rather than cash. He believes that if he ever decided to sell everything, the proceeds could buy “at least a nice house somewhere.” However, for Hammett, the true worth of these instruments lies in their history, emotional connection, and the stories they carry—not in their market price.
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