Famous Guitarists Who Played the ESP JH-3

The JH-3 the third James Hetfield signature model by ESP, based on their existing Eclipse model, and featuring a custom tribal artwork designed by James Hetfield himself. It boasted a combination of an alder body, a maple neck, and a rosewood fretboard, along with 22 extra-jumbo frets and special “flag” inlays on the 1st and 12th frets. The hardware stood out with its all gold-plated components, including custom-designed pickup covers for the EMG 81/60 set.

An interesting feature of the JH-3 was its dual pickup switches: one placed in the typical top position and another near the tone and volume controls. Only the lower switch was operational, while the top switch was purely decorative, enhancing the guitar’s visual appeal.

Produced in an extremely limited run, just 100 units of the JH-3 were ever made, making this model a coveted piece among guitar collectors.