This guitar first appeared around 1987. It was most likely Kirk’s first custom ESP, and it effectively served as the prototype for the signature models he played for the next two decades.
Visually, it was a major departure from his previous standard-finish instruments. It featured a vertical skull and crossbones design inlays on the fretboard, and a “Zorlac” sticker on the body, marking the start of the horror-graphic aesthetic that Hammett is now known for.
Specs and Modifications
Based on the specs of his later signature series, this guitar most likely featured an Alder body and a Maple neck. This construction would have provided a sharper, brighter attack than his mahogany Gibson, which was necessary for the dry, scooped sound of the Justice era.
It was fitted with active EMG humbuckers (likely 81s) and a Floyd Rose locking tremolo system. Unlike his earlier guitars, this setup was designed specifically to handle the heavy touring and aggressive whammy bar abuse required for the new material.
Usage
The Zorlac was a main workhorse for the …And Justice for All tour. It can be seen extensively in the Live Shit: Binge & Purge Seattle footage from 1989. While it’s unclear exactly when it was retired, the specific combination of the lawsuit-era Jackson-style headstock and custom graphic makes it one of the most easily identifiable guitars in his early arsenal.
As far as the studio albums, the guitar was likely used on Metallica (The Black Album, 1991), as Kirk is quoted saying around that time that these ESPs were his main guitars then.
I’m mostly using custom ESP neck through body Strats with two EMG humbuckers, plus an off-the-rack ’89 Les Paul Custom, which sounds fuckin’ great. I’d like to play my gold top ’52 Gibson ES-295 hollowbody through a pre-CBS Fender Deluxe for my solo on ‘The Unforgiven.’
I used Bob Rock’s ’71 blonde Les Paul for the solo on ‘Sad But True,’ because we tuned down to D and it didn’t sound as fuzzy as the strats. So far, I haven’t used my Gibson or Jackson Flying V’s.
Kirk Hammett – Guitar Player, September 1991
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