The ESP Wavecaster is one of the most unique guitars Kirk Hammett has ever played. It is a Telecaster-style guitar made of clear plastic (Lucite) instead of wood. The body is hollow and filled with blue motor oil that moves around inside the instrument while it is being played.
History with Metallica
Kirk used this guitar frequently during the Load and ReLoad tours in 1996 and 1997. Most notably, you can see him playing it on the Cunning Stunts DVD during the song “Am I Evil?”. Later, after he retired it from live performances, the guitar was displayed at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland
Specs, History
While the neck and final assembly were done by ESP, the unique liquid-filled body was built by luthier George Fedden. George made the first two bodies for the 1997 NAMM show (likely completing them in 1996, since the show was in January). It remains unclear whether Kirk’s guitar was one of these originals or if it was built separately just for him.
The Wavecaster features a 25.5-inch scale maple neck with a 22-fret rosewood fretboard. It has small dot inlays with a rectangular ESP logo at the 12th fret, a bone nut, and a “Wavecaster” logo on the bass side of the headstock. The tuners are locking Sperzels (five satin chrome, one black).
ESP’s Custom Shop outfitted the Lucite body with a chrome hardtail bridge and a single EMG 81 pickup in the bridge position. The electronics include master volume and tone controls, plus a three-way blade switch wired as a kill switch in the neck position.
Where is it now?
Kirk recently posted the guitar on Instagram, declaring, ‘The Wavecaster lives!’ At that time, the liquid inside was still blue, but it was later changed to a greenish-yellow. It was photographed in this state for the Christie’s auction, where it sold for $89,600 to benefit the charity MusiCares.
Fans might find the new color amusing, as Kirk used to joke that he originally wanted to fill the guitar with his own urine. Fortunately, the guitar was designed to be easily refilled; the auction listing noted that the buyer would receive bottles of clear ‘wave fluid’ along with red and greenish-yellow dyes.
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