Some guitars tell a story. Others tell an entire chapter of metal history. And then there are those that cross paths with several legends at once. The ESP Alexi Laiho Signature V that we have just received at Matt’s Guitar Shop clearly belongs to the latter category. A piece that is as radical as it is iconic, linked to two major figures of modern guitar: Alexi Laiho and Kirk Hammett.
An ESP Signature designed for Alexi Laiho
Originally, this was the signature model developed by ESP Guitars for Alexi Laiho, frontman of Children of Bodom. A guitar designed for the most intense, fastest, and most technical form of metal. Laiho was not simply a guitarist: he was a true musical force, capable of combining extreme speed, a keen melodic sense, and raw expressiveness. His playing left a lasting mark on an entire generation of metal musicians.
This ESP Signature V perfectly reflects that DNA. Its aggressive Flying V shape, black finish contrasted with touches of yellow, and pickup configuration designed for high-gain tones make it a no-compromise instrument. It is a guitar designed for the stage, for volume, and for immediate impact. Every detail is intended to support demanding, fast, and extremely articulate playing, like that of Alexi Laiho.
A piece from Kirk Hammett’s personal collection
But what makes this instrument even more fascinating is its time in the collection of Kirk Hammett, iconic guitarist of Metallica. A passionate collector, Hammett is known for his deep interest in rare instruments, prototypes, and guitars steeped in history. The fact that he kept this ESP makes it much more than a simple signature model: it is an object that has passed between two major worlds of modern metal.
A subtle but revealing detail adds even more to its unique character: on the guitar’s headstock, a small piece of tape bears the inscription “D#”, referring to its tuning, one half-step lower. This kind of mark, simple in appearance, actually tells the story of concrete, functional use, connected to the stage and the studio. It is precisely this that gives the guitar its living character.
A fragment of modern metal history
In Alexi Laiho’s hands, this instrument was designed to push the boundaries of melodic and extreme metal. In Kirk Hammett’s collection, it becomes another testament to the history of the genre, carefully preserved by one of its greatest representatives.
Owning this ESP therefore means much more than acquiring a signature guitar. It means holding a fragment of the evolution of modern metal, connected to two guitarists who each, in their own way, pushed the boundaries of their style. A rare, intense piece, deeply rooted in the electric history of metal.
