James Hetfield has created his fifth signature guitar model. The Truckster is a new ESP Signature Series guitar that is precisely based on Hetfield's personal custom ESP.

"The Truckster offers every minute detail of James' ESP, down to the 'aging' of the finish," says Matt Masciandaro, ESP president. "We've done custom guitars for METALLICA for over 15 years, and METALLICA's guitars have been some of our most popular signature models. We're proud to offer the high level of quality James demanded for a guitar with his name attached."

ESP's Truckster is a single-cutaway, solid body electric featuring a distinctive aged gray primer finish over its mahogany body and neck. The unique finish wear is precisely duplicated to match James Hetfield's personal instrument. The Truckster offers a set-neck construction, a 24.75" scale, and a rosewood fingerboard that features flag inlays with "ESP" at the 12th fret, and a unique cast aluminum raised logo tops each headstock.

The Truckster puts an EMG-81 pickup in the bridge and an EMG-60 at the neck. These are controlled via two volume controls and one tone control, as well as a 3-way toggle (another 3-way toggle in the upper position is inactive, but ESP included it for perfect authenticity with Hetfield's actual instrument).

The guitar's distinctive finish is complemented by satin chrome hardware, including its Sperzel locking tuners, and TonePros locking bridge w/stop tailpiece. White binding on the Truckster's body, neck and headstock and 22 extra-jumbo frets completes the detailed signature model.

The Truckster will be available under both the ESP and LTD brands, and the two guitars are a part of ESP's massive addition of 14 new guitar and bass models to their 2005 line. Specific details on the Truckster as well as all new ESP, LTD and X-Tone models can be found here.

Source:  http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermo...ewsitemID=31918