Kirk Hammett's guitar strings: the Metallica lead rig, sourced
Documented string gauges, brands, and tunings Kirk Hammett uses with Metallica on his ESP signature instruments. Ernie Ball Regular Slinky (.010-.046) + ESP M-II / 'KH-2' / 'Mummy' / 'Ouija' signature models. With citations.
Metallica / ex-Exodus · reviewed by the Change Your Strings editorial team ·
Kirk Hammett uses Ernie Ball Regular Slinky (.010-.046) on his ESP signature electrics across most of Metallica's catalog. He moves to heavier sets for lower tunings on selected later material. Long-running ESP signature relationship dating to the early 1990s, with multiple production-model signature instruments (KH-2 'Bone' / 'Mummy' / 'Ouija') across the decades. E standard for most of the catalog, Eb standard for the *Death Magnetic* and *72 Seasons* eras, occasional drop tunings.
What Kirk Hammett reaches for
Sourced by the Change Your Strings editorial team · last verified 2026-04-30 · Affiliate links
Affiliate links: we earn commission on qualifying Amazon purchases. See our full disclosure.
At a glance
Role
Active
Affiliations
- Metallica (lead guitarist, 1983–present, replacing Dave Mustaine)
- Exodus (1979–1983)
- ESP Guitars (long-running signature relationship, 1990s–present)
- Ernie Ball (documented string user)
Notable credits
- Metallica, Kill 'Em All (1983)
- Master of Puppets (1986)
- ...And Justice for All (1988)
- Metallica (Black Album, 1991)
- Death Magnetic (2008)
- Hardwired...To Self-Destruct (2016)
- 72 Seasons (2023)
Official media
Who Kirk Hammett is
Kirk Lee Hammett (born November 18, 1962, San Francisco) is the lead guitarist of Metallica, position held since 1983, when he replaced Dave Mustaine on the eve of the Kill 'Em All sessions. Before Metallica, he was a founding member of Bay Area thrash band Exodus (1979–1983). His lead playing across Metallica's catalog from Kill 'Em All (1983) through 72 Seasons (2023) is among the most-studied lead-guitar bodies of work in modern metal.
He's been a long-running ESP signature artist since the early 1990s, with multiple production-model signature instruments (the KH-2 line in its various graphic finishes) continuously made. Long-documented Ernie Ball string user.
What he plays
Ernie Ball Regular Slinky (.010-.046) on his ESP signature electrics, primarily the KH-2 in its various horror-film graphic finishes (Mummy, Ouija board, White Zombie, and others). The KH-2 carries EMG 81 (bridge) and 60 (neck) active humbuckers and a Floyd Rose tremolo system. Most of Metallica's catalog is in E standard or Eb standard; selected later material drops further.
His signal chain into Mesa/Boogie tube amps (the Mark IV and TriAxis preamp, with various power-amp pairings over the years) drives the saturation. The Mesa-Mark-with-EMG-active-humbuckers combination is the canonical Metallica lead-tone formula and has been remarkably consistent across the catalog since the late 1980s.
Why this fits the rig
The .010-.046 set in E standard suits the dual lead-and-rhythm role he plays in Metallica. Light enough at the top end (.010 high E) for the bend-and-vibrato lead vocabulary, heavy enough at the bottom (.046 low E) for the down-picked rhythm work he shares with Hetfield. EMG active humbuckers are a high-output, low-noise spec that delivers a clean signal into Mesa tube saturation; the .010 set into the EMGs into the Mesa Mark series produces the lead-clarity-on-top-of-rhythm-thickness that characterizes Metallica's recorded mix.
The Floyd Rose tremolo on his ESP signature instruments enables his trademark dive-bomb work and the wah-into-divebomb leads (the Enter Sandman outro, the One solos) that are part of his lead vocabulary. The double-locking system keeps the .010 set in tune through aggressive trem use.
If you want this rig
Ernie Ball Regular Slinky (.010-.046) is the documented string set, widely available.
Regular Slinky (.010-.046)
Why this one: Hammett's documented Ernie Ball signature gauge across Metallica's catalog. Light enough at the top (.010 high E) for the bend-and-vibrato lead vocabulary, heavy enough at the bottom (.046 low E) for the down-picked rhythm work.