electric
Snakebyte
| Maker | ESP |
|---|---|
| Origin | Japan |
| Type | electric |
| Introduced | 2011 |
| Price | USD 6149 (2026-09) |
| Maker founded | 1975 |
| Status | current |
The Snakebyte is James Hetfield's signature shape, built by hand in ESP's Japanese Custom Shop for players who want the top of the Hetfield line.
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Why it matters
ESP built the Snakebyte around Hetfield's own designs, and the model exists in two very different forms: the hand-built ESP version from the Japanese Custom Shop and the far more widely sold LTD version. The price gap between them is large because they are different instruments rather than trim levels of one guitar. Buyers at the ESP tier are paying for bench-built construction and materials, and the resale market reflects that.
Note
James Hetfield signature Explorer-adjacent body with EMG or Hetfield Set pickups.
Specifications
- Scale length: 628.6 mm (24.75 in)
- Neck shape: Thin U
Before you buy
- The LTD and ESP versions are different guitars, so read model names carefully in listings
- Signature models hold value better than most ESP customs but less well than vintage US instruments
- Confirm whether the case is included, as it often is on Custom Shop models
Other opinions
One video is one opinion. These are the other videos for this entry, most-viewed first. The order is the view count, not a ranking of ours.
Ola Englund · 2023-03 · 240,993 views
“Long time no demo, I got this last year and still haven't made a video of it.”
Ola Englund plays the LTD Snakebyte in its KUIU camo finish.
Andertons Music Co · 2011-08 · 7,567 views
“Head over to the Andertons website to find the products in the video!”
Andertons demonstrates the ESP LTD James Hetfield Snakebyte with playing.