In pictures: LTD Kirk Hammett KH-WZ White Zombie & James Hetfield Iron Cross SW unboxed

LTD Hammett KH-WZ White Zombie & Hetfield Iron Cross SW

Well, what a coup this is: the latest signature models of Metallica’s James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett, together in our post room.

These beauties are hot off the factory floor following their unveiling at NAMM 2014, so we couldn’t resist a sneaky peek inside their cardboard containers – disposable heroes? No way…

For the full look at the LTD Kirk Hammett KH-WZ White Zombie & James Hetfield Iron Cross SW, check out Total Guitar issue 254, on sale 12 May.

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LTD Hammett KH-WZ White Zombie & Hetfield Iron Cross SW

Phwoar – check out those finishes! Kirk’s opted to indulge his love of horror once again, while Jaymez has given the Iron Cross a Snow White makeover

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LTD Kirk Hammett KH-WZ White Zombie

For those who aren’t so horror-savvy, White Zombie is a 1932 film starring Bela Lugosi – although he didn’t have an original Floyd Rose vibrato jutting out of his arm back then

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LTD Kirk Hammett KH-WZ White Zombie

That bearded fellow is right to look enthralled: the EMG 81/60 pairing puts out Hammett’s trademark tones

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LTD Kirk Hammett KH-WZ White Zombie

In keeping with the rest of the guitar, the KH-WZ's fretboard is pretty spooky, featuring a bat marker at the 12th fret and spiders elsewhere

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LTD Kirk Hammett KH-WZ White Zombie

The White Zombie design extends to the pointy headstock, too

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LTD Kirk Hammett KH-WZ White Zombie

Bela Lugosi’s stern expression also crops up on the back of the ’stock

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LTD James Hetfield Iron Cross SW

The Iron Cross has been revamped for 2014, and now features a Snow White finish

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LTD James Hetfield Iron Cross SW

As you might expect, a chunky cross adorns the body beneath the TonePros bridge

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LTD James Hetfield Iron Cross SW

The pickup cavities are filled by Hetfield’s signature EMG JH humbuckers for chunky distorted tones

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LTD James Hetfield Iron Cross SW

Yep, there’s even a cross inlay at the 12th fret, while the usual flags make up the remainder of the markers

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LTD James Hetfield Iron Cross SW

Headstock-side, you’ll find the new LTD logo, plus Papa Het’s signature and a gothic-fonted Iron Cross truss rod cover – make no mistake, this is a distinctive guitar for an iconic guitarist

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