LTD KH-602 Review

Kirk Hammett has been an "ESP guy" for as long as anyone can remember and there' a wide range of Signature models to prove it. Newly updated for 2003, the KH-602 now features EMG-81 pickups and original Floyd Rose locking bridge.

Features:	9
Sound:	9.3
Action:	9.3
Reliability:	9.3
Impression:	9.3
Overall rating:	9.2
Users rating:	8.3
Comments:	26

Featured review by: unregistered, on january 23, 2008

Purchased from: Zzounds.com

Features: Awesome features! Made 2003 in Korea. Has 24 Extra Jumbo Frets with Kirk's signature skull and cross bone inlays with the model on the 24th fret. It's a 3 piece maple with a maple neck with neck-through construction. Strat style with a black finish. Complete with a Floyd Rose Locking Trem and a set of EMG '81s (active). Has separate control knobs for each pickup, and a 3 way selector Switch. Only bad thing is that it doesn't come with a case. // 9

Sound: Amazing for all types of music. I mostly play metal, but this guitar can be used with a range of styles. Personally, I play through a Marshall MG50 and a Fender FM Stack and it sounds great. Using my talkbox and Boss ME-50, there is no limit to what this thing can do. // 10

Action, Fit & Finish: Action was perfect when I got it. No problems what'soever with it. Pickups sound great. // 10

Reliability & Durability: This is the most reliable guitar I've played yet. Never had any problems with it. The only thing about it though is that it's hard to change tunings on it, so I use different guitars when I need to change tuning. Changing the strings with the Floyd Rose can be a little difficult at first, but seems to get easer over time. // 10

Impression: Personally, I think this is a great guitar for the money. The 202 just isn't as good for the price. I play a lot of metal stuff, so this guitar is great for me. It's a hell of a lot better than any B.C. Rich I've ever played. Even if you're not a big metal/Metallica fan you should consider this guitar because it's got great sound, and it's durable and reliable. // 10

overall: 8.4

Reviewed by: Orneblad, on september 12, 2006

Price paid: $ 1600

Purchased from: Musicstore, Germany

Features: Was made '05 in Korea. Has 24 jumbo frets and a necktrough-neck in maplewood. It's a solid and completely black guitar (maplewood aswell). The bodystyle is stratinspired, with a original floyd rose bridge. It has 2 active EMG-81 which is controlled by two volumes, a 3-way pickup selector and a tone control. // 9

Sound: I play all kind of music (from heavy metaldist to clean). The guitar works absolutely best to hard rock/metal (solos). Actually I can't say I allways like the clean sound of the EMG-81s; sometimes it's a bit flat, "twangie" and bass-less (depens much on the amp). I'm using a little Fender frontman 15W, Marshall Valvestat 40W, Hughes&Kettner blue 100w and somtimes my effectpedal DigiTech RP200. It sounds really great with this on dist, but as I said: the clean is just ok. The sound is somtimes, aspecielly with much treble, very bright. The tone is rich and full with the right settings (much bass&middle, 50% treble&reverb). The sound isn't very warm, but not "cold" either. // 8

Action, Fit & Finish: The guitar was very well set-up in the factory. The pickups was adjusted in the right way (I think) and the bridge was properly routed (I think). Actually everything is very god with this guitar. No noisy pickups, loose controls/tuning pegs, finish flaws or misaligned bracing. Now, after 6 months, one or two small pieces of hardware has become a bit rusty. But that's just becouse I play so fast. // 9

Reliability & Durability: I have played gigs live with this guitar many times, and it works perfectly! The hardware will last for ever, I hope. The only shit with this guitar is the strap buttons. The strap jumps of! Once it fell to the ground and got a ugly flaw. But maybe it's the strap, so I don't count it as a minus. I absolutely depend on the guitar, I could use it on a gig without backup. I think the finish is good enough to last. // 8

Impression: I really like this guitar, one of the best I ever played (and I got one). It suits the most music I play, hard and classic rock, very well. I've been playing for three years now, quite seriously. If the guitar was stolen I think I would buy this again, or maybe a ESP M-II (same shit, just more expenisive). // 8

overall: 9.6

Reviewed by: Muppet, on november 19, 2005

Price paid: $ 1099

Features: This baby comes with two active EMG-81 humbuckers, a double lock floyd rose bridge with tremolo, 3-way selector and 24 XJ frets. It has a Mahogany body and rosewood/mahogany neck with reversed head and skull and bone inlays. This guitar was made for metal! // 9

Sound: The reason I bought this guitar was simple: I like the sound. It's perfect for metal, but it can also be used for modern rock and classic rock though I wouldn't use it for jazz and blues. I mainly play thrash metal and this guitar gives me anything from the most bitting and screaming sound to the heaviest metal sound. I like the sound on both channels (overdrive and clean). The clean sound has a little bit of crunch, perfect for rock. The overdrive channel can make this guitar scream, shred and soloing sounds amazing on overdrive! // 10

Action, Fit & Finish: After I tried it in the music store I wantet it, but it was the last one so I had to buy the one hanging in the store and I don't know if they have set it up before I tried it, but it's set up perfect. Action was good, the pickups was good so I don't complain. // 9

Reliability & Durability: I have only been playing a little for my friends and my family with this guitar, but it havn't let me down. It stays in tune for a very long time. It once kebt in tune for the night (almost, the g-string got out of tune) and I think that that was pretty nice. The finish is really nice, the black body and the skull and bone inlays just makes this guitar a bad-ass. The hardware seem pretty durable, they work like when I bought it. I don't have to bring a backup when I'm playing live next time. With this little beast I could be playing all day long. // 10

Impression: I play metal and rock and this guitar suits my style perfect. The neck is good and the sound is awesome. If it was stolen I would have to play my Squier so dosn't get stolen. The only thing irritating thing about this guitar is that I have to change the battery once in a while, but that comes with the active pickups. // 10

Comments

[dino čobo]

THE BEST!!!!!
jUST LIKE SAMICK INTERCEPTOR 2

[dimebag7]

sweet/

[kill em´all]

ESP is the best! the EMG´s rocks

[Trellis]

The strap jumps of! Once it fell to the ground and got a ugly flaw. But maybe it's the strap, so I don't count it as a minus

why doesnt he get strap locks?

[Nerdo-sez-bo]

I've found that many soloist shape guitars look really boring. This doesn't effect the sound though, but I'd like to play something a bit prettier =/

[mustafallica]

i had the ltd version..broke the tremelo bridge...the guitar guy said dont sexualy abuse it next time ..

[seek_&_destroy]

Nerdo-sez-bo wrote:

I've found that many soloist shape guitars look really boring. This doesn't effect the sound though, but I'd like to play something a bit prettier =/

some ppl like it because it's more "metal" than the start, but still provides the best upper fret acess for conventional shapes. This is handy for "Shredding" and soloing particularly in metal

[scarfacesuit]

they really don't play better. i played a jackson and it was actually harder to play than a gibson lp. but the lp was a LOT heavier

Checked.

[Orneblad]

my review wasn't ready and I dont know how to change it :S forgott to write quite much... the overall rating for me is 9 or somthing. great guitar, and handsome! clean in a nice way

[diamond darrel]

that guitar is sweet,ordered one couple of days ago,gettin it soon

[Triviumfan54]

right on metal brother!! That baby's gonna be sweey. shame you haven't got a Line6 to run it through!!!

[madlarkin22]

An excellent guitar for advanced players to Hammett himself. This is the best guitar i have ever purchased and almost plays itself. although the guitar can only performs at its peak with an amp with a low gain setting for its active pick-ups, it still rocks on regular amps. I recommend this guitar for anyone who likes classic rock to metal.

[Orneblad]

I hate strapslocks ok

Trellis wrote:

The strap jumps of! Once it fell to the ground and got a ugly flaw. But maybe it's the strap, so I don't count it as a minus

why doesnt he get strap locks?

I hate straplocks ok?

[tjv777]

yeah the kh602 is a beast. I cant tell you how much i beat up this guitar, but for the most part its a tank. i kinda wish it had an 85 in it, but its not hard to change out. satisfied completely with it.
-straplocks would be a great idea. its saved my ass countless times

[damico529]

im tryin to save up to buy the 602 but so far ive only saved 40 bucks in the past 2 months lol

[guitarguy144]

man this guitar rules!

[rider of pigs]

is this a better buy for the cash than the 202?

[FargoDog]

rider of pigs wrote:

is this a better buy for the cash than the 202?

Yeah the 202 only has passive EMGs and A lisenced Floyd Rose and a bolt on neck, while this one has a Active EMGs, an original Floyd rose and is neck-thru.

[guitarsrule2008]

can the the Floyd Rose on this Flutter

[WeePee]

I got this 5 days ago and I lovet it!!
The black design, skulls, emg actives, FR tremolo...Man this thing is beauty!
It's my first "real" guitar and it's so easy to play. One problem though, I keep hitting my fingers to the 1st volume knob, but hey that's small problem.
I haveLine 6 SpiderIII amp and a Korg AX1G pedal and the sound is excellent. Get this now!!
Peace!

[Schmelfest]

Can anyone explain why the KH602 listed on ESP's site http://www.espguitars.com/guitars_kirk.html has EMG 81/60 pickups and these reviews have 81's?

[Impieman]

What's the difference between a KH-2 and KH-602 except that KH-602 is a 1000 bucks cheaper?

[JFRules]

I bought this guitar last year. Its really nice it plays great and I find it looks really good. Since I bought my King V I never play it but I give it a 9 out of 10 for the price.

[HenneB]

Schmelfest wrote:

Can anyone explain why the KH602 listed on ESP's site http://www.espguitars.com/guitars_kirk.html has EMG 81/60 pickups and these reviews have 81's?

Kirk changed his setup to 81/60 last year or so... I was confused too.

I got this guitar since 07 and its totally worth the money. It sounds extremely great and the playability is awesome!

[simpleben09]

Impieman wrote:

What's the difference between a KH-2 and KH-602 except that KH-602 is a 1000 bucks cheaper?

I'm not gonna lie.... The only real differences I've ever seen are the neck being VERY slightly smoother and the overall build quality being barely better. Seriously, the KH-2 is only worth about 50-100 more than the KH-602