Bottom Line: Limited to just 125 pieces worldwide, the Gibson Custom Kirk Hammett 1989 Les Paul Custom recreates the blacked-out Les Paul that powered Metallica’s Black Album — complete with a Fishman Powerbridge piezo, T-Type humbuckers, and hand-aged VOS finish. At approximately $12,999, it’s a collector’s instrument with genuine recording utility.
The Black Album Guitar Gets the Custom Shop Treatment
Kirk Hammett’s 1989 Les Paul Custom is one of the most consequential metal guitars ever recorded. It was the primary instrument on Metallica’s self-titled 1991 album — commonly known as the Black Album — which has sold over 16 million copies in the US alone. That guitar, all black with black hardware, has been modified, repaired, and battle-scarred over three decades of touring. Gibson Custom has now built 125 replicas that capture every detail, from the modified electronics to the VOS aging that mirrors Kirk’s original. Street price sits around $12,999.
This isn’t a standard signature model — it’s a Custom Shop collector’s piece aimed at serious Metallica devotees and Gibson collectors. The 125-piece limitation makes it genuinely scarce, and the Fishman Powerbridge piezo system adds recording functionality that most collector guitars lack.
What’s New on the Kirk Hammett 1989 Les Paul Custom
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Body | Mahogany with maple top, non-weight-relieved |
| Neck | Mahogany, long tenon, ’50s-style profile |
| Fingerboard | Ebony, 12″ radius, 22 frets, block inlays |
| Pickups | T-Type humbuckers (bridge and neck) + Fishman Powerbridge piezo |
| Bridge | Fishman Powerbridge with piezo saddles, stopbar tailpiece |
| Controls | 2 volume, 2 tone, 3-way toggle, piezo blend |
| Hardware | Black nickel throughout |
| Finish | Ebony, VOS (Vintage Original Spec) nitrocellulose lacquer, hand-aged |
| Production | Limited to 125 pieces worldwide |
| Street Price | ~$12,999 USD |
The T-Type humbuckers are the pickup choice here — Gibson’s take on a hot, tight-wound humbucker that cuts through heavy distortion without turning into mud. These aren’t the same active EMGs that Kirk uses in his other guitars (the KH-2 models). The 1989 Custom predates Kirk’s switch to active pickups, and the T-Types reflect the hotter-wound passive PAF-style pickups that were in the guitar during the Black Album sessions.
The Fishman Powerbridge is the most unusual spec. Each saddle in the bridge contains a piezo element that captures the acoustic resonance of the guitar body, which can be blended with the magnetic pickups or output separately. For a studio musician, this means you can get convincing acoustic-like tones from an electric guitar without switching instruments — a capability that Kirk has used on Metallica recordings where clean acoustic textures are layered under heavy electric parts.
The VOS aging process is applied by hand at the Gibson Custom Shop in Nashville. Each of the 125 guitars receives individual attention to replicate the specific wear patterns on Kirk’s original — the finish checking, the hardware patina, and the subtle dings that 30+ years of professional use create. It’s not “relic’d” in the aggressive sense; VOS aging is more subtle, suggesting a guitar that’s been played hard but cared for.
If you’re exploring the Gibson lineup, the Gibson Custom Les Paul Custom Long Scale is also worth a look.
Who Is the Kirk Hammett 1989 Les Paul Custom For?
At $12,999 and 125 pieces, this guitar is for Metallica collectors who want a museum-quality piece that can also function as a recording instrument. The Fishman Powerbridge alone makes it more than a wall-hanger — it’s genuinely useful in a studio context where you need both magnetic and piezo tones from one guitar.
If you want a Kirk Hammett guitar to actually play at gigs, the Gibson Kirk Hammett “Greeny” Les Paul Standard ($2,999) or the Epiphone Kirk Hammett “Greeny” ($599) are far more practical choices. The Greeny models are production instruments built for playing, not collecting.
The Gibson L-1 Anniversary Limited Edition offers a different approach within the same Gibson family.
The closest competitor in the Custom Shop collector space would be the Fender Custom Shop limited edition signature models (like the Stevie Ray Vaughan “Number One” or the Jeff Beck Artist Series), which occupy a similar price range and serve a similar audience. But for Metallica fans specifically, there’s no substitute — this is the Black Album guitar.
The Epiphone Les Paul Special Double Cut Figured is a strong alternative from a rival brand.
✓ PROS
- Authentic recreation of one of metal’s most important recorded guitars
- Fishman Powerbridge piezo adds genuine recording versatility beyond collectibility
- Hand-aged VOS finish provides vintage character without excessive relic distressing
- 125-piece limitation ensures genuine scarcity and collector value
✗ CONS
- $12,999 puts it firmly in the collector category, not the “working musician” category
- T-Type humbuckers won’t replicate Kirk’s modern EMG-powered tone
- Limited to 125 pieces means most interested buyers won’t be able to find one
- Non-weight-relieved body is heavy — a concern for display-only collectors less so, but relevant for players
How Does It Compare to the Kirk Hammett “Greeny” Les Paul?
The “Greeny” Les Paul Standard ($2,999) is Kirk’s other famous Gibson — the 1959 Les Paul Standard formerly owned by Peter Green and Gary Moore. Where the 1989 Custom is all black with black hardware and a hot, modern voice, the Greeny is a burst-finished vintage machine with out-of-phase tones courtesy of its reversed neck pickup magnet.
These are fundamentally different guitars for different moods. The 1989 Custom is about aggression, power, and the Black Album’s tight, compressed rhythm tone. The Greeny is about expressiveness, bluesy sustain, and the singing Peter Green lead tone. Most serious Kirk Hammett fans would want both, but if forced to choose, the Greeny is the more versatile and playable instrument at a quarter of the price.
For a competing option, the PRS SE Ed Sheeran Cosmic Splash Limited Edition targets a similar player at a comparable price point.
First Impressions and What Players Are Saying
The 125-piece run sold out quickly through authorized dealers, making firsthand reviews relatively scarce. Collectors who secured one have praised the attention to detail in the VOS aging and the surprising utility of the Fishman Powerbridge — several owners have reported using the piezo output for recording clean passages that would traditionally require switching to an acoustic guitar.
The main discussion point in collector forums has been whether the T-Type humbuckers accurately capture the Black Album tone. Purists note that the original recordings were made through a Mesa Boogie Mark IIC+ amplifier with specific studio processing, so no pickup swap alone will fully replicate that sound. The T-Types get you in the neighborhood, but the amp and production chain matter at least as much.
The Epiphone 1964 SG Standard Reissue is another model worth considering in this space.
Pricing and Availability
The Gibson Custom Kirk Hammett 1989 Les Paul Custom carries a street price around $12,999 USD. Limited to 125 pieces worldwide, most authorized dealers received very limited allocations. Check Gibson Custom authorized dealers, Reverb, and the secondary market. Given the limited run, expect secondary market prices to hold or appreciate over time.
FAQ
Is the Gibson Kirk Hammett 1989 Les Paul Custom worth it?
For Metallica collectors and serious Gibson Custom Shop enthusiasts, yes. The 125-piece limitation, hand-aged VOS finish, and Fishman Powerbridge piezo make it both a genuine collector’s item and a functional recording instrument. For players who primarily want to gig with a Kirk Hammett guitar, the Greeny Les Paul at $2,999 is a far more practical choice.
What pickups does the Kirk Hammett 1989 Les Paul Custom use?
It uses Gibson T-Type humbuckers in both positions, plus a Fishman Powerbridge piezo system in the bridge. The T-Types are hotter-wound passive humbuckers that reflect the pickup style in Kirk’s original 1989 Custom before he transitioned to active EMG pickups.
How many Kirk Hammett 1989 Les Paul Customs were made?
Gibson Custom produced exactly 125 units worldwide. Each guitar is individually numbered and comes with a certificate of authenticity. This limited run means the guitar is genuinely scarce and likely to hold or increase in value on the secondary market.
Does the Kirk Hammett 1989 Les Paul Custom have a piezo pickup?
Yes. It features a Fishman Powerbridge with piezo elements in each saddle, allowing you to blend acoustic-like tones with the magnetic T-Type humbuckers or output the piezo signal separately. This adds significant recording versatility beyond what a standard Les Paul Custom offers.
Where is the Kirk Hammett 1989 Les Paul Custom made?
It’s built at the Gibson Custom Shop in Nashville, Tennessee. Each of the 125 units is hand-aged with a VOS nitrocellulose lacquer finish and individually inspected before shipping with a certificate of authenticity.
The Gibson Custom Kirk Hammett 1989 Les Paul Custom is the ultimate Metallica collector’s guitar — a $12,999 recreation of the instrument that powered the best-selling metal album of all time. If you can find one of the 125 units and the price doesn’t faze you, it’s a piece of music history that doubles as a genuinely capable recording instrument thanks to the Fishman Powerbridge. Everyone else should check out the Greeny Les Paul for a Kirk Hammett experience that’s built to be played every day.