The ESP LTD Screaming Skull Electric Guitar features a Set-Thru Body Construction, an Alder Body and a Maple Neck with a Rosewood Fingerboard.

The ESP LTD Screaming Skull also comes equipped with Black Nickel Hardware, Grover Tuners and an EMG 81 Pickup.

The ESP LTD Screaming Skull Main Features Include:
Set-Thru
25.5” Scale
Alder Body
Maple Neck
Rosewood Fingerboard
43mm Standard Nut
Extra Thin U Neck Contour
24 XJ Frets
Black Nickel Hardware
Grover Tuners
TOM Bridge
EMG 81 Active Pickup
Black Finish with Screaming Skull Graphic

Available in limited quantities during 2009 only, the ESP James Hetfield Signature Iron Cross is currently featured on Metallica's Death Magnetic world tour. Painstaking effort has gone into recreating every nuance of James' original guitar, while adding some new characteristics to make it a truly unique signature ESP.



Technical Info


Set-Neck
24.75 in. Scale
Mahogany Body
Maple Top
Mahogany Neck
Ebony Fingerboard
42mm Bone Nut


Thin U Neck Contour
22 XJ EVO Frets (Gold) Ni-Free Alloy
Distressed Gold Hardware
Sperzel Locking Tuners
Schaller Straplocks
Tonepros Locking TOM & Tail



EMG 81 (B) / 60 (N) Active pickups w/Distressed Gold Covers
NOTE: Toggle in Upper Position Inactive

James Hetfield, one of the founding members of rock icons Metallica, has created his fifth signature guitar model. The Truckster is a new ESP Signature Series guitar that is precisely based on Hetfield's personal custom ESP.

The Truckster offers every minute detail of James ESP, down to the 'aging' of the finish. ESP has done custom guitars for Metallica for over 15 years, and Metallica's guitars have been some of their most popular signature models. ESP is proud to offer the high level of quality James demanded for a guitar with his name attached.

ESP's Truckster is a single-cutaway, solid body electric featuring a distinctive aged gray primer finish over its mahogany body and neck. The unique finish wear is precisely duplicated to match James Hetfield's personal instrument. The Truckster offers a set-neck construction, a 24.75 in. scale, and a rosewood fingerboard that features flag inlays with "LTD" at the 12th fret, and a unique cast aluminum raised logo tops each headstock.

The Truckster puts an EMG-81 pickup in the bridge and an EMG-60 at the neck. These are controlled via two volume controls and one tone control, as well as a 3-way toggle (another 3-way toggle in the upper position is inactive, but ESP included it for perfect authenticity with Hetfield's actual instrument).

The guitar's distinctive finish is complemented by satin chrome hardware, including its Sperzel locking tuners, and TonePros locking bridge w/stop tailpiece. White binding on the Truckster's body, neck and headstock and 22 extra-jumbo frets completes the detailed signature model.

Exotic Warlock
Based on one of our most requested handcrafted configurations, this flat topped Warlock is topped off with exotic spalted maple which means no two will ever be exactly alike! One big, bad, Rockfield® Fat Ass bridge pickup that growls like a pit bull, insures no one will second guess your shredding intentions!

Neck-Through Construction
B.C. Rich is known as one of the pioneers in Neck Through construction. They utilize it on many of their guitars, because it provides the best possible sustain, resonance, comfort and access to higher frets. Neck-through has long been considered the premium construction method for high end guitars. This construction starts with premium North American maple or Mahogany and runs from the tip of the headstock to the end of the guitar. This means that the headstock, fingerboard, pickups and bridge all are mounted to this single sound foundation. Sonically it is a difference you can hear. The neck-through construction also allows us to cut away more of the body and neck at the neck joint which provides comfort that no bolt-on or set-neck could offer. You will find the neck through feature on all of our top of the line B.C. Rich models.

Rockfield Pickups - Fat Ass
Bridge Pickups
Aggressive in its own right, the Rockfield FAT ASS bridge pickup was designed for a specific group players in mind. The players that have those crazy super acrobatic playing styles that we all stare at in amazement. The ones at the gig that make everything look so effortless and easy. As you watch in amazement you say, “Man I need to practice” or my favorite, “Crap, that’s it man I quit!” this pickups custom designed bobbins house larger pole pieces that help transfer string vibration from pulls, bends and leads so the user gets less tonal drop off and better articulation and note definition. The Rockfield FAT ASS has a well balanced overall tone that is mean and bold with major sustain, huge bottom end and cutting mids and highs that jump out at you. Each note is full and rings true from this pickup while you take advantage of a look that is that just plain mean and in your face.

Neck Pickups
Great pickup for Bridge or neck but designed to compliment the FATT ASS bridge pickup in the neck position. This pickup, like the bridge position FAT ASS has a full round tone that helps transfer string vibration from pulls, bends and leads so the user gets less tonal drop off and better articulation and note definition. This is made possible by yes… the custom designed bobbins that house the larger pole pieces. Custom wound with a little less bite but still just as aggressive, this pickup has great balance and sustain with a huge low end response and mids and highs that scream and cut for an tone that is truly inspiring.

Mockingbird ST
The Mockingbird ST is the most popular model in the Mockingbird family. The heart of the ST is its Floyd Rose Original tremolo and a pair of Rockfield Mafia pickups. These high output pickups are controlled with a selection of knobs and switches that include a 5 position varitone filter knob, two coil tap switches and a reverse phase switch. The neck-through construction also assures great tone and full fingerboard access. Other goodies include an ebony fingerboard, diamond inlays and Grover tuners. Both the Transparent Red and Honey burst color options perfectly highlight this model’s quilt maple top.


Neck-Through Construction
B.C. Rich is known as one of the pioneers in Neck Through construction. They utilize it on many of their guitars, because it provides the best possible sustain, resonance, comfort and access to higher frets. Neck-through has long been considered the premium construction method for high end guitars. This construction starts with premium North American maple or Mahogany and runs from the tip of the headstock to the end of the guitar. This means that the headstock, fingerboard, pickups and bridge all are mounted to this single sound foundation. Sonically it is a difference you can hear. The neck-through construction also allows us to cut away more of the body and neck at the neck joint which provides comfort that no bolt-on or set-neck could offer. You will find the neck through feature on all of our top of the line B.C. Rich models.

Mockingbird ST
The Mockingbird ST is the most popular model in the Mockingbird family. The heart of the ST is its Floyd Rose Original tremolo and a pair of Rockfield Mafia pickups. These high output pickups are controlled with a selection of knobs and switches that include a 5 position varitone filter knob, two coil tap switches and a reverse phase switch. The neck-through construction also assures great tone and full fingerboard access. Other goodies include an ebony fingerboard, diamond inlays and Grover tuners. Both the Transparent Red and Honey burst color options perfectly highlight this model’s quilt maple top.


Neck-Through Construction
B.C. Rich is known as one of the pioneers in Neck Through construction. They utilize it on many of their guitars, because it provides the best possible sustain, resonance, comfort and access to higher frets. Neck-through has long been considered the premium construction method for high end guitars. This construction starts with premium North American maple or Mahogany and runs from the tip of the headstock to the end of the guitar. This means that the headstock, fingerboard, pickups and bridge all are mounted to this single sound foundation. Sonically it is a difference you can hear. The neck-through construction also allows us to cut away more of the body and neck at the neck joint which provides comfort that no bolt-on or set-neck could offer. You will find the neck through feature on all of our top of the line B.C. Rich models.

NJ Deluxe Jr. V
Neck through, EMG® pickups and a Floyd Rose® Original... Want more? On the Jr. V NJ Deluxe we’ve added an ebony fretboard and full pearl binding on the headstock, neck and body!


Neck-Through Construction
B.C. Rich is known as one of the pioneers in Neck Through construction. They utilize it on many of their guitars, because it provides the best possible sustain, resonance, comfort and access to higher frets. Neck-through has long been considered the premium construction method for high end guitars. This construction starts with premium North American maple or Mahogany and runs from the tip of the headstock to the end of the guitar. This means that the headstock, fingerboard, pickups and bridge all are mounted to this single sound foundation. Sonically it is a difference you can hear. The neck-through construction also allows us to cut away more of the body and neck at the neck joint which provides comfort that no bolt-on or set-neck could offer. You will find the neck through feature on all of our top of the line B.C. Rich models.


EMG-81 (bridge position)
The EMG-81 is a high output pickup designed especially for the lead guitarist. The 81 is at its best for high volume overdrive and amps with a master volume. Whether you're playing power rock and roll, or overdriving your amp, there's a razor sharp attack, and incredible sustain for brilliant soloing. If you're looking for exceptional qualities in a rock pickup, the EMG-81 is the one.

EMG-85 (neck position)
Although the EMG-85 has more measurable output than the 81, its frequency response and string interface are different. The 85 uses two Alnico magnet loaded coils with a wide aperture to maintain a beefy lowend and a fatter top end. Because of a more natural tone, it works great as a rhythm and blues pickup because it has loads of output but isn't muddy.

Metal Master Warlock Blade
For over 20 years Kerry King and B.C. Rich have teamed up to develop some of the most sinister axes. This latest Demon Spawn worships at the alter of evil tone. The standard features for the Tribal Fire Metal Master include two B.C. Rich humbucker pickups, Rosewood fingerboard and wrap-around style bridge.


Bolt-on Construction
A number of B.C. Rich guitars use a classic Bolt-on construction. On these instruments a neck (typically maple) is bolted on with 4 screws to the body. This construction offers some added flexibility in the instruments adjustment and provides the option to change the neck in the future.

B.C. Rich BDSM Pickups
B.C. Rich designed their BDSM humbucking pickups to provide a solid sound and to be durable while delivering high output. BDSM stands for Broad Dynamic Sonically Matched. Which simply means that the pickup is designed to reproduce a wide range of frequencies accurately (broad dynamic). Then they are tested and matched in pairs (Neck and Bridge) by their inherent individual and signature tonal and output characteristics to give a solidly balanced tone (sonically matched).

Kerry King V
This mid-level Kerry King V is ready to take the stage and deliver. A Kahler® Tremolo and B.C. Rich B.D.S.M pickups highlight this nicely equipped bolt on V.

Bolt-on Construction
A number of B.C. Rich guitars use a classic Bolt-on construction. On these instruments a neck (typically maple) is bolted on with 4 screws to the body. This construction offers some added flexibility in the instruments adjustment and provides the option to change the neck in the future.

B.C. Rich BDSM Pickups
B.C. Rich designed their BDSM humbucking pickups to provide a solid sound and to be durable while delivering high output. BDSM stands for Broad Dynamic Sonically Matched. Which simply means that the pickup is designed to reproduce a wide range of frequencies accurately (broad dynamic). Then they are tested and matched in pairs (Neck and Bridge) by their inherent individual and signature tonal and output characteristics to give a solidly balanced tone (sonically matched).