The Gibson and Kirk Hammett partnership has produced another signature guitar in the form of the Edgar Allen Poe-inspired Raven, which puts a distinct gothic spin on the classic Hummingbird acoustic guitar.
The Gibson Custom Kirk Hammett Raven is a nod to one of Poe’s most famous works, and only 100 are being made. They come soaring out of the Gibson Custom Shop in Bozeman, Montana.
Beyond the gothic aesthetics – which include a bold, mother-of-pearl skull inlay perched on its color-matched headstock, and intricate raven-theme pickguards and a matching tailpiece – this is really a standard Hummingbird in a Halloween costume.
There’s a solid Sitka spruce top, mahogany back and sides, traditionally scalloped Advanced X-bracing, and a round profile for the neck, which props up a 16” radius, 20-fret ebony fretboard. Mother-of-pearl star inlays, meanwhile, sprinkle something new atop the build.
Elsewhere, there are Grover Rotomatic tuners, while TUSQ components – including the nut, saddle, bridge, and pins – complete the hardware specs.
The square-shoulder acoustic is also saddled with an L.R. Baggs Element VTC +4 system. Onboard EQ comes courtesy of discreet, soundhole-mounted volume and tone controls. There’s also a 4 dB output boost for extra output.
Hammett has personally signed all 100 of the guitars on the soundhole label. The guitars arrive in a black Gibson Custom hardshell guitar case featuring a raven skull graphic that matches the headstock. Within, players will also find a certificate of authenticity and a raven-themed guitar strap. But certainly no skeletons or other spooky things.
“Availability is extremely limited,” Gibson warns of the build, which it has dubbed “a counterpart to the legendary Hummingbird”.
The Gibson Custom Kirk Hammett Raven is available for $4,999.
See Gibson for more.
This isn't the first time Hammet has dropped a limited-edition, Raven-inspired guitar. He once commissioned the pyrographer to the stars, Dino Muradian, for a run of special ESP Eclipses that did likewise.
