NGD: 1993 ESP Kirk Hammett Ouija Neckthru Reverse Moon and Stars Inlays

Updated
NGD: 1993 ESP Kirk Hammett Ouija Neckthru Reverse Moon and Stars Inlays

AWESOME SCORE!!!!

Original 1993 ESP Kirk Hammett Ouija Neckthru Reverse Moon and Stars Inlays

 

 

This is not a "regular" first production Ouija, this one is the OUIJA HOLY GRAIL, closest thing to Kirk´s original Ouija.VERY RARE.This is the only one known, beside Kirk´s 2 of his own.2 more were said to be done, but one of them happend to be this same guitar in hands of an old owner and the other one in Mexico is clearly a "copy".Differences are: neck-through construction, exact reverse islamic flag inlays, different neck profile, different finish, different knobs position....this one is the REAL DEAL!

 

 

5 total neckthru reverse inlays Ouijas (including Kirk's two) were said to exist, but after some research I can affirm that one that is in Mexico is not from 1993, and is quite different (custom order with reverse inlays, but the inlays are not like Kirk´s original or Mine, the inlays are like the regular Ouijas, bigger and the moons are more "closed", different headstock signature, beside other differences). Alex from Guitarscollector, great specialist, affirms that one is a fake.

Anyway, I only know existence of this one from the original 1993 production, with correct reverse Moon and Stars Inlays, neck-through, etc, I´ve never seen the other one that is said to exist or have knowledge of anyone owning any of them.

Another dream come true in my guitar collection!!!!!

I will tell more about this concrete guitar later, as well as about some Ouija research I've done.

Guiguitarz

I had some also, I can't remember where and when I picked them up ... 

ESPEXP

Those look like Jason's pics.

BlackJack21

Yea these are Jason's pics when he used to have it.

SteelEdge

I will post pics in my pool table as soon as I can

BlackJack21

Nice. Weird to see that the string retainer bar was never installed on this one. Not sure if Kirk's original was never installed, or if he just removed it and had the screw holes remain like his other guitars.

BlackJack21

Nope it was originally installed then removed just like his other ones.

Guiguitarz

Justin removes them to be quicker when changing strings. The way he does it in fact, because his string is coming from the tuners, not from the Floyd ...

BlackJack21

Agreed, I'm just saying that Kirk's guitars have the string retainer bar installed initially when they come from the factory.

Big Daddy B
BlackJack21 wrote:

Nope it was originally installed then removed just like his other ones.

This pic was in '94. Was that before Justin was his tech? I don't recall when he started working with Kirk but know he was there in the Load Era. I also recall him saying that Kirk had more Floyd Rose equipped guitars than any other artist he teched for. Maybe removal of the retainer is one thing he used to speed up his daily workload. I know I restrung 7 guitars yesterday and I was absolutely beat. 6 were Floyds. I would agree not having a bar would have sped up a couple of things but I am not  doing it every day like a tech is.

Back in 94 Kirk was only touring with 4 Floyds : KH-1, Caution, KH-3, Ouija and KH-1 was only used on 1 song.

BlackJack21

Kirk's tech during the Roam tour was a guy named Fergie I believe.

Big Daddy B
BlackJack21 wrote:

Kirk's tech during the Roam tour was a guy named Fergie I believe.

Oh yeah I think that was the balding guy with the pony tail in the year and a half videos. 

SteelEdge
BlackJack21 wrote:

Nope it was originally installed then removed just like his other ones.

Didn´t see that....

 

No, you guys are wrong.Kirk´s original Ouija didn´t have the string retainer bar installed, that´s Kirk´s second Ouija neckthru with reverse Moon and Inlays, and that one DOES have the string retainer.

Yes, he had two

I know that one is his second because of the first volume knob placement....and because that one has been offered to me for buying (Kirk personally owned, gave to a friend...long story...).I have detailed pics of that one as well as Kirk´s main original.

Only Kirk´s original and the 93 neckthru that I own doesn´t have the string retainer and have the original knobs placement (where the first volume knob is under the number "1", little to the left, not on top of it).That´s the original Ouija design and knob placement (Kirk´s and mine):

Kirk´s Ouija Neckthru reverse Inlays "Number One"

 

Kirk´s Ouija Neckthru reverse Inlays "Number Two"

 

 

And yes, he had a third one with correct moon and star inlays.

 

More info to come soon

BlackJack21

So does the first one also have the spelling mistake?

SteelEdge
BlackJack21 wrote:

So does the first one also have the spelling mistake?

 

Yep, both have.

Pushead

It's so weird seeing it with the more open moon. I've never even noticed it before, but it's all I can notice now. It's also strange seeing 2 stars at the 24th fret.

SteelEdge
Pushead wrote:

It's so weird seeing it with the more open moon. I've never even noticed it before, but it's all I can notice now. It's also strange seeing 2 stars at the 24th fret.

Just like Kirk's!!!

Did a lot of research, and I was lucky to have some confidential pics of Kirk's Ouija to compare, also images from the one in Mexico that is "different"

 

BlackJack21

Yea never understood why ESP ended up going with the one star on the 24th on the sig series, it always bothered me.

GuitarsCollector

HEY GUYS ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

The mexican ouija is A FAKE!

I can see is fake from 1 km with blinded eyes....come on!

Wrong logos, wrong graphics, wronk neck joint and paint, and..WRONG SHAPE of the body, of the headstock, of the control pot cavity...

all is wrong...is FAKE CHINESE COPY!

Rick how you can ask him to compare with yours?

ahahahahhaah

:-)))))))))))

SteelEdge
GuitarsCollector wrote:

HEY GUYS ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

The mexican ouija is A FAKE!

I can see is fake from 1 km with blinded eyes....come on!

Wrong logos, wrong graphics, wronk neck joint and paint, and..WRONG SHAPE of the body, of the headstock, of the control pot cavity...

all is wrong...is FAKE CHINESE COPY!

Rick how you can ask him to compare with yours?

ahahahahhaah

:-)))))))))))

I didn't want to affirm that because I have no evidences / proofs of being a fake....but what I can say for sure is that is not one of the early neckthru for the japanese market.

As I said, big evidences like different inlays, different knobs placement, etc, etc...and the headstock Kirk Hammett signature looks suspicious to me.That is easy to replicate, but things as inlays, and things like GuitarsCollector affirm (body shape, neck joint, etc, etc) makes me quite skeptic.

Another thing that I didn't tell to anyone is the procedence of the guitar: it came from a trade in a flea market in the street.

Yes, you heard me, traded for a Dimebag Washburn in the street, to an unknown guy.

Too good to be true....he also affirms that has rejected $50.000 offers for it.

Again: I'm not affirming is a fake as I don't have solid evidences.....but the story fall by its own weight.

 

ESP 348
GuitarsCollector wrote:

HEY GUYS ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

The mexican ouija is A FAKE!

I can see is fake from 1 km with blinded eyes....come on!

Wrong logos, wrong graphics, wronk neck joint and paint, and..WRONG SHAPE of the body, of the headstock, of the control pot cavity...

all is wrong...is FAKE CHINESE COPY!

Rick how you can ask him to compare with yours?

ahahahahhaah

:-)))))))))))

 

BIG call Alex!!

SteelEdge

After some checking and a few calls, I must agree with Alex.I don't know where that Ouija came from (the one from Mexico) but it is very suspicious, and for sure it is not one of the originals neckthru reverse inlays.

 

BTW, it has been imposible to me to find any info or even track of existence of any other Ouija like mine / Kirk's

 

Do anyone of you guys have any info of where are or who owns the other 3 guitars that are supposed to exist or at least were tracked???

Gautamabuddha78

*on topic* most beautiful guitar  ever! This is by far the ultimate ESP KH ever made.. 

BlackJack21

I still go with the Mummy as the ultimate, but this is one is up there.

Gautamabuddha78

I love that one as well. I finally heard why Kirk doesnt play this one a lot. In a “too much horror” documentary he said that the inlays confuse him on stage. 

One other thing I always wander. Where does he keep all his guitars when not on tour? I imagine that he keeps the most iconic at home. Anyone?

SteelEdge

Well, I'm plaining to do a little video about this guitar, after all the research, talking with ESP and even with Makato Suzuki, ESP Japan President, I can confirm this is a very special one-of-a-kind piece. Will be a video more about the guitar and the Ouija history than a "demo" video, but still.....

 

Any suggestions about what to comment, info, etc?

Guiguitarz

Hi Rick !

Would you be able to talk about the mispelling on the original one ? William Fuld fault.

Thanks a lot, can't wait to see what you've done.

G.

SteelEdge
Guiguitarz wrote:

Hi Rick !

Would you be able to talk about the mispelling on the original one ? William Fuld fault.

Thanks a lot, can't wait to see what you've done.

G.

Only Kirk's 2 originals have that mispelling error. Mine was done after that, and doesn't have it. Still, is the most identical Ouija to Kirk's main original, as his second one was 100% exact to the first one and contains some of the bolt-on features.

BlackJack21

The second one is 100% exact like the first one?

In an earlier post you stated: "No, you guys are wrong. Kirk´s original Ouija didn´t have the string retainer bar installed, that´s Kirk´s second Ouija neckthru with reverse Moon and Inlays, and that one DOES have the string retainer."

Did I misunderstand you or are you saying there's two without the retainer holes and two with?

 

Also I noticed that the Yes and No font is slightly different on his as well.

SteelEdge
BlackJack21 wrote:

The second one is 100% exact like the first one?

In an earlier post you stated: "No, you guys are wrong. Kirk´s original Ouija didn´t have the string retainer bar installed, that´s Kirk´s second Ouija neckthru with reverse Moon and Inlays, and that one DOES have the string retainer."

Did I misunderstand you or are you saying there's two without the retainer holes and two with?

 

Also I noticed that the Yes and No font is slightly different on his as well.

Only 2 Ouijas, one with the retainer, and one without it.Though maybe the one with the retainer was modified later...

BlackJack21

Ah ok that's what I figured, so the second one is not 100% like the first one, it's more like 98%. 

I don't think I ever saw (or noticed) Kirk playing his original without the retainer holes, do you have any pics of that?

SteelEdge
BlackJack21 wrote:

Ah ok that's what I figured, so the second one is not 100% like the first one, it's more like 98%. 

I don't think I ever saw (or noticed) Kirk playing his original without the retainer holes, do you have any pics of that?

Guess the retainer was installed later, I remember reading somewhere that Kirk wanted it in spite of his guitar tech having to struggle with it when changing strings.Anyway, only a few can distinguish both Kirk's Ouijas with just a look....if you read my comments you'll see that is very easy to do

BlackJack21

I'm confused on what your saying now. I know his original has the "1&2" in the graphic showing and he also has a Ouija with the "1&2" in the graphic that is covered. I posted the pic from '94 that shows the proper placement where it's not covered and you said that wasn't his first one but rather it was his second one. When you said that I thought he might have two of the Ouijas with the "1&2" showing. Is that correct? Or did you not distinguish the placement in that photo?

You can see why this is a little confusing to understand lol.

SteelEdge
BlackJack21 wrote:

I'm confused on what your saying now. I know his original has the "1&2" in the graphic showing and he also has a Ouija with the "1&2" in the graphic that is covered. I posted the pic from '94 that shows the proper placement where it's not covered and you said that wasn't his first one but rather it was his second one. When you said that I thought he might have two of the Ouijas with the "1&2" showing. Is that correct? Or did you not distinguish the placement in that photo?

You can see why this is a little confusing to understand lol.

No, the pic in the cover magazine is the Ouija “Number one” the original, with the 1&2 uncovered.Where did I say it was “number two”? Sorry for the misunderstanding....

 

The second one, which gas given to Kirk’s friend, is the one with the 1&2 covered

 

BlackJack21

lol again confusing because the cover magazine it's covered. Just scroll back up the page and you'll see when you said it's number two.

 

Here's where you said the '94 pic was not #1.

SteelEdge
BlackJack21 wrote:

The second one is 100% exact like the first one?

In an earlier post you stated: "No, you guys are wrong. Kirk´s original Ouija didn´t have the string retainer bar installed, that´s Kirk´s second Ouija neckthru with reverse Moon and Inlays, and that one DOES have the string retainer."

Did I misunderstand you or are you saying there's two without the retainer holes and two with?

 

Also I noticed that the Yes and No font is slightly different on his as well.

Man, I guess all this mess is because I’m posting from a cellphone and mixing pics up....this is the pic I was talking about, this is Number One.

 

The cover of “Guitar” magazine you just posted is Number Two.

And that last pic, with Kirk playing, is Number Two.

Easy to spot: Number Two has the knob over the number “1” in the Ouija graphic. Number 1 Ouija, like mine, has the knob below the “1” in the Ouija graphic.

String retainers seem to have been in and out on both guitars

 

load more replies (3 of 3)
alebtart

I remember there being a thread on the old ESP Forum with a thread dedicated to the ESP Ouija. I also faintly remember someone posting that story that you mention of one of Kirk's original Ouija's being given to a friend. Any chance you could remind us? Thanks in advance 

SteelEdge
alebtart wrote:

I remember there being a thread on the old ESP Forum with a thread dedicated to the ESP Ouija. I also faintly remember someone posting that story that you mention of one of Kirk's original Ouija's being given to a friend. Any chance you could remind us? Thanks in advance 

 

Yes, I remember that topic, it was the "101 Ouija" topic. Indeed, I have that topic saved in my old PC.

 

About Kirk's Ouijas (he had 2 neckthru / reverse inlays) he kept the main one who still owns and the second one was given to a close friend who worked as light tech for the band. He has been trying to sell that one lately.

 

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