Few guitars capture the sound and attitude of '90s heavy metal quite like James Hetfield's ESP Explorers. From the understated brutality of the MX-250 to the unmistakable diamond-plate JH-2, these Japanese-built instruments have become some of the most collectible guitars in ESP's history.
The Beginning: Hetfield, ESP, and the Explorer
By the mid-1980s, Metallica frontman James Hetfield had already established the Gibson Explorer as an essential part of his image. Its angular body, aggressive stance, and no-nonsense design were a perfect match for his relentless rhythm playing.
Around 1987, Hetfield began working with Japanese manufacturer ESP, a relationship that would eventually produce some of the most recognizable guitars in metal history.
The first major result was the ESP MX-220, an Explorer-inspired model featuring a large, distinctive headstock. Hetfield's famous white "EET FUK" guitar helped cement ESP's place in the Metallica universe during the ...And Justice for All era.
But it was the next evolution of that design, the MX-250, that would become a true classic.
The ESP MX-250: A Japanese Metal Classic
Introduced around 1991, the ESP MX-250 refined the original MX-220 formula. The body featured slightly sharper lines and a more elongated silhouette, while the headstock became shorter and less exaggerated.
Underneath, the MX-250 was a serious instrument. Japanese-made examples typically featured a solid mahogany body, set mahogany neck, ebony fingerboard, 24.75-inch scale length, and active EMG pickups. Paired with Gotoh hardware and a straightforward control layout, it delivered exactly what Hetfield needed: tight attack, plenty of sustain, and a powerful, articulate sound.
Throughout the 1990s, Hetfield used numerous MX-250 variations, including the famous "Man to Wolf," with its elaborate fretboard inlays, and the "Elk Skull," featuring custom artwork and barbed-wire detailing.
The MX-250 became one of his defining stage guitars, particularly during Metallica's transition from thrash-metal underground heroes to the biggest metal band in the world.
The ESP JH-2: Taking the Explorer to Another Level
By the second half of the 1990s, Hetfield's ESP collection had become increasingly personalized, with elaborate artwork, unusual finishes, and custom details.
Perhaps the most striking was the ESP JH-2.
ESP built Hetfield's original JH-2 in 1996, and a limited-production signature version followed in 1998. Based on the Explorer-inspired EXP design, the JH-2 featured a black finish topped with metal diamond plating across the body and headstock.
It was industrial, aggressive, and completely over the top—in the best possible way.
Unlike the traditional mahogany-neck MX-250, the JH-2 featured a maple neck and rosewood fingerboard, along with active EMG 81/60 pickups and Sperzel locking tuners. Distinctive diamond-shaped fingerboard inlays completed the look, with variations including Hetfield's familiar ninja-star emblem.
ESP reportedly produced just 200 examples of the JH-2 signature model, making it a particularly desirable piece among collectors.
Hetfield's diamond-plate Explorer also appeared in Metallica's 2000 music video for "I Disappear," giving the instrument another memorable place in the band's history. One of his original JH-2 guitars was later included in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Play It Loud exhibition in New York.
Why Did ESP Stop Making Them?
By the late 1990s and early 2000s, ESP's close resemblance to the Gibson Explorer had become a legal concern. Following trademark-related pressure from Gibson, ESP moved away from the traditional Explorer shape for international markets, eventually developing its more angular EX series.
The original MX-250 and JH-2 designs disappeared from regular international production, although MX-style guitars remained available through Japanese custom-order channels for years afterward.
Hetfield eventually moved toward other ESP signature designs, including the Iron Cross and Snakebyte, but the original Explorer-style models never lost their following.
From Stage Weapons to Collectors' Pieces
Today, original Japanese ESP MX-250s and JH-2s have become highly desirable collectibles.
The MX-250 appeals to players who appreciate its connection to Metallica's classic era, its understated design, and the exceptional quality associated with Japanese ESP production. The JH-2 takes things further, combining limited production, unusual construction details, and one of the most distinctive finishes ESP ever put on a guitar.
For collectors, originality is especially important. Factory finishes, hardware, electronics, serial numbers, and documented provenance can all play a major role in determining desirability.
While prices vary considerably, clean original examples can command substantial premiums, particularly the limited-production JH-2.
Both models represent an era when ESP was building instruments that pushed beyond traditional guitar design while remaining rooted in outstanding Japanese craftsmanship.
And while Hetfield has played countless guitars over his career, there's something about those early ESP Explorers that still feels impossible to improve upon.
Big riffs, sharp edges, and unmistakable attitude. That's about as Metallica as a guitar can get.
