ESP LTD KH 602 PSP

ESP LTD KH 602 PSP review

The ESP LTD KH 602 PSP is a Kirk Hammett signature guitar built around a familiar metal-focused formula: a double-cutaway body, 24 frets, active humbuckers, and a locking tremolo. Its Purple Sparkle finish gives the instrument a distinctive look, while the neck-through construction and slim neck profile are designed for easy access across the fingerboard. At a listed price of $1,429, it includes a fitted hard case.

Player reports are strongly positive about the guitar's feel, finish, and high-gain sound. They also point to a few details worth considering, including its painted neck, the demands of setting up a floating tremolo, and occasional inconsistencies in initial preparation.

Build, finish, and feel

The body is alder, with a maple neck running through the body and a Macassar ebony fingerboard. The neck has an Extra Thin U profile, a 42 mm nut, a 350 mm fingerboard radius, and 24 extra-jumbo frets. Its 648 mm scale is the common 25.5-inch length. Together, those dimensions give the KH 602 a flat, fast-playing feel that reviewers particularly liked for lead work and quick runs.

Several owners describe clean fretwork, secure hardware, and a good factory setup, with comfortable string height and accurate intonation. One player who also owns an LTD M400 noticed a clear step up in perceived quality, calling out the rolled fingerboard edges, neck, finish, and tremolo. These are individual impressions rather than a guarantee of identical setup on every guitar.

The finish is a major part of the appeal. Purple Sparkle can look close to black in subdued light and shift toward brighter purple as the light catches its metallic particles. A few owners say photographs do not convey that change well. The back of the neck is painted, which some players enjoy for its consistent feel and appearance. Players who prefer exposed wood may find it less appealing.

Pickups and controls

The guitar uses active EMG Bone Breaker humbuckers, designed with Kirk Hammett, and has two volume controls, one tone control, and a three-way toggle switch. There is no coil-splitting function in the listed specifications. Owners describe the bridge pickup as forceful and cutting under high gain, while the neck pickup can deliver a thick, crunchy voice. Several compare the set favorably with the more familiar EMG 81 and 60 combination, though pickup preferences and amplifier settings will shape the result.

Metal is the most natural fit. Reviews praise the focused distortion and substantial output, but some players also report usable clean sounds when they adjust the guitar's volume and tone controls. The two separate volume knobs make quick level changes possible without reaching for an amplifier or footswitch. For bright, sharp clean tones, the active pickups can work well, but this is not a guitar with a wide range of switching options.

Floyd Rose and tuning stability

A Floyd Rose 1000 double-locking tremolo and locking nut support pitch effects while helping the guitar stay in tune. Multiple owners report stable tuning during normal playing and tremolo use, including dive effects. One reviewer found the bridge performed well compared with a German-made Floyd Rose. Another cautions that aggressive use can affect tuning stability. As with any floating system, setup, string changes, and the balance between string tension and spring tension matter.

The locking system is useful once adjusted, but it can make routine tuning less straightforward than on a fixed-bridge guitar. New owners should expect to spend time learning how the bridge responds, particularly if changing string gauges or tuning. The included D'Addario XL120 set is.009 to.042.

What to know before buying

• Case: A fitted ESP hard case is included. Some buyers have reported that it arrived separately after an initial delivery issue, so check the shipment contents.
• Weight: One player found the guitar substantial but well balanced, while another noted that it was not especially light.
• Fingerboard finish: One detailed report described excess dark coloring residue on the fingerboard that marked the player's fingers and strings. That may be an isolated quality-control issue, but it is worth checking the board and strings when unpacking.
• Neck feel: The painted back felt smooth to some owners, while players who prefer a natural wood surface may not like it.

Verdict

The ESP LTD KH 602 PSP offers a strong combination of a striking finish, fast neck, active signature pickups, and a Floyd Rose 1000. Its clearest strengths are its metal-ready output, accessible upper frets, and included hard case. The trade-offs are the painted neck, a limited pickup-switching scheme, and the setup attention that comes with a floating tremolo. For players seeking a Kirk Hammett-style instrument with a vivid Purple Sparkle finish, the KH 602 PSP makes a compelling case. Check the setup and fingerboard condition on arrival, then give the tremolo time to settle before judging tuning performance.