During the mid-1990s, ESP produced the first of his signature model guitars. To date, Hetfield has had six signature guitars (may soon be seven) with the company. However, Hetfield often uses guitars from Gibson and other companies instead of ESP despite his endorsement.
- ESP Truckster signature models in grey and black finishes
- ESP "Iron Cross" – Has the Eclipse body shape; distressed black with gold hardware, with a gold racing stripe and a gold Iron Cross on the body. It is based on the design of his 70's Gibson Les Paul Custom.
- ESP Explorer – distressed black finish with white pickguard
- ESP Explorer – silver diamond plate
- ESP Explorer – black diamond plate
- ESP Explorer "Papa Het" – with a white finish and some drawings by Dirty Donny
- ESP Explorer – black diamond plate with deer antler inlay
- ESP Flying V – white finish (replica of his old Flying-V copy)
- ESP LTD "The Grynch" – signature guitar, black with green flames on both the front and back of the body and neck, used for the song Frantic
- ESP "Snakebyte"- custom guitars in black and white finishes; feature a custom body and headstock designed by James. The retail model was revealed to the public at the Winter NAMM 2011 show.
- Gibson Explorer – silverburst with white pickguard
- Gibson Explorer "Rusty" – black satin with tarnished metal pickguard
- Gibson Flying V – sunburst
- Gibson Flying V – silverburst
- Gibson Flying V – white, chrome pickups
- Gibson Les Paul Custom- 70's era Les Paul with distressed black finish, gold stripe and gold iron cross on body; referred to as "Uncle Milty" and was the inspiration for his ESP Iron Cross signature model
- Gibson Les Paul Custom- purple satin finish
- Gibson Les Paul Custom- natural finish with drawing on body that says "Cliff Burton RIP"
- James Trussart metal Explorer
- James Trussart Steel DeVille – Les Paul-shaped guitar with a perforated, rusted steel front
- Ken Lawrence Explorer- The first of three custom made Explorer-type guitars made by Northern Californian luthier Ken Lawrence. It features a mahogany body with a chechen bark laminate top, modified Kenneth Lawrence headstock and custom "Tribal Hunting Scene" inlays.
- Ken Lawrence Explorer- It features a mahogany body with a quilted bubinga top, modified Kenneth Lawrence headstock, chechen rear cover plate and custom "Sun-Ray" inlays.
- Line 6 Variax Acoustic 700 – used live for songs featuring acoustic guitars, such as Fade to Black and The Unforgiven
- "Dave of England custom aluminium engraved tattoo finish" – a Zemaitis guitar with an engraved metal top
- Fender Telecaster – with B-Bender in butterscotch finish
- 1984 Gibson Explorer#1 – white finish with "MORE BEER" written on white tape in the bottom left corner, the stock pickups were swapped for EMG 81/EMG 81 set
- 1984 Gibson Explorer#2 – white finish with "So What" written in the bottom left corner, the stock pickups were swapped for EMG 81/EMG 81 set
- ESP Explorer – black finish with EMG pickups, used as a warm-up guitar in the early '90s
- Several Gibson Les Paul models – including Standard models in black, cherry sunburst, and lemon burst finishes
- Gibson EDS-1275 – red finish
- 1963 Gibson SG – red finish with Gibson Vibrola vibrato system
- Gibson Moderne – black finish, gold hardware
- Gibson Firebird – seen in practice
- ESP Explorer#1 – Hetfield's first ESP guitar: white finish, "EET FUK" on the body, "middle finger" inlays. The headstock broke many times and so the guitar was eventually retired from live use, it has been seen in use on the recording of the new album during the making of "Suicide and Redemption"
