1985 - JACKSON King V [sn. J0706]
- shape: king V
- construction: neck through body
- neck: Maple
- body: poplar
- fingerboard: ebony, 22 XJ frets "shark teeth" inlays, 25.5 scale, SERIAL NUMBER J0706 punched on the last fret
- electronics: EMG 81/60 set, 1 volume, 1 tone, 3 way toggle switch
- hardware: Tune-O-Matic Bridge and Tailpiece, Grover Tuners, crome hardware
- logos and serials: (? on the last fret of the fretboard)
-- front of headstock: gibson truss rod cover
-- back of headstock: nothing
- colors and other features: white-ivory
James Hetfield had a King V a year before Dave Mustaine and it was serial J0706 and completed 5-24-85.
James Hetfield used this guitar during the ride the lightning years and during the tour promoting the album "Master Of Puppets".
He used it mostly to play "The Thing That Should Not Be".
Jackson wanted to endorse James Hetfield, but he thought that this Flying V hurt his image and continued to use his explorers instead, because he looked better with them.
Originally it had Duncan invader pickups but later in 1987 james swapped them with emgs.
At some point, Hetfield sealed it on the head of a company sticker "Kill Bon Jovi".
In 2016 james incredibly use this guitar to record "hardwired...to self-destruct" look here (from 2:23): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8xipvEWQjc
(last pic)
