Angel Hammett

Angel Ray Keala Hammett (born September 29, 2006) is an American musician, and songwriter, best known for the lead guitarist of Reckless (band)

Early life
Hammett was born on September 29, 2006 in San Francisco, California. He is the son of Kirk Hammett and Lani Hammett. His father is of English, Filipino, German, Irish and Scottish descent and His mother is of French Canadian and Brazilian descent. He has a younger brother, Vincenzo Hammett who is the guitarist of Fire of Devils.

Equipment and techniques
Angel Hammett's tour guitars :
 * ESP M-II "Zorlac" – This was the starting line for the whole KH series. It features a vertical skull and crossbones as opposed to the horizontal ones featured on today's KH's, and an upside down Jackson Guitars style headstock which is what Hammett originally intended. However, Jackson Guitars threatened lawsuits if this model was ever sold. As a result, the headstock was changed to the typical ESP style, but flipped upside down.
 * ESP M-II Standard – with EMG and Seymour Duncan pickups. Hammett used this a lot in the studio and live.
 * ESP KH-2 "Bride of Frankenstein" – New for 2009.
 * ESP KH-4 Chrome – New for 2009. A remake of his former KH-4 guitar, with a chrome pickguard, chrome hardware, and chrome EMG pickups.
 * ESP MII-NT – New for 2009. It is custom finished with Occult-themed graphics.
 * ESP KH-2 "Skully" – Hammett's main touring guitar. This signature model is based upon the modifications he made to his M-II.
 * ESP KH-2 M-II "Boris Karloff Mummy" #I – This has been Hammett's favourite guitar for many years. It features the Boris Karloff Mummy I graphic of which Hammett owns the rights to. It will not be released by ESP. Hammett has two of these guitars, one with Eye of Horus inlays and the other with hieroglyphics inlays.
 * ESP KH-2 M-II "Ouija" – This guitar contains two spelling errors. It sports the words "WILLIAM FUED TALKING BAARD SET" but it in fact should say "WILLIAM FULD TALKING BOARD SET". Hammett also now plays a white version of this guitar on tour.
 * ESP KH-2 M-II "Greenburst" A standard KH-2 with a custom green sunburst finish, green inlays, and green logo.
 * ESP KH-3 Eclipse – Pushead Spider graphic. It is taken from a classic Les Paul Jr. shape with a Floyd Rose vibrato and EMG pickups.
 * ESP Flying V copy – Cherry Red with white pickguard and gold hardware. Hammett uses this live mostly for the song "Seek & Destroy".
 * ESP Michael Schenker Flying V
 * ESP VIPER Baritone;; Used for performances of "The Unnamed Feeling".
 * Gibson 1968 Les Paul Custom – Mostly on ballads such as "Fade to Black" and "Welcome Home".
 * Gibson Les Paul Standard – Used on songs from St. Anger.
 * Ibanez RG – Used during the Wherever We May Roam American and European tour. It was used as a stunt guitar and for Deep Purple covers.
 * Jackson Randy Rhoads Model RR1T – Custom made specifically for Hammett. It is usually tuned one step down from standard tuning, and used for songs like "Sad but True" and "The Memory Remains".
 * TC Customs Death Magnetic Flying V – Used on the World Magnetic Tour.
 * Teuffel Birdfish – Designed and produced by German guitar designer/builder, Ulrich Teuffel. The model is limited (500 made) and is made to amplify sound using various pickups. This guitar is used live for "The Judas Kiss".
 * Teuffel Tesla

On the 25th anniversary of Metallica's debut album Kill 'Em All, Hammett appears on the cover of Feb. 2008's Guitar World sporting his new custom ESP. This model is the KH20, the 20th anniversary model from ESP.

In 2014, Hammett purchased the 1959 Les Paul formerly used by Gary Moore and Peter Green; using it on tour when playing the Thin Lizzy cover: "Whiskey in the Jar".

Amplifiers and cabinets
Throughout Metallica's career, Hammett has used a range of different amplifiers. For the first two albums, he used Marshall amplifiers and cabinets, with occasional effects. For the recording of Metallica's third album, Master of Puppets (1986), he and James Hetfield bought a Mesa/Boogie MarkIIC+ amplifier, and used Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier heads. Even when he made his move to Randall Amplifiers in 2007, he still used Mesa/Boogie amplifiers in his setup, and still does to this day. He currently uses two rackmounted Dual Rectifier 2-channel heads in tandem with his Randalls.

In September 2007, Randall Amplifiers announced a partnership with Hammett to design a line of signature amplifiers, heads, combos and preamp modules.

In December 2011, it was announced by Fortin Amps that they would team up with Randall to start a new line of tube amplifiers based on the Fortin Meathead amplifier. Hammett is currently using a prototype of the amplifier that he used for the Big 4 show at Yankee Stadium and for all of the shows in India and Asia, and was recently sent a second prototype.


 * Mesa/Boogie Rackmounted Dual Rectifier (x2)
 * Randall RM100KH Signature Model (modified version of the MTS series RM100) (x1)
 * Randall/Fortin Prototype head (x2)


 * Randall 4x12 Cabinets (x4)
 * Randall/Fortin 4x12 Cabinet

Effects
To avoid problems with pedals being damaged during live performances, Hammett keeps his effect pedals in a rack along with his amplifiers and his guitar technician controls them through a pedalboard sidestage. The pedal controller allows him to change between different effect pedals and amplifiers.

In 2008, Jim Dunlop started working in partnership with Hammett to create a signature Wah-wah pedal, the KH95. It is now available to buy in stores.


 * TC Electronic G-Major 2 effects processor
 * Boss NS-2 Noise Suppressor
 * Dunlop KH95 Kirk Hammett Signature Crybaby
 * Ibanez Tube Screamer (Keeley modified)
 * DigiTech Whammy WH-1
 * Line 6 DL4 Delay Modeler
 * Line 6 MM4 Modulation Modeler


 * Shure UR-4D Wireless Receiver
 * GCX Audio Switcher
 * Voodoo Lab Ground Control Pro floorboard
 * DBX 1074 Quad Gate
 * MXR Eddie Van Halen Flanger
 * MXR Bass Octave Deluxe
 * DigiTech Space Station
 * ToneBone Hot British Tube Distortion

Accessories

 * Ernie Ball "Power Slinky" strings (.11-.48)
 * Jim Dunlop Dunlop Jazz III Kirk Hammett(green)
 * Levy Custom Straps


 * Peterson Strobe 420 Tuner
 * Bridge position: EMG 81
 * Neck position: Some Guitars EMG 81 Others EMG 60 (EMG 60 usually used for clean and to match harmony sections with James Hetfield)