A one-of-a-kind Gibson CEO4 guitar, custom-built and played by Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett during the “Back To The Beginning” concert — an event tied to Ozzy Osbourne’s final performance in Birmingham this past July — has fetched an impressive $76,800 at auction. The instrument had originally been projected to sell for only around $6,000.
Hammett not only used the guitar live during Metallica’s rendition of Black Sabbath’s “Hole In The Sky,” but also added his signature to the instrument. The CEO4 model features a 24.75-inch scale mahogany neck, a bound 22-fret ebony fretboard with Supreme-style split block mother-of-pearl inlays, and a bound open-book Gibson headstock with custom model inlays. It also includes a truss rod cover engraved with “CEO-4,” paired with a mahogany body topped with flame maple finished in Ghost Burst. The package came with a hardshell case, Gibson CEO Cesar Gueikian’s “Back To The Beginning” backstage pass signed by him, and a custom-made DES strap fitted with strap locks.
The guitar was sold through Julien’s Auctions as part of its annual “Played, Worn & Torn” event, which highlights more than 800 pieces of music history. This particular SG was included in the Gibson Gives Guitar Collection, a curated selection benefiting the Gibson Gives charity.
The Kirk Hammett Collection presented a rare chance for collectors and historians to explore more than 150 guitars, awards, and stage-played pieces connected to the evolution of heavy music.
Reflecting on his long-running passion for collecting, Hammett said: “I’ve had the collectors bug ever since I can remember. There’s a whole troop of guitars that I’ve just accumulated over the years. Some are touring guitars and then there’s a whole batch of rare weird stuff. It drives me crazy to see the whole bunch of guitars not being played, and that’s my hope that people buy these and play them, record with them tour with them.”
While Hammett is most widely known for four decades of work with Metallica, he also played a foundational role in Exodus, performing with the band for three years in its early days. Exodus even opened for Metallica in late 1982 and 1983, helping set the stage for his eventual move to the group. His career has earned him numerous awards, including recognition in Rolling Stone’s list of “The Top 100 Greatest Guitarists Of All Time.” Though Hammett owns an extensive guitar collection, he is particularly associated with his long-running partnership with ESP, which has produced several signature models carrying his name.
