Skip to content

Jeff Hanneman's Top 3 Guitars

Updated on April 30, 2020 by Ulan Duulatov

Jeff Hanneman, the late guitarist of Slayer, played several guitars throughout his career. Here are the top three guitars that he is known for using:

  1. Gibson Les Paul: Jeff Hanneman's first guitar ever was a Gibson Les Paul that he bought by saving $500 from his job. He used this guitar on Slayer's early albums "Show No Mercy" and "Hell Awaits".

  2. Jackson Soloist: In the early 1990s, Hanneman began using ESP guitars as a backup to his Jackson Soloist guitar. He even had his own signature model made based on the specs of his original Jackson Soloist.

  3. B.C. Rich Bich: After the "South of Heaven" tour, Hanneman began using B.C. Rich Bich guitars with various graphics, including the Dead Kennedys DK logo and a portrait of Sex Pistols frontman Johnny Rotten.

It's worth noting that Hanneman exclusively used ESP guitars from 2000 until he stopped touring in early 2011. Additionally, ESP has since released several Jeff Hanneman signature models, including a replica of his original Jackson Soloist and a limited edition "Wehrmacht" graphic model inspired by the band's song of the same name.


Related Products

Meet the author

meta-author

Ulan Duulatov

Immersed in the world of heavy metal, this devoted blogger decodes the guitar choices of famous musicians, unearthing captivating insights through concise yet engrossing articles. Montani Semper Liberi!...

See more

Learn More

Tim’s Custom LP-Style Guitar Build: From Kit to Killer Axe
Tim’s Custom LP-Style Guitar Build: From Kit to Killer Axe
What happens when a metal guitarist builds his own guitar? You get a raw, creative, and fully cus...
Read now >
Building a Blank DIY Guitar Kit from Start to Finish
Building a Blank DIY Guitar Kit from Start to Finish
Ready to dive into your next DIY adventure? In this follow-up video to the previous Unboxing a Bl...
Read now >
Unboxing a Junior Double Cut Kit with Tom
Unboxing a Junior Double Cut Kit with Tom
Curious about what’s inside our DIY guitar kit boxes? Join Tom as he unboxes our Junior Double Cu...
Read now >
Previous article Copper Shielding Kit Guitars