HUNTERBORN
Inspired by the story. Reinterpreted by hand.
An independent tribute project by Augustin-Cristian Apostol / Antonio Guitars, created with deep respect for the original HUNTER guitar, its history, and the craftsmanship behind it.
The Original Story
The story of HUNTER began in the mid-1990s, when Kenneth Lawrence was introduced to James Hetfield through Doug West of Mesa/Boogie. At the time, Lawrence was primarily known for building basses, but after examining his work, Hetfield asked him to build a guitar.
For the new instrument, Lawrence studied one of Hetfield's existing ESP guitars as a reference for the body geometry, neck profile and general setup. James then selected a distinctive piece of Chechen for the top, paired with a mahogany body and neck, giving the guitar the natural and immediately recognizable character that would become part of its identity.
The fingerboard became one of the defining elements of HUNTER. Inspired by the idea of a hunting scene, Lawrence developed imagery intended to resemble primitive drawings found on the walls of a cave. Dark mother-of-pearl pieces were chosen to create the impression of charcoal-like figures, while artist Alex Escudero contributed to the development of the artwork.
What began as a unique custom instrument soon became much more than a decorative piece. Hetfield connected with the guitar both visually and musically, and HUNTER went on to become part of his working collection and stage history.
HUNTER became the beginning of a remarkable chapter in the collaboration between James Hetfield and Kenneth Lawrence.
The HUNTERBORN Interpretation
HUNTERBORN is not intended as a reproduction of the original instrument. It is my personal interpretation of an instrument and a story that have fascinated me for many years.
The original HUNTER has a very particular identity, created through the combination of its natural woods, its hunting-scene fingerboard and the unmistakable character of Kenneth Lawrence's craftsmanship. My intention was to preserve the spirit behind that instrument while introducing details, materials and choices that belong to my own work.
James Hetfield's instruments have been an important source of inspiration throughout my path as a luthier, but for HUNTERBORN the challenge went far beyond recreating a familiar silhouette. It was about understanding the visual language of the original and rebuilding that atmosphere through my own craftsmanship.
The result is a tribute to the story that inspired it, interpreted through the craftsmanship of Antonio Guitars.
Craft Details
For HUNTERBORN, the goal was not simply to recreate the visual language of the original instrument, but to reinterpret its hunting theme through my own materials, details, and craftsmanship.
For my interpretation, I chose granadillo for the fingerboard, with the hunting-scene inlays created from different types of shell.
These materials were selected for the way they interact with light, allowing the details across the fingerboard to reveal different reflections, colors, and depth depending on the viewing angle.
The side markers are not conventional glow-in-the-dark dots. They are fiber-optic markers illuminated by a concealed LED system, designed to remain discreet in daylight and become clearly visible in low-light conditions.
Specifications
BodyMahogany
NeckMahogany
TopChechen
FingerboardGranadillo with blind binding
InlaysNatural shells
Scale Length24.75"
Radius16"
Frets22 Jescar stainless steel jumbo frets
Truss RodDouble action with carbon reinforcement bars
NutBone
TunersSperzel locking tuners
PickupsEMG 81/60 Set
BridgeGotoh
Stop TailpieceGotoh
Side DotsBlue LED fiber optic and MOP markers
StringsErnie Ball RPS 10-46
WiringVolume / Volume
SwitchSwitchcraft 3-way toggle
FinishMatte Acrylic finish
Weight8.8 lbs
Credits & Disclaimer
Credits for the original HUNTER guitar
Original guitar built by: Kenneth Lawrence
Original instrument created for: James Hetfield
Original hunting-scene concept and inlay direction: Kenneth Lawrence
Artistic contribution to the hunting-scene artwork: Alex Escudero
Disclaimer
HUNTERBORN is an independent tribute project created by Augustin-Cristian Apostol / Antonio Guitars.
It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, or authorized by Metallica, James Hetfield, Kenneth Lawrence, ESP Guitars, or any related entities, trademarks, or rights holders.
All names are mentioned solely for credit, historical context, and reference to the original HUNTER guitar.