Rare autographed Metallica guitar could auction at '$10,000' for charity

Following our news on the recent auctioning of a unique Eddie Van Halen guitar, collectors have a chance to once again raise their fingers in the air 'as devil horns' for a good cause. The same firm is auctioning this collectible autographed guitar signed by all four members of Metallica, the most successful metal band in the world.

The memorabilia axe for sale is an American-manufactured ESP Ltd Viper. It boasts a high gloss red wood grain finish, ESP pick-ups, and the autographs of each member of Metallica - Kirk Hammett, Lars Ulrich, James Hetfield and Robert Trujillo.

Metallica remains the most successful metal band in the world

But that's not all: if you're the lucky bidder on this $10,000-estimated guitar then the band's drummer, Lars Ulrich, will customise the guitar with your name... or your favorite Metallica song... or whatever you choose!

Bids on the guitar stand at $3,250 at the time of writing. Given that Metallica sold more than 2.5m albums worldwide each year between 2000-2006, and tipped the 4m mark in 2004, this guitar's $10,000 estimate shouldn't be a problem in the US-based online charity sale.

Metallica is today the world's most successful modern 'catalog' band in terms of CD sales, and also regularly sells out stadiums and arenas worldwide. This is no mean feat for a teenage thrash metal band first formed in San Francisco's Bay Area in 1981.