“Hetfield personally hooked me up with them back in the day. I’m not cheating on anyone. I want all the instruments!” Gojira’s Joe Duplantier explains how he started playing ESP guitars – and why he’s still playing Charvels
Janelle Borg
created: Aug. 6, 2025, 3:30 p.m. | updated: Aug. 12, 2025, 8:35 a.m.
“It’s funny, people talk about instruments almost like marriage,” he quips in a new Guitar World interview.
Indeed, Duplantier has been wielding Charvel's Tele-style San Dimas models for over 10 years – a run which has also included several signatures over the years, including his latest, the Joe Duplantier Signature Pro-Mod San Dimas Style 2 HH Mahogany.
[OFFICIAL VIDEO] - YouTube Watch OnDuplantier clarifies that he still uses his signature Charvel “and will continue to do so”.
Bill from Mastodon loves ESP, and I’ve played his guitar a bunch of times.
Guitar World's full interview with Joe Duplantier will be published in the coming weeks.
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