September 26, 2025 I Event
Metallica Bassist Surprises Guests at Guitar Center Event
Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo surprises attendees during a guitar lesson at the Hollywood flagship location of Guitar Center on Sept. 25.
On Sept. 25, Guitar Center held a special event at its Hollywood flagship store that highlighted the brand’s enhanced in-store experience through an immersive guided tour, a guitar lesson and a surprise appearance by Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo.
The morning began with a guided tour led by Guitar Center CEO Gabe Dalporto, who highlighted the many enhancements he has driven across stores nationwide. Guests explored every corner of the Hollywood Flagship, moving through dedicated rooms for guitars, drums, DJ, keys and live sound, and trying out the latest gear along the way. The tour also stopped at Guitar Center’s RockWalk, where guests learned its history and viewed the handprints cemented at the store’s entryway. Inside, they discovered the flagship doubles as a living gallery of music history, filled with legendary memorabilia from beloved artists. Standout pieces included Eric Clapton’s famed “Blackie” Stratocaster.
This was followed by a hands-on guitar lesson inside the store’s Vintage Room led by Grammy Award-winning guitarist, educator and founding member of Velvet Revolver, Dave Kushner, Guitar Center’s new senior director of music education experience. Guests played their first riffs on the Guitar Center-exclusive Taylor GS Mini-e Rosewood Sunset Blvd Acoustic-Electric Guitar, a special-edition model designed in collaboration with Guitar Center and inspired by the Hollywood Flagship itself, as attendees learned the fundamentals of guitar playing before tackling the riff to Metallica’s “Enter Sandman.” Midway through the session, the excitement reached a new high when Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo made a surprise appearance. Playing his Guitar Center-exclusive Godin A4 Robert Trujillo Yellow Flame Acoustic-Electric Bass, he joined the group for the riff ahead of the instrument’s launch on Sept. 26.
The Godin A4 (four-string fretted) and A5 (five-string fretted) Robert Trujillo M72 RT Yellow Flame Acoustic-Electric Bass is a Guitar Center exclusive, limited to just four units in the United States. Each instrument is finished in a striking Yellow Flame design inspired by Metallica’s 72 Seasons album, and each is hand-signed by Trujillo. Each bass also comes with a one-of-a-kind embroidered strap designed by Trujillo’s wife, artist Chloe Trujillo, paying homage to the Jaco Pastorius film Robert released. Both Robert and Chloe signed the straps. Built in Canada, the instruments combine boutique appeal with an acoustic-electric format and are available in both A4 and A5 versions. A portion of proceeds will benefit Metallica’s All Within My Hands charity, underscoring the release’s importance beyond its rarity and artistry.
The event underscored Guitar Center’s mission to inspire and connect musicians at every level by combining hands-on education with unforgettable experiences.
