GuitarDistortedSolo
...And Justice for All Solo Guitar Tone Settings — Metallica
Metallica · 1980s · metal
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
ESP M-II (custom, early 80s, likely black finish, with EMG pickups)
Pickups
EMG 81 (bridge, active humbucker)
Amp
Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ head into Marshall 4x12 cabinet (studio recording, 1988)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording for '...And Justice for All' (1988). Kirk Hammett used his ESP M-II with EMG 81 active pickups for solos. The amp was a Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ head, which was the core of Metallica's tone on this album. Marshall cabs were used for tracking. No evidence of live rig or other guitars for this solo section.
Amp Settings
Mids3.5
Bass6
Gain8.5
Reverb0
Treble7.5
Presence6
Effects Chain
- Dunlop Cry Baby Wah · wah
- Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer · overdrive
- Delay pedal (model unknown) · delay
ESP M-II (EMG 81 bridge) → Dunlop Cry Baby Wah → Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer → Delay pedal (model unknown) → Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ head → Marshall 4x12 cab
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Tone Character
- tight and percussive
- scooped mids
- singing sustain
- aggressive palm muting
- razor-sharp articulation
- high-gain saturation
- cutting treble presence
- fast alternate picking clarity
- fluid legato runs
- controlled feedback