GuitarCleanRiff
Blackened Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Metallica
Metallica · 1980s · metal
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
ESP MX220 (aka 'Eet Fuk') Explorer-style
Pickups
EMG 81 (bridge), EMG 60 (neck) active humbuckers
Amp
Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ (studio recording, 1988)
Pickup Position
Neck pickup (EMG 60)
Studio recording for '...And Justice for All' (1988). Clean intro/riff likely used the neck pickup (EMG 60) for a glassy, articulate clean. No evidence of pedal use for clean section; all effects from amp or post-processing.
Amp Settings
Mids4.5
Bass5.5
Gain0
Reverb1.5
Treble7
Presence6
Tone Matcher
Match This Tone to Your Gear
Tell us your guitar and amp — we’ll calculate the exact settings translated to your specific rig.
7-day free trial · Cancel anytime.
Tone Character
- glassy and pristine
- articulate and bright
- tight and percussive attack
- slight reverb ambience
- high headroom
- active pickup clarity
- no audible breakup
- studio-polished clean
- no modulation or delay
- focused and clear