GuitarCleanRiff
Creeping Death Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Metallica
Metallica · 1980s · metal
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
1984 Gibson Explorer
Pickups
Stock Gibson humbuckers (likely Dirty Fingers or similar, pre-EMG era)
Amp
Marshall JCM800 2203 (borrowed European model, studio recording)
Pickup Position
Neck pickup
Studio recording, 1984; clean sections likely used same amp with low gain and guitar volume rolled down. No evidence of alternate amp for clean part. No evidence of DI or additional effects for clean part.
Amp Settings
Mids4.5
Bass5.5
Gain0
Reverb1
Treble7
Presence5.5
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Tone Character
- glassy and clear
- slightly compressed
- tight attack
- not sparkling or scooped
- dry, minimal reverb
- no chorus or modulation
- warm but not muddy
- articulate single notes
- no breakup or crunch
- studio-polished
Sources
Tone Story / Why This Tone Works
studio