GuitarCleanSolo
Fade to Black Solo Guitar Tone Settings — Metallica
Metallica · 1980s · metal
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Gibson Flying V (black, 1979, stock pickups)
Pickups
Stock Gibson humbuckers (likely T-Top humbuckers)
Amp
Marshall JCM800 2203 (studio, 1984 Ride the Lightning sessions)
Pickup Position
Neck pickup
Studio recording, 1984. Kirk Hammett used his black Flying V with the neck pickup for the clean solo section. Amp was a Marshall JCM800. No evidence of Mesa/Boogie or other amps for the clean section. Effects were added via pedals and possibly rack units. Pickup selector set to neck. No evidence of live gear or later signature models used on this recording.
Amp Settings
Mids4.5
Bass6
Gain0
Reverb2
Treble7
Presence5.5
Effects Chain
- Delay pedal (model unknown) · delay
- Chorus pedal (model unknown) · chorus
Guitar (Flying V, neck pickup) → Delay pedal (model unknown) → Chorus pedal (model unknown, possible) → Marshall JCM800 (spring reverb on)
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Tone Character
- warm and smooth
- glassy clean
- slight shimmer (possible chorus)
- spacious with subtle reverb
- articulate note separation
- sustained clean lines
- soft attack
- studio double-tracked thickness
- no audible crunch or breakup
- clear, bell-like highs