GuitarDistortedSolo
Fade to Black Solo Guitar Tone Settings — Metallica
Metallica · 1980s · metal
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
ESP 400 Series Strat (modded, likely with Seymour Duncan or EMG pickups, but pre-EMG era for Kirk Hammett)
Pickups
Seymour Duncan SH-4 JB (bridge humbucker, likely), or stock single-coil in neck; pre-EMG era
Amp
Marshall JCM800 2203 head
Pickup Position
Neck pickup (for main solo melody, as per tone and forum consensus)
Studio recording, 1984. Gear based on period interviews, photos, and Metallica's known studio setup for Ride the Lightning. No evidence of Mesa/Boogie or modern ESPs/EMGs on this album. Wah and delay are clearly audible in the solo. No evidence of chorus or flanger in the solo section.
Amp Settings
Mids4.5
Bass6.5
Gain7.5
Reverb1.5
Treble7
Presence6
Effects Chain
- Wah pedal (model unknown, likely Cry Baby or Vox) · wah
- Delay pedal (model unknown, likely analog or early digital) · delay
- Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer (possible, as boost into Marshall) · overdrive
Guitar → Wah pedal → Delay pedal → (possible TS9 Tube Screamer) → Marshall JCM800 2203
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Tone Character
- singing sustain
- creamy lead tone
- wah-filtered phrasing
- fluid legato runs
- tight and articulate attack
- smooth, vocal-like bends
- slight delay trails
- focused midrange
- not overly scooped
- high-gain saturation