GuitarDistortedRiff80% confidence
Fixxxer Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Metallica
Metallica · 1990s · metal
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
ESP MX-250 Explorer
Pickups
EMG 81 (bridge), EMG 60 (neck) active humbuckers
Amp
Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier + Wizard Modern Classic (blended)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup (EMG 81)
Studio recording, 1997. James Hetfield's main rhythm tone on 'Fixxxer' riff section. Mesa/Boogie and Wizard amps were both used for heavy rhythm tones on Reload. ESP Explorer with EMG 81 bridge pickup was Hetfield's primary rhythm guitar. No evidence of additional pedals or effects for the riff section.
Amp Settings
Mids4.5
Bass6
Gain8
Reverb1
Treble7
Presence6.5
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Tone Character
- tight and percussive
- scooped midrange
- high-gain saturation
- aggressive palm muting
- chunky low end
- articulate pick attack
- compressed and focused
- minimal ambience
- modern metal clarity
- thick, multi-amp blend
Notes & Caveats
- No direct numeric amp settings for 'Fixxxer' found; settings estimated based on typical Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier and Wizard Modern Classic usage for Metallica's 1990s rhythm tones.
- No evidence of pedals or additional effects used on the riff section; all distortion from amp and active pickups.
- No evidence of time-based or modulation effects; the riff section is dry and tight.
- All gear and settings refer to the studio recording, not live performances.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Fixxxer was recorded during the Load/Reload era with Metallica's signature scooped, high-gain Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier tones: aggressive gain, tight low end, heavily scooped mids, and bright but not harsh treble/presence. The tone is dry and punchy with little to no reverb, matching the late-90s metal production style.