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For Whom the Bell Tolls — Metallica1 / 2
Original RigYour Adaptation
GuitarDistortedSolo80% confidence

For Whom the Bell Tolls Solo Guitar Tone Settings — Metallica

Metallica · 1980s · metal

studio

Original Recording

Guitar
Gibson Flying V (likely 1979, stock pickups at time of recording)
Pickups
Stock Gibson humbuckers (late 70s/early 80s Flying V, likely T-Top or Dirty Fingers)
Amp
Marshall JCM800 2203 (100W head, likely modded, as per Metallica's 1984 studio rig)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup

Studio recording, 1984. Gear confirmed for 'Ride the Lightning' era. Kirk Hammett used a Gibson Flying V into a Marshall JCM800 for the solo. No evidence of live or modern gear (ESP, EMG, Randall) being used on the original studio track. No evidence of pedals except wah for the solo. No evidence of delay, chorus, or other effects in the solo section.

Amp Settings

Mids
4
Bass
6
Gain
7.5
Reverb
1
Treble
7
Presence
6.5

Effects Chain

  • Cry Baby Wah (model unknown, likely Dunlop GCB-95 or Thomas Organ era) · wah

Gibson Flying V → Wah pedal → Marshall JCM800 2203 (with light spring reverb)

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Tone Character

  • aggressive and saturated
  • tight and percussive
  • scooped mids for clarity
  • sharp, biting treble
  • singing sustain
  • wah-inflected lead lines
  • articulate note separation
  • metallic, cutting solo tone
  • high-gain crunch
  • slightly compressed attack

Notes & Caveats

  • ⚠️No direct numeric amp settings for the studio recording found; settings estimated based on typical Marshall JCM800 usage for 1980s thrash metal and Metallica's known studio practices.
  • ⚠️No evidence of delay, chorus, or other modulation/time-based effects in the solo section; only wah is clearly audible.
  • ⚠️Some sources list modern gear (ESP, EMG, Randall) but these are not relevant to the 1984 studio recording.
  • ⚠️Pickup model is inferred from era-correct Flying V; exact T-Top or Dirty Fingers cannot be confirmed without studio logs.
  • ⚠️Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Kirk Hammett's solo tone on 'For Whom the Bell Tolls' (Ride the Lightning era) is classic 80s Metallica: high gain, scooped mids, tight but not boomy lows, and bright, cutting treble/presence. The tone is dry with no audible reverb, matching the production style and amp settings typical of early Metallica.

Sources