GuitarCleanRiff
Harvester of Sorrow Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Metallica
Metallica · 1980s · metal
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
ESP MX220 'Eet Fuk' (custom Explorer-style, 1987-88, white finish)
Pickups
EMG 81 (bridge), EMG 60 (neck) active humbuckers
Amp
Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ (Simul-Class, rackmount, studio recording)
Pickup Position
Neck pickup (EMG 60)
Studio recording, 1988. Guitar: James Hetfield's main ESP MX220 'Eet Fuk' with EMG 81/60 pickups. Amp: Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ head, no confirmed pedal use for clean sections. Clean tones on '...And Justice for All' were typically achieved by rolling down the guitar volume and using the amp's clean channel. No evidence of chorus, delay, or modulation effects on the clean riff section.
Amp Settings
Mids4.5
Bass6
Gain0
Reverb1
Treble7
Presence6
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Tone Character
- tight and percussive
- clear and glassy highs
- slightly compressed
- articulate cleans
- minimal warmth
- no audible breakup
- active pickup clarity
- punchy attack
- no modulation or time-based effects
- subtle amp reverb