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Harvester of Sorrow — Metallica1 / 2
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Harvester of Sorrow Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Metallica

Metallica · 1980s · metal

studio

Original Recording

Guitar
ESP MX220 'Eet Fuk' (1987) Explorer-style
Pickups
EMG 81 (bridge), EMG 60 (neck) active humbuckers
Amp
Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ (studio recording, 1988)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup

Studio recording for '...And Justice for All' (1988). James Hetfield's main rhythm guitar for the album was the ESP MX220 'Eet Fuk' with EMG 81 in the bridge, into a Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ head. No evidence of pedals or effects used for the riff section; tone is direct, dry, and tight. Settings estimated based on era, genre, and amp model due to lack of explicit numeric data.

Amp Settings

Mids
4
Bass
6
Gain
8
Reverb
0
Treble
7.5
Presence
6.5

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Tone Character

  • tight and percussive
  • scooped mids
  • aggressive palm muting
  • high-gain saturation
  • dry and compressed
  • razor-sharp attack
  • articulate low end
  • minimal ambience
  • crushing, metallic tone
  • focused, controlled distortion

Notes & Caveats

  • ⚠️No explicit numeric amp settings for 'Harvester of Sorrow' studio recording found in sources; settings estimated based on typical Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ usage for Metallica in 1988.
  • ⚠️No evidence of pedals or effects used in the riff section; Metallica's '...And Justice for All' rhythm tones are famously dry and direct.
  • ⚠️All gear and settings refer to the studio recording, not live performances.
  • ⚠️Pickup choice inferred from Hetfield's known use of EMG 81 bridge for rhythm on this album.
  • ⚠️Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. For 'Harvester of Sorrow,' Metallica used high-gain, scooped-mid tones typical of their late '80s sound (Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ amps), with tight bass, pronounced treble, and little to no reverb for a dry, aggressive attack. These settings closely match the album's heavy, percussive rhythm tone.

Sources