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

Metallica · 1980s · metal

studio

Original Recording

Guitar
ESP M-II Custom (Kirk Hammett's main solo guitar for ...And Justice for All sessions)
Pickups
EMG 81 (bridge, active humbucker)
Amp
Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ (studio recording amp for solos on ...And Justice for All)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup

Studio recording, 1988. Kirk Hammett used the ESP M-II Custom with EMG 81 pickups and a Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ for solos on the album. Settings and effects are based on studio context, not live or cover performances.

Amp Settings

Mids
2.5
Bass
6
Gain
9
Reverb
1
Treble
8
Presence
6.5

Effects Chain

  • Dunlop Cry Baby Wah · wah

ESP M-II Custom → Dunlop Cry Baby Wah → Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ (with light spring reverb)

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Tone Character

  • tight and percussive
  • scooped mids
  • singing sustain
  • aggressive palm muting
  • razor-sharp attack
  • high-gain saturation
  • articulate note separation
  • metallic, biting treble
  • focused low end
  • minimal ambience

Notes & Caveats

  • ⚠️No official studio knob settings for 'Harvester of Sorrow' solo found; amp settings are estimated based on multiple forum sources and typical Mark IIC+ Metallica tones from the era.
  • ⚠️No direct source confirms pedal use for this solo; effects inferred from audio and Metallica's known studio practices.
  • ⚠️Presence setting is estimated based on typical Mark IIC+ usage for Metallica leads.
  • ⚠️Pedals listed are based on what is clearly audible and known to be used by Kirk Hammett in this era; no official pedalboard photo for this specific solo.
  • ⚠️Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. For 'Harvester of Sorrow' (solo section), Metallica used a high-gain, scooped-mid tone typical of their late 80s sound (Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+), with tight lows, pronounced highs, and little to no reverb for a dry, aggressive attack. These settings reflect the genre conventions and the band's known amp preferences from the '...And Justice for All' era.

Sources