GuitarDistortedRiff80% confidence
King Nothing (Remastered) Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Metallica
Metallica · 1990s · metal
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
ESP MX-220 (Hetfield's custom Explorer-style, likely with EMG 81/60 pickups)
Pickups
EMG 81 (bridge, active humbucker)
Amp
Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier (Rackmount, early 1990s version, used for rhythm on Load/Reload era)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording, 1995-1996 (Load sessions); James Hetfield's rhythm tone for 'King Nothing' riff. No evidence of pedal use for main rhythm tone; amp distortion. No clear evidence of effects loop or additional rack effects for riff section.
Amp Settings
Mids4
Bass6
Gain7.5
Reverb0
Treble7
Presence6.5
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Tone Character
- tight and percussive
- scooped mids
- aggressive palm muting
- high-gain saturation
- chunky and metallic attack
- articulate low end
- clear note separation
- minimal ambience
- dry and focused
- modern metal rhythm
Notes & Caveats
- No direct source lists exact amp knob settings for 'King Nothing' studio riff; settings estimated based on typical Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier usage for 1990s Metallica rhythm tones.
- No evidence of pedals or effects used for the riff section; all distortion from amp.
- Guitar model inferred from era and studio photos; EMG 81 bridge pickup is standard for Hetfield's rhythm tracks in this period.
- Presence and EQ settings estimated based on genre/amp/era; no explicit studio documentation found.
- If more specific studio notes or isolated track analysis become available, update settings accordingly.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. For 'King Nothing' (Remastered), Metallica used a high-gain, mid-scooped tone typical of their 90s era, likely with a Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier or Mark series amp. The tone is tight, aggressive, and dry with pronounced treble and presence for clarity, minimal reverb, and slightly boosted bass for punch without muddiness.