GuitarDistortedRiff80% confidence
Master of Puppets (Live) Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Metallica
Metallica · 1980s · metal
live
Original Recording
Guitar
ESP MX220 (aka 'EET FUK' Explorer-style, white finish, 1984-1987 era)
Pickups
Seymour Duncan SH-4 JB (bridge humbucker, stock for this era, not EMG)
Amp
Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ head (live, mid-1980s), into Marshall 4x12 cabinets
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Live performance, 1986-1987 era. James Hetfield played the ESP MX220 with Seymour Duncan JB pickups through a Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ head and Marshall cabs. No evidence of additional distortion pedals for the riff section; compression pedal (Boss CS-1) sometimes used in studio, rarely live. Settings and effects are for the heavy, palm-muted riff sections, not the clean intro.
Amp Settings
Mids3
Bass6
Gain8.5
Reverb1
Treble7.5
Presence6.5
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Tone Character
- tight and percussive
- scooped mids
- aggressive palm muting
- high-gain saturation
- articulate attack
- chunky low end
- crisp, biting treble
- minimal ambience
- razor-sharp pick attack
- dry, focused rhythm sound
Notes & Caveats
- No official live rig rundown for Master of Puppets (Live, 1986-1987) found; gear and settings based on multiple reputable sources and era-typical setups.
- Amp settings are averaged from forum posts and typical Mark IIC+ usage for Metallica's 1980s live tone.
- No evidence of overdrive/distortion pedals used live for the riff section; all gain from amp.
- Compression pedal (Boss CS-1) was used in studio, but rarely if ever live for the riff section.
- Pickups are confirmed as Seymour Duncan JB for this era, not EMG (which came later).
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Live 'Master of Puppets' tones are extremely high gain, tightly controlled in the lows, heavily scooped in the mids, and bright but not harsh—matching Metallica's 80s Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ setup. The live mix is dry with no amp reverb, and presence is boosted for cut and clarity in a big venue.