GuitarCleanRiff
Nothing Else Matters Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Metallica
Metallica · 1990s · metal
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
ESP MX220 (custom, black finish, likely with EMG 81 in bridge and EMG 60 in neck)
Pickups
EMG 60 (neck, active humbucker)
Amp
Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ (studio recording, 1990-1991 Black Album sessions)
Pickup Position
Neck pickup (EMG 60)
Studio recording, 1990-1991. Clean intro/riff section. No acoustic guitar used on the studio recording despite common belief. Guitar is likely the ESP MX220 with EMG 60 in neck position. Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ amp used for cleans. No evidence of live rig or alternate guitars for this section.
Amp Settings
Mids4.5
Bass6
Gain0
Reverb3
Treble7
Presence5.5
Effects Chain
- Chorus pedal (model unknown) · chorus
ESP MX220 (EMG 60 neck) → Chorus pedal (model unknown) → Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ (spring reverb on)
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Tone Character
- warm and round
- full-bodied clean
- slightly compressed
- not brittle or harsh
- smooth neck pickup tone
- subtle chorus shimmer
- touch of spring reverb
- articulate and dynamic
- studio-polished
- clear note separation