GuitarCleanRiff
One Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Metallica
Metallica · 1980s · metal
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
ESP MX-220
Pickups
EMG 81 (bridge), EMG 60 (neck)
Amp
Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus
Pickup Position
Neck pickup (EMG 60)
Studio recording, 1988. Clean intro/riff sections of 'One' were tracked with the ESP MX-220 (EMG 60 neck pickup) into a Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus amp. This is confirmed by multiple forum and Reddit sources. No evidence of pedal use for the clean part; delay and chorus are from rack or amp. Settings are estimated based on typical JC-120 use for this song and era.
Amp Settings
Mids4
Bass6
Gain0
Reverb2.5
Treble7
Presence3
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Tone Character
- crystal-clear cleans
- lush stereo chorus
- bright and articulate
- shimmering clean intro
- slight ambient reverb
- no audible distortion
- percussive attack
- wide stereo image
- distinct delay repeats
- tight, noise-free cleans