One — Metallica1 / 2
Original RigYour Adaptation
GuitarDistortedSolo

One Solo Guitar Tone Settings — Metallica

Metallica · 1980s · metal

studio

Original Recording

Guitar
ESP MX-220 (custom Explorer-style, black finish)
Pickups
EMG 81 (bridge, active humbucker)
Amp
Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ (main), Marshall JCM800 (modded, blended in studio)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup

Studio recording, 1988. Used for the heavy/solo sections of 'One' on ...And Justice For All. Guitar is the ESP MX-220 with EMG 81 bridge pickup. Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ is the primary amp for the solo, with possible Marshall JCM800 blend. Settings estimated from era and genre due to lack of explicit solo-section settings.

Amp Settings

Mids
3.5
Bass
5.5
Gain
8
Reverb
1
Treble
7.5
Presence
6.5

Effects Chain

  • Delay pedal (model unknown) · delay

ESP MX-220 (EMG 81 bridge) → Delay pedal (model unknown) → Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ (with light spring reverb)

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Tone Character

  • tight and percussive
  • scooped mids
  • singing sustain
  • articulate pick attack
  • high-gain saturation
  • crisp note separation
  • aggressive palm muting
  • metallic edge
  • clear delay repeats
  • precise, fast lead tone

Sources