GuitarDistortedRiff
Orion Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Metallica
Metallica · 1980s · metal
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
ESP MX220 'Eet Fuk' (James Hetfield's main guitar for Master of Puppets era, likely used for rhythm on 'Orion')
Pickups
EMG 81 (bridge, active humbucker; stock pickups were swapped for EMGs in 1986, but some sources suggest passive pickups may have been used on the album; most evidence points to EMG 81 for the main rhythm)
Amp
Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ Head
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording, 1985-1986, Master of Puppets album. Rhythm section. No evidence of pedals used for rhythm tone; distortion from amp. No effects loop or outboard effects confirmed for rhythm guitars.
Amp Settings
Mids3.5
Bass6
Gain7.5
Reverb0
Treble7
Presence6
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Tone Character
- tight and percussive
- scooped mids
- aggressive palm muting
- high-gain saturation
- articulate note separation
- chunky low end
- crisp high end
- dry, no audible reverb
- classic 80s thrash rhythm
- powerful attack