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Orion — Metallica1 / 2
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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

Mids
3.5
Bass
6
Gain
7.5
Reverb
0
Treble
7
Presence
6

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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

Notes & Caveats

  • ⚠️No direct source gives exact knob settings for 'Orion' riff; settings estimated based on typical Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ usage by Hetfield in this era and genre.
  • ⚠️No evidence of pedals or effects used on rhythm section; all distortion from amp.
  • ⚠️Some debate exists about whether passive pickups or EMG 81s were used on the album, but most evidence points to EMG 81 for the main rhythm.
  • ⚠️Settings are inferred from forum posts and genre/amp conventions, not from official studio documentation.
  • ⚠️Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Orion's rhythm tone is classic mid-80s Metallica: high gain, tight low end, heavily scooped mids, and bright, cutting treble. The band used Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ amps with little to no reverb in the studio, matching the dry, aggressive, and articulate sound heard on the track.

Sources