GuitarDistortedSolo
Orion Solo Guitar Tone Settings — Metallica
Metallica · 1980s · metal
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
ESP MX220 (aka 'EET FUK' Explorer-style, likely with EMG 81 bridge pickup retrofit or stock passive pickups for 1986 recording)
Pickups
Passive humbuckers (likely stock ESP LH-200 or similar; EMG 81 retrofits became standard later, but for Master of Puppets era likely passive)
Amp
Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ (studio recording, 1985-86)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording, 1985-86. The solo section on 'Orion' was recorded for the Master of Puppets album using James Hetfield's ESP MX220 and a Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ amp. No evidence of live rig or later gear (Randall, Fractal, etc.) applies. No confirmed pedal use for the solo except possible Tube Screamer for boost, but this is not confirmed for 'Orion'.
Amp Settings
Mids4
Bass6
Gain7.5
Reverb1
Treble7.5
Presence6
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Tone Character
- tight and percussive
- scooped mids
- singing sustain
- aggressive attack
- articulate high end
- chunky low end
- smooth lead sustain
- slight amp reverb for space
- classic 80s thrash metal saturation
- no modulation or time-based effects