GuitarDistortedSolo
Seek & Destroy Solo Guitar Tone Settings — Metallica
Metallica · 1980s · metal
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Gibson Flying V (1979, white, stock pickups, Kirk Hammett borrowing James Hetfield's guitar for solo)
Pickups
Stock Gibson humbuckers (late 70s Flying V, likely T-Top humbuckers)
Amp
Marshall Super Lead (modded, James Hetfield's amp, hot-rodded by L.A. tech, used by Kirk Hammett for solo)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording, 1983, Kirk Hammett played the solo on James Hetfield's white Flying V through Hetfield's modded Marshall Super Lead. No evidence of pedals used for the solo in the studio. No evidence of effects loop or additional rack effects. All sources point to direct guitar-to-amp setup for the solo.
Amp Settings
Mids3
Bass5.5
Gain7.5
Reverb0
Treble7.5
Presence6
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Tone Character
- tight and percussive
- scooped mids
- aggressive high-gain saturation
- bright and cutting
- singing sustain
- articulate single-note clarity
- minimal ambience
- raw and punchy
- fast attack
- classic early thrash metal lead sound