GuitarDistortedRiff80% confidence
Some Kind of Monster Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Metallica
Metallica · 2000s · metal
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
ESP LTD H-307
Pickups
EMG 81-7 (bridge, active humbucker)
Amp
Mesa/Boogie Triple Rectifier
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording, 2003. Guitar and amp confirmed via documentary footage and Equipboard. Peavey 5150 and Marshall amps were present in the studio, but the main rhythm tone is widely attributed to the Mesa/Boogie Triple Rectifier for St. Anger. No evidence of live rig or alternate guitars for the riff section.
Amp Settings
Mids4
Bass6
Gain8.5
Reverb0
Treble7
Presence6.5
Tone Matcher
Match This Tone to Your Gear
Tell us your guitar and amp — we’ll calculate the exact settings translated to your specific rig.
Adapt to MY Gear →7-day free trial · Cancel anytime.
Tone Character
- tight and percussive
- scooped mids
- aggressive palm muting
- high-gain saturation
- articulate low end
- compressed attack
- dry, unprocessed sound
- chunky, down-tuned riffing
- modern metal clarity
- heavy, saturated tone
Notes & Caveats
- No explicit amp knob settings found for this song; settings estimated based on typical Mesa/Boogie Rectifier usage in early 2000s metal and Metallica's St. Anger era.
- ESP LTD H-307 with EMG 81-7 confirmed via documentary and Equipboard; amp model inferred from multiple sources and genre conventions.
- No evidence of pedals or effects used for the riff section; St. Anger is known for its dry, unprocessed guitar sound.
- Presence of Peavey 5150 and Marshall amps in the studio, but main rhythm tone is attributed to Mesa/Boogie Triple Rectifier for this album.
- No reverb or time-based effects audible or cited for the riff section.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. For 'Some Kind of Monster,' Metallica used a very high-gain, scooped-mid tone typical of their early 2000s sound, with tight bass, crisp treble, and a dry, in-your-face production. The settings reflect their Mesa/Boogie Rectifier and Triaxis rigs, with minimal reverb and pronounced presence for clarity in the heavy riffing.