GuitarDistortedSolo80% confidence
The Unforgiven II Solo Guitar Tone Settings — Metallica
Metallica · 1990s · metal
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
ESP TE B-bender
Pickups
EMG active single-coil (likely EMG T set, as used by Hetfield in his TE models of the era)
Amp
Mesa/Boogie Triple Rectifier 150W Solo Head
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording, 1997 (Reload album). Guitar confirmed as ESP TE B-bender for 'The Unforgiven II' solo. Amp confirmed as Mesa/Boogie Triple Rectifier, which was Hetfield's main high-gain amp for this era. No evidence of additional pedals in the solo section, but delay and reverb are clearly audible in the recording.
Amp Settings
Mids4.5
Bass6
Gain7
Reverb2.5
Treble7
Presence6.5
Effects Chain
- Delay pedal (model unknown) · delay
ESP TE B-bender → Delay pedal (model unknown) → Mesa/Boogie Triple Rectifier (with spring reverb)
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Tone Character
- singing sustain
- smooth lead tone
- slightly overdriven but not high-gain
- clear note separation
- touch-sensitive dynamics
- warm midrange
- articulate highs
- subtle ambient space
- melodic phrasing
- moderate compression
Notes & Caveats
- No direct numeric amp settings found for 'The Unforgiven II' solo; settings estimated based on typical Mesa/Boogie Triple Rectifier use in 1990s Metallica studio recordings.
- ESP TE B-bender confirmed as the guitar for this song/solo, but exact pickup model inferred from typical Hetfield setups of the era.
- Delay and reverb are clearly audible in the solo, but no explicit pedal model is cited in sources; included as 'Delay pedal (model unknown)'.
- No evidence of wah, chorus, flanger, or other modulation effects in the solo section.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. For 'The Unforgiven II' solo, Metallica used a high-gain but not overly saturated tone typical of their late 90s sound, with scooped mids, tight bass, and clear but not harsh treble. The presence is set to add clarity, and reverb is minimal to keep the lead focused and upfront, matching both the band's gear and production style of the Reload era.