GuitarDistortedSolo
The Unforgiven III Solo Guitar Tone Settings — Metallica
Metallica · 2000s · metal
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
ESP KH-2
Pickups
EMG 81 (bridge), EMG 60 (neck) active humbuckers
Amp
Mesa/Boogie Mark IV
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup (EMG 81)
Studio recording for 'Death Magnetic' (2008); Kirk Hammett's main solo rig for this era; settings and pedals inferred from era and typical Metallica studio setup. No direct studio photo evidence for this exact solo, but all sources agree on ESP KH-2 with EMGs and Mesa/Boogie Mark IV for solos on Death Magnetic.
Amp Settings
Mids4.5
Bass6
Gain7.5
Reverb2
Treble7
Presence6.5
Effects Chain
- Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer · overdrive
- Dunlop Cry Baby Wah · wah
- Delay pedal (model unknown) · delay
ESP KH-2 → Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer → Dunlop Cry Baby Wah → Delay pedal (model unknown) → Mesa/Boogie Mark IV (spring reverb on)
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Tone Character
- singing sustain
- fluid legato lines
- tight and percussive
- scooped mids
- high-gain saturation
- aggressive pick attack
- wah-inflected phrasing
- clear note separation
- modern metal lead tone
- defined articulation