TonesMatch
The Unforgiven III — Metallica1 / 2
Original RigYour Adaptation
GuitarDistortedSolo80% confidence

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

Mids
4.5
Bass
6
Gain
7.5
Reverb
2
Treble
7
Presence
6.5

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

Notes & Caveats

  • ⚠️No direct studio photo or interview confirms the exact pedal and amp settings for 'The Unforgiven III' solo; settings are estimated based on Kirk Hammett's documented Death Magnetic-era rig and typical Mesa/Boogie Mark IV settings for Metallica solos.
  • ⚠️Pedal model for delay is not confirmed in sources; included as 'Delay pedal (model unknown)' based on clear audible repeats in the solo.
  • ⚠️Exact reverb type is not specified; assumed to be amp spring reverb at a moderate level.
  • ⚠️No explicit pickup selector position is cited, but bridge EMG 81 is standard for Hammett's solos in this era.
  • ⚠️Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Kirk Hammett's solo tone on 'The Unforgiven III' is high-gain but not as saturated as Metallica's 80s tones, with slightly more mids and less scooping, reflecting the band's 2008 era production. The bass is tight to avoid muddiness, treble and presence are set for clarity and cut, and reverb is minimal for a focused, modern metal lead sound.

Sources