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Riff Tone
Nothing Else Matters
Metallica
Guitarmetal1990s
Original Gear
GuitarESP MX220 (James Hetfield's main guitar for the Black Album sessions)
AmpMesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ (studio recording amp for heavy rhythm on Black Album)
Amp Settings
gain6
bass6.5
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Notes
Studio recording, 1991 Black Album sessions. James Hetfield tracked heavy rhythm with ESP MX220 and Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+. No confirmed pedal use for distortion; all gain from amp. Settings estimated from era, genre, and forum consensus.
Tone Character(10)
tight and percussivescooped midshigh-gain saturationarticulate palm-muted chugscrisp attackchunky power chordsmodern metal clarityaggressive pick attackcontrolled low endstudio-polished heaviness
Difficulty
The riff requires tight palm muting and precise timing, but is not technically complex. The main challenge is maintaining clarity and aggression at a slow tempo.
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Create Free AccountGuitarmetal1990s
Original Gear
GuitarESP MX220 (James Hetfield's main guitar for the Black Album sessions)
AmpMesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ (studio recording amp for heavy rhythm on Black Album)
Amp Settings
gain6
bass6.5
Create an account to see all tone details
Create Free AccountEffects & Signal Chain
Notes
Studio recording, 1991 Black Album sessions. James Hetfield tracked heavy rhythm with ESP MX220 and Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+. No confirmed pedal use for distortion; all gain from amp. Settings estimated from era, genre, and forum consensus.
Tone Character(10)
tight and percussivescooped midshigh-gain saturationarticulate palm-muted chugscrisp attackchunky power chordsmodern metal clarityaggressive pick attackcontrolled low endstudio-polished heaviness
Difficulty
The riff requires tight palm muting and precise timing, but is not technically complex. The main challenge is maintaining clarity and aggression at a slow tempo.