ToneAdapt

Loading...

Back to Community

Riff Tone

The God That Failed

Metallica

Guitarmetal1990s

Original Gear

GuitarESP MX220 'Eet Fuk' (custom Explorer-style, 1986, used by James Hetfield)
AmpMesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ (Simulclass head, studio recording, 1991)

Amp Settings

gain7
bass6

Create an account to see all tone details

Create Free Account

Effects & Signal Chain

Notes

Studio recording for The Black Album (1991). Rhythm guitar by James Hetfield. Guitar is ESP MX220 loaded with EMG 81 active bridge pickup. Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ head into Marshall 4x12 cabinets. No pedals used for rhythm tone; distortion from amp. No time-based or modulation effects on rhythm. Pickup selector set to bridge. Settings estimated based on era, genre, and typical Hetfield rig for Black Album. Studio context only.

Tone Character(10)
tight and percussivescooped midsaggressive palm mutinghigh-gain saturationchunky low endarticulate pick attackminimal ambiencedense, layered rhythmdry, in-your-faceharmonically rich

Difficulty

The riff requires consistent, aggressive downpicking and tight palm muting at a moderate tempo, demanding stamina and rhythmic precision typical of Hetfield's style.

Create an account to adapt this tone to your gear

Create Free Account