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Clean Tone
The Thing That Should Not Be
Metallica
BassThrash metal / Heavy metal1980s
Original Gear
BassModded Rickenbacker (Cliff Burton’s modded Ric bass)
AmpMesa/Boogie D‑180 heads (paired with Mesa cabinets)
Amp Settings
gain0
bass5
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Notes
Cliff Burton used a modded Rickenbacker with a mudbucker in the neck, and ran dual Mesa/Boogie D‑180 heads (one for clean, one for effects) into Mesa cabinets for his heavy tone.
Tone Character(4)
fuzzyblown‑outmessyheavy
Difficulty
Intermediate difficulty due to syncopated riff doubling in a low D‑standard tuning with heavy, fuzzy tone requiring control and clarity.
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Create Free AccountBassThrash metal / Heavy metal1980s
Original Gear
BassModded Rickenbacker (Cliff Burton’s modded Ric bass)
AmpMesa/Boogie D‑180 heads (paired with Mesa cabinets)
Amp Settings
gain0
bass5
Create an account to see all tone details
Create Free AccountEffects & Signal Chain
Notes
Cliff Burton used a modded Rickenbacker with a mudbucker in the neck, and ran dual Mesa/Boogie D‑180 heads (one for clean, one for effects) into Mesa cabinets for his heavy tone.
Tone Character(4)
fuzzyblown‑outmessyheavy
Difficulty
Intermediate difficulty due to syncopated riff doubling in a low D‑standard tuning with heavy, fuzzy tone requiring control and clarity.