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Riff Tone
To Live Is to Die
Metallica
Guitarmetal1980s
Original Gear
GuitarESP MX220 'EET FUK' (James Hetfield's main guitar for ...And Justice for All)
AmpMesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ (studio recording, 1988)
Amp Settings
gain8
bass4.5
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Notes
Studio recording, 1988. Guitar: ESP MX220 'EET FUK' with EMG 81 bridge pickup. Amp: Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ head into Marshall 4x12 cab. No evidence of pedals or rack effects for the main riff rhythm section. Settings estimated based on forum consensus and typical Metallica AJFA-era tones.
Tone Character(10)
tight and percussivescooped low endcranked midsaggressive palm mutingdry and directhigh-gain saturationarticulate attackminimal ambienceclear note separationclassic late-80s Metallica rhythm tone
Difficulty
The main riff requires fast, tight alternate picking and precise palm muting at a medium-fast tempo, with complex rhythm changes typical of Metallica's late-80s material.
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Create Free AccountGuitarmetal1980s
Original Gear
GuitarESP MX220 'EET FUK' (James Hetfield's main guitar for ...And Justice for All)
AmpMesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ (studio recording, 1988)
Amp Settings
gain8
bass4.5
Create an account to see all tone details
Create Free AccountEffects & Signal Chain
Notes
Studio recording, 1988. Guitar: ESP MX220 'EET FUK' with EMG 81 bridge pickup. Amp: Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ head into Marshall 4x12 cab. No evidence of pedals or rack effects for the main riff rhythm section. Settings estimated based on forum consensus and typical Metallica AJFA-era tones.
Tone Character(10)
tight and percussivescooped low endcranked midsaggressive palm mutingdry and directhigh-gain saturationarticulate attackminimal ambienceclear note separationclassic late-80s Metallica rhythm tone
Difficulty
The main riff requires fast, tight alternate picking and precise palm muting at a medium-fast tempo, with complex rhythm changes typical of Metallica's late-80s material.