Metallica's James Hetfield: "Distortion always starts with the amp. Pedals just sit on top of the sound. They don't feel like a full part of it, just some fuzz on top. You can fiddle with parametric EQs and all that shit for days, but it still won't have the smooth distortion of an amp. The last time I used a distortion [overdrive] pedal was on Ride the Lightning, and it was hell. It was an Ibanez Tube Screamer like Kirk uses. It really helps his solos cut through, but it puts a shitty coating on smooth rhythm tones, and it was hard to make it not sound like a pedal. You can recognize Marshall distortion in an instant; that's why I shied away from that and went with MESA/Boogies. I basically use the Boogie's distortion with a non-programmable studio-quality Aphex parametric EQ to fine-tune certain frequencies, dipping out some of the midrange. All my speakers are Celestion Vintage 30s." Metallica's Kirk Hammett: "My philosophy has always been a clean amp with a stomp box. I hate the sound of piling distortion on top of distortion. [It sounds like he's criticizing using a mix of preamp and power amp distortion.] I was using a MESA/Boogie preamp, but I've gone back to the ADA MP-1 [the first preamp to combine MIDI and a preamp vacuum tube] with an ADA programmable EQ through a MESA/Boogie Strategy 400 power amp. For leads, I use a low gain setting on the ADA MP-1, but switch on an Ibanez Tube Screamer. Using the Tube Screamer in conjunction with a tube amp really brings out the tube qualities of the amp. And there's just something about that simple, raw, gritty fuzz box sound. One of the best lead sounds I ever got was when I played an Electro-Harmonix Big Muff through a Montgomery Ward amp with 3" speaker, for a Jeff Beck tone." Kirk Hammett's Arsenal: ESP GUITARS: WaveCaster - Wave Machine M-II - Red Frankenstein graphic - 'THE MONSTER IS ALIVE!' M-II - Skull & Crossbones I KH-1 - Flying V - Devil inlays KH-2 - M-II - Skull & Crossbones II KH-2 - M-II - Ouija KH-2 - M-II - Boris Karloff Mummy graphic KH-3 - Eclipse - Pushead Spider graphic KH-4 - M-II - F**k You LTD - Smash guitar Eclipse - similar to the KH-3 without Pushead Spider graphic Semi-Acoustic Eclipse NEW ESP KH SIGNATURE GUITARS: LTD KH-502 LTD KH-503 KH-2 Vintage (Relic) [an exact reproduction of Kirk's main stage guitar, production limited to 100 instruments, each guitar includes a certificate of authenticity signed by Kirk Hammett; red sticker: "Caution Hot", small black sticker: "Kirk's Guitar"] GUITARS: ONSTAGE Dan Electro U2 Fender Stratocaster - cream Fernandes Flying V Fernandes Stratocaster Gibson Flying V #1 - black Gibson Flying V #2 - red Gibson Flying V #3 - black Gibson Les Paul Custom - black Gibson Les Paul Standard - cherry burst Godin Multiac (acoustic) Jackson Randy Rhodes Custom Jackson Soloist Ibanez RG470 Tom Anderson ProAM GUITARS: RECORDING Fender Stratocaster S.R.V. - black Fender Stratocaster - natural finish Fender Stratocaster - seafoam green Parker Fly All Aluminum Roswell Randy Rhoads Flying V Gibson Super 400 1963 Gold Fender Stratocaster 1958 Gibson Flying V 1960 Gibson Explorer Early Gibson Les Paul RUMORED NEW GUITAR: LTD custom 7-string guitar w/ the new EMG 707 pickup AMPLIFIERS: Mesa Boogie Strategy 300 power amps Mesa Boogie Mark IV amp Mesa Boogie 4 x 12 speaker cabinets Mesa Boogie Triaxis preamp Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier solo head Mesa Boogie Triple Rectifier solo head (used in Lollapalloza 1996 tour) Marshall JMP-1 preamp Marshall 4 x 12 speaker cabinets w/ 25-watt speakers Marshall 2 x 12 speaker cabinets Marshall practice amps Custom Audio Electronics preamp ADA MP-1 preamp Bradshaw preamp VHT power amp Matchless Spitfire Vox AC-30 Fender tweed combos Flextone Ken Fisher Trainwreck Line-6 digital amp head (can be seen in the Garage Inc. booklet) EFFECTS: Dunlop Crybaby Wah-Wah pedals - modified (dunlop electronics enclosed in ernie ball volume pedal bodies) Roland VG-8 EMB Audio Remote Wah units EMB/Ernie Ball Wah Pedals - custom Multiple Foot Pedals Custom Rackmount Rocktron RSB-18F pedal boards Ibanez Tube Screamer Bradshaw Switching System Bradshaw Patch Bay Custom Lovetone Meatball pedal (for the Wah like sound in the opening riff of "I Disappear") OTHER EQUIPMENT: Furman power strips Nady 1200 Wireless receivers and transmitters ADA MQ-1 E.Q. Alesis Data Disk Juice Goose power strip Eventide H3000 SE Boss SE-50 Rocktron Juice Extractor Aphex Parametric E.Q. Rocktron Patchmate Ascot Road cases Dunlop pedals Pro-Co sound cables Peterson 520 strobe tuner Floyd Rose Tremelo Systems Whirlwind channel boxes Ultra guitar stands R & R road cases DiMarzio guitar straps STRINGS: Ernie Ball strings (.010 / .013 / .017 / .030 / .042 / .052) PICKS: Dunlop Green Tortex .88 mm Guitar Picks OTHER STUFF: Nady 1200 Wireless receivers and transmitters Juice Goose power strip Eventide H3000 SE Boss SE-50 Rocktron Juice Extractor Custom Audio Electronics preamp Multiple Foot Pedals Custom Rackmount Aphex Parametric E.Q. Rocktron Patchmate Marshall 4 x 12 speaker cabinets Pro-Co sound cables EMG 81 Pickups Peterson 520 strobe tuner Dean Markley strings DiMarzio guitar straps Also, Metallica is the cover story for Guitar Player Sep 1991, which I have. James: "I use a lot of mics... up to 8. I use them to phase-cancel each other, to control the sound like with an EQ but instead of an EQ. ... for the 1991 album, I'm using MESA/Boogie amps, with ADA MP-1 preamp, but Boogie Simul-class II is the main part of the sound. Cabs: Boogie for clean, cutting stuff, Marshalls with 30 watt Celestion Vintage 30s for warmth." Kirk: "VHT power amp with Bradshaw preamp through Marshall cab for lows. Straight Marshall for highs. I didn't use the Boogie gear I used on Master of Puppets and Justice for All. I also stopped using the ADA preamp. The Bradshaw is my favorite preamp. I use the Bradshaw Patchmate, which lets you switch amps through MIDI. No TS-9 this time. I used an old VOX wah, warmer than Cry Baby James Hetfield's Arsenal: ESP GUITARS: Black Explorer - Deer Skull inlays Black Explorer - Dot inlays Black Explorer - Eagle inlays Black Explorer - "FUK EM UP" Black Explorer - Man to Wolf inlays Black Explorer - N.R.A. (National Rifle Association) inlays Black Explorer - Snake inlays Black Explorer - Woodburned Elk Skull - Barbed Wire inlays Black JH-1 Flying V - Red Hot Rod Flame Black JH-1 Flying V - Green Hot Rod Flame Black JH-2 Explorer - Black Diamond Plate (body) - Deer Skull inlays Black JH-3 Rounded Top Eclipse - Flag inlays Black Explorer - Black Diamond Plate - 4M logo at 1st fret and diamonds at the rest Black Explorer - Chrome Diamond Plate - mother of pearl 4M logo at 1st fret and diamonds at the rest Black Explorer - Chrome Diamond Plate (body & headstock) - abalone colored inlays White Explorer - middle finger inlays "EET FUK" (1st ESP) White Explorer - Dot inlays (favorite ESP) GUITARS: ONSTAGE Blue/Purple Gibson Les Paul White Gibson Explorer - So What White Gibson Explorer - MORE BEER Ken Lawrence Explorer Fender reissue '52 Telecaster w/Parsons-White B-bender National ResoLectric National Reso-Phonic Style "O" Gibson Chet Atkins Accoustic/Electric 1963 Gibson SG - Cherry Red GUITARS: OFFSTAGE/RECORDING 1966 Martin D-28 (acoustic) Coral Electric Sitar (Red) Gretsch White Falcon II (model 7594) Late '50's Gibson Les Paul - Sunburst Standard Late '50's Gibson Les Paul - Gold Top Late '50's Gibson Les Paul - Custom AMPLIFIERS: Mesa Boogie Strategy 400 Power Amps Mesa Boogie Mark IV Mesa Boogie Triaxis Preamp (Stock) Mesa Boogie Triaxis Preamp (Modified) Mesa Boogie Triple Rectifier Mesa Boogie Custom Graphic E.Q. Unit Mesa Boogie Amp Switcher Mesa Boogie 4x12 Speaker Cabinets Roland JC 120 Celestion Vintage 30w Speakers EFFECTS: Bradshaw RSB-12 Switching System and Pedal Board Bradshaw Patch Bay Custom Boss SE-50 Stereo FX Processor Juice Goose Rack Power 300 Aphex Parametric E.Q. Morley Rack Mount Unit Custom Peterson 520 Strobe Tuner OTHER EQUIPMENT: Sony 820 Wireless Receivers and Transmitters Nady 950 UHF Receivers and Transmitters Pro Co Sound Cables Ascot Road Cases Ultra Case Guitar Stand Earth III Guitar Straps STRINGS: D'Addario XL ( .010 - .052 ) Ernie Ball Strings ( .010 - .046 ) Gibson Strings |
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