Guitarist
James Hetfield's amp settings and rig, album by album
James Hetfield is Metallica's co-founder, singer and rhythm guitarist. His rig on 10 records and periods from Kill 'Em All (1983) on, with the sources for each, and 16 of his songs with starting points.
What amp does James Hetfield use?
James Hetfield's main recording amp since Master of Puppets (1986) has been a Mesa/Boogie Mark II, a IIC+ or the closely related IIC++ depending on the account, and it was still in his blend on 72 Seasons (2023). Before the Mesas he played Marshalls: a 1970s Marshall modded by José Arredondo on Kill 'Em All (1983), and a Marshall JMP 2203 pushed by an Ibanez Tube Screamer on Ride the Lightning (1984), the last record where he used a distortion pedal, he said in 1992. On the Black Album (1991) the Mesa was blended with producer Bob Rock's Arredondo-modded Marshall. His clean amp since the late 1980s is a Roland JC-120, and on stage he has played through a Fractal Audio Axe-Fx since 2013. His guitars run from a white Electra Flying V copy to Explorer-style ESPs with EMG pickups. The table below goes record by record, with the sources for each.
Tonelify's library has 16 songs with James Hetfield on guitar, each with a reference starting point on a generic five-knob amp. They run from Gain 1 on Nothing Else Matters to Gain 8 on Blackened, so set the amp for the song, not for the player.
Sources: Metallica Gear History: the Crunchberries Mark IIC+; Guitar.com: Metallica gear facts; Ground Guitar: James Hetfield's guitars, amps and gear; Guitar.com: the gear used on Metallica's Black Album; Guitar World: Greg Fidelman on the gear behind 72 Seasons; Guitar World: why Metallica switched to amp modelers
James Hetfield's rig by album
| Record | Guitar | Amp | Effects |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kill 'Em All1983 | GuitarWhite Electra Flying V copy (Model 2236) with a bolt-on neck | AmpA 1970s Marshall modded by José Arredondo, into a Marshall 4x12 | EffectsProCo Rat |
| Ride the Lightning1984 | GuitarElectra Flying V copy, until its neck broke in late 1984 | AmpMarshall JMP 2203, or a borrowed Danish Marshall by Kirk Hammett's account | EffectsIbanez Tube Screamer as a boost |
| Master of Puppets1986 | Guitar1985 Jackson King V | AmpMesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ ("Crunchberries"), its preamp into a modded Marshall by Ground Guitar's account | EffectsNone documented on the rhythm sound |
| ...And Justice for All1988 | GuitarESP MX-220 ("Eet Fuk") with EMG 81 and 60 pickups | AmpMesa/Boogie Mark II (a IIC+ or a IIC++, accounts differ); Roland JC-120 for cleans from the late 1980s | EffectsNone documented |
| Metallica (the Black Album)1991 | GuitarESP Explorer-style MX models with EMG pickups; a Telecaster, a Gretsch White Falcon and a Guild 12-string for parts | AmpMesa/Boogie Mark IIC++ blended with Bob Rock's Arredondo-modded Marshall | EffectsNone documented on the rhythm sound |
| Load and Reload1996 to 1997 | GuitarESP MX-250 ("Elk Skull") and two ESP JH-1 Flying Vs from 1996 | AmpNot documented in the sources read for this page | EffectsA talk box on the solo of The House Jack Built |
| St. Anger2003 | Guitar1973 Gibson Les Paul Custom ("Iron Cross") with EMG 81 and 60 pickups; an ESP LTD seven-string on Some Kind of Monster | AmpNot documented in the sources read for this page | EffectsNone documented |
| Death Magnetic2008 | GuitarThe white Electra V and the old Explorers from the early albums | AmpMesa/Boogie Mark II C+ ("Crunchberries"), a Mesa/Boogie TriAxis preamp, an Ampeg on some parts | EffectsNone documented |
| Hardwired... To Self-Destruct and 72 Seasons2016 to 2023 | GuitarThe Flying V copy from Kill 'Em All, his first ESP Explorer, a copper ESP Snakebyte, a Les Paul on slower songs | AmpA blend of a Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC++, an Arredondo-modded Marshall Super Lead, a Wizard 100-watt with a Klon Centaur and a Diezel | EffectsKlon Centaur in front of the Wizard head |
| Live, since 20132013 on | GuitarESP Snakebyte and Vulture with EMG Het Set pickups; a New Electra V copy for the opening songs on the M72 tour | AmpFractal Audio Axe-Fx, direct to the desk; Mesa 2:Ninety power amps drive unmiked cabinets for feel | EffectsBuilt into the Axe-Fx |
From interviews with James Hetfield, producers and guitar techs, and from gear histories. Where they disagree, the table gives both accounts. Each row's sources are in its section below.
1983
What amp did James Hetfield use on Kill 'Em All?
Hetfield recorded Kill 'Em All on a white Electra Flying V copy, a Japanese V with a bolt-on neck, through a Marshall that California amp tech José Arredondo had modded for more gain. Ground Guitar and Metallica Gear History call it a 1970s Super Lead, Guitar.com a Master Volume Marshall. Ground Guitar puts a ProCo Rat in front of it, and Louder says he used a Rat in the early days.
The Marshall was stolen from the band's van outside a venue in Boston in 1984, along with much of Metallica's other gear. Hetfield has said the theft fed Fade to Black: "it was my favorite Marshall amp, man!"
- Guitar
- White Electra Flying V copy (Model 2236) with a bolt-on neck
- Amp
- A 1970s Marshall modded by José Arredondo, into a Marshall 4x12
- Effects
- ProCo Rat
Kill 'Em All songs in the library
- Seek & Destroy · distorted riffStart at Gain 8, Bass 6, Middle 3, Treble 7, Presence 6, Reverb 1, with the bridge pickup.
Gear pages for this rig or its current versions: Pro Co RAT 2.
Sources: Guitar.com: Metallica gear facts; Ground Guitar: James Hetfield's guitars, amps and gear; Metallica Gear History: the Crunchberries Mark IIC+; Louder: how to sound like James Hetfield
1984
What amp did James Hetfield use on Ride the Lightning?
With the modded Marshall gone, Hetfield bought a new Marshall JMP 2203 and drove it with an old Ibanez Tube Screamer to make up for the lost Arredondo gain stage, Guitar.com says. Kirk Hammett remembers the sessions at Sweet Silence in Copenhagen differently: producer Flemming Rasmussen had the city's music stores bring in their Marshalls, and a head the band dubbed the "Best Sounding Marshall in Denmark" carried most of the album.
It was the last time Hetfield put a distortion pedal on a record. "The last time I used a distortion pedal was on Ride the Lightning," he told Guitar Player in 1992, as Ground Guitar quotes him: pedals "just sit on top of the sound."
- Guitar
- Electra Flying V copy, until its neck broke in late 1984
- Amp
- Marshall JMP 2203, or a borrowed Danish Marshall by Kirk Hammett's account
- Effects
- Ibanez Tube Screamer as a boost
Ride the Lightning songs in the library
- Fade to Black · distorted riffStart at Gain 7, Bass 6, Middle 6, Treble 6, Presence 5, Reverb 1, with the bridge pickup.
- Ride the Lightning · distorted riffStart at Gain 8, Bass 6, Middle 3, Treble 7, Presence 6, Reverb 1, with the bridge pickup.
- For Whom the Bell Tolls · distorted riffStart at Gain 8, Bass 6, Middle 3, Treble 7, Presence 6, Reverb 1, with the bridge pickup.
- Creeping Death · distorted riffStart at Gain 8, Bass 6, Middle 3, Treble 7, Presence 6, Reverb 1, with the bridge pickup.
Gear pages for this rig or its current versions: Marshall JCM800 2203, Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer.
Sources: Guitar.com: Metallica gear facts; Guitar World: Kirk Hammett talks Ride the Lightning; Ground Guitar: James Hetfield's guitars, amps and gear
1986
What amp did James Hetfield use on Master of Puppets?
Hetfield and Hammett bought Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ heads in 1985. Metallica Gear History says Hetfield's, named Crunchberries after a sticker, played the rhythm guitars on Master of Puppets while Hammett's Mark IIC++ took the leads; Ground Guitar says the Mesa's preamp fed a modified 100-watt Marshall. His guitar was a 1985 Jackson King V.
Rasmussen recorded the album at Sweet Silence again. "All rhythm guitars are doubled at least once, and at places we have as many as six to eight guitars at the same time," he said. "James is just so tight that it sounds like one guitar."
- Guitar
- 1985 Jackson King V
- Amp
- Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ ("Crunchberries"), its preamp into a modded Marshall by Ground Guitar's account
- Effects
- None documented on the rhythm sound
Master of Puppets songs in the library
- Battery · distorted riffStart at Gain 8, Bass 6, Middle 3, Treble 7, Presence 6, Reverb 1, with the bridge pickup.
- Master of Puppets · distorted riffStart at Gain 8, Bass 6, Middle 3, Treble 7, Presence 6, Reverb 1, with the bridge pickup.
- Welcome Home (Sanitarium) · distorted riffStart at Gain 8, Bass 6, Middle 3, Treble 7, Presence 6, Reverb 1, with the bridge pickup.
- Orion · distorted riffStart at Gain 8, Bass 6, Middle 3, Treble 7, Presence 6, Reverb 1, with the bridge pickup.
Gear pages for this rig or its current versions: Mesa/Boogie Mark V:25.
Sources: Metallica Gear History: the Crunchberries Mark IIC+; Ground Guitar: James Hetfield's guitars, amps and gear; SFL Music: producer Flemming Rasmussen on recording Metallica
1988
What amp did James Hetfield use on ...And Justice for All?
Hetfield signed with ESP in 1987 and tracked Justice on the MX-220, an Explorer-style guitar with active EMG 81 and 60 humbuckers. His amp was the Mesa/Boogie Mark II he told Guitar World he had used on three albums running; Ground Guitar says it was a Mark IIC+ he borrowed from Hammett, Metallica Gear History that he moved to the band's Mark IIC++.
The sound was deliberately scooped. "My tone on Justice was very scooped," he said in 1991, "all lows and highs with very little mid-range," which is part of why the bass is so hard to hear on the album. His clean amp from the late 1980s on is a Roland JC-120.
- Guitar
- ESP MX-220 ("Eet Fuk") with EMG 81 and 60 pickups
- Amp
- Mesa/Boogie Mark II (a IIC+ or a IIC++, accounts differ); Roland JC-120 for cleans from the late 1980s
- Effects
- None documented
...And Justice for All songs in the library
Gear pages for this rig or its current versions: Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus, Mesa/Boogie Mark V:25.
Sources: Ground Guitar: James Hetfield's guitars, amps and gear; Louder: how to sound like James Hetfield; Guitar World: Metallica's 1991 interview on the Black Album; Metallica Gear History: the Crunchberries Mark IIC+
1991
What amp did James Hetfield use on the Black Album?
"My primary guitar was an ESP Explorer with EMG pickups," Hetfield said during the sessions, "but I also used a Telecaster, a Gretsch White Falcon with a Bigsby and a Guild 12-string." Guitar.com puts a Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC++ at the base of his tone, blended with producer Bob Rock's Arredondo-modded Marshall, and built from many layered takes, each on a different setup.
Rock also changed his EQ. "Midrange has always been a no-no for me, but Bob showed me that having a touch of it in there really adds to your tone," Hetfield said. Sad but True is tuned down to D.
- Guitar
- ESP Explorer-style MX models with EMG pickups; a Telecaster, a Gretsch White Falcon and a Guild 12-string for parts
- Amp
- Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC++ blended with Bob Rock's Arredondo-modded Marshall
- Effects
- None documented on the rhythm sound
Black Album songs in the library
- Enter Sandman · distorted riffStart at Gain 7, Bass 5, Middle 4, Treble 7, Presence 6, Reverb 2, with the bridge pickup.
- Sad but True · distorted riffStart at Gain 7, Bass 5, Middle 4, Treble 7, Presence 6, Reverb 2, with the bridge pickup.
- The Unforgiven · distorted riffStart at Gain 7, Bass 5, Middle 4, Treble 7, Presence 6, Reverb 2, with the bridge pickup.
- Wherever I May Roam · distorted riffStart at Gain 7, Bass 5, Middle 4, Treble 7, Presence 6, Reverb 2, with the bridge pickup.
- Nothing Else Matters · clean riffStart at Gain 1, Bass 5, Middle 5, Treble 6, Presence 5, Reverb 4, with the neck or middle position.
Gear pages for this rig or its current versions: Mesa/Boogie Mark V:25, Gibson Explorer.
Sources: Guitar World: Metallica's 1991 interview on the Black Album; Guitar.com: the gear used on Metallica's Black Album; Guitar World: the secrets behind Metallica's Sad But True
1996 to 1997
What did James Hetfield play on Load and Reload?
Load changed how Metallica recorded guitars: it was the first album on which Hammett played rhythm parts, which Hetfield had played alone until then, and the first with every track tuned down to E flat. Hetfield played a talk box on the solo of The House Jack Built.
Ground Guitar places his ESP MX-250 known as Elk Skull and two ESP JH-1 Flying Vs, which he started using in 1996, in this era. None of the sources read for this page documents his amps on these two albums, so it does not guess.
- Guitar
- ESP MX-250 ("Elk Skull") and two ESP JH-1 Flying Vs from 1996
- Amp
- Not documented in the sources read for this page
- Effects
- A talk box on the solo of The House Jack Built
Sources: Wikipedia: Load (album); Ground Guitar: James Hetfield's guitars, amps and gear
2003
What did James Hetfield play on St. Anger?
St. Anger is in drop C. Ground Guitar names a 1973 Gibson Les Paul Custom refitted with EMG 81 and 60 pickups, known as Iron Cross, as one of his main guitars in the studio and on the tour that followed, and an ESP LTD H-307 seven-string tuned C C G C F A D on Some Kind of Monster.
The amps on the album are not documented in the sources read for this page.
- Guitar
- 1973 Gibson Les Paul Custom ("Iron Cross") with EMG 81 and 60 pickups; an ESP LTD seven-string on Some Kind of Monster
- Amp
- Not documented in the sources read for this page
- Effects
- None documented
Sources: Guitar World: James Hetfield on Death Magnetic (2008); Ground Guitar: James Hetfield's guitars, amps and gear
2008
What amp did James Hetfield use on Death Magnetic?
Hetfield went back to his early gear. "I'm actually using the white V and the old Explorers that I played on the first few albums," he told Guitar World in 2008. "I'm also plugging into the Mesa/Boogie Mark II C+ that we used on all the early albums." After trying every new amp brought to the studio, he said, "I'm back with my Eighties Mesa/Boogie 'crunch berries.'"
Three or four amps ran at once, with an Ampeg on some parts and his Mesa/Boogie TriAxis preamp, but the C+ usually took over the left side of the stereo picture, which is his side. "It's not the beefiest or fattest sound, but the mids just come alive." Most of the album is back in standard tuning after St. Anger.
- Guitar
- The white Electra V and the old Explorers from the early albums
- Amp
- Mesa/Boogie Mark II C+ ("Crunchberries"), a Mesa/Boogie TriAxis preamp, an Ampeg on some parts
- Effects
- None documented
Gear pages for this rig or its current versions: Mesa/Boogie Mark V:25.
Sources: Guitar World: James Hetfield on Death Magnetic (2008)
2016 to 2023
What amp did James Hetfield use on 72 Seasons?
Co-producer Greg Fidelman keeps four heads running for Hetfield: the Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC++ "that he's had forever", a late-1960s or early-1970s Marshall Super Lead modded by José Arredondo, a Wizard 100-watt with a Klon Centaur in front, and a Diezel brought in for low end on the slower songs. "It's not always four amps at the same time, but usually it's three." The Arredondo Marshall was not working well during Hardwired; Dave Friedman repaired it before 72 Seasons, and "it ended up on every song."
Fidelman's guitar list for 72 Seasons: the Flying V copy from Kill 'Em All on the fast songs, doubled with the first ESP Explorer Hetfield got, a copper-colored Snakebyte, and a Les Paul on a couple of the slower songs.
- Guitar
- The Flying V copy from Kill 'Em All, his first ESP Explorer, a copper ESP Snakebyte, a Les Paul on slower songs
- Amp
- A blend of a Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC++, an Arredondo-modded Marshall Super Lead, a Wizard 100-watt with a Klon Centaur and a Diezel
- Effects
- Klon Centaur in front of the Wizard head
Gear pages for this rig or its current versions: Mesa/Boogie Mark V:25, Klon KTR.
Sources: Guitar World: Greg Fidelman on the gear behind 72 Seasons; MusicRadar: Greg Fidelman on Hetfield's four-amp blend
2013 on
What amp does James Hetfield use live?
Metallica moved to Fractal Audio's Axe-Fx in 2013, after a show in Antarctica where they could not use speakers. Hetfield's sounds were built in the studio from "a combination of my Mesa/Boogie amps mixed in with a little bit of my Diezel sound," he told Guitar Player, with the cleans from the Roland JC-120. The Fractal goes direct to the desk; Mesa 2:Ninety power amps drive cabinets that are not miked and are there for monitoring, feedback and feel.
His guitars are mostly ESPs with his EMG Het Set pickups, the Vulture and the Snakebyte among them, and on the M72 tour he opened with a New Electra, a copy of his first white V. The band tunes a half step down, to D#, on stage, his tech Chad Zaemisch says.
- Guitar
- ESP Snakebyte and Vulture with EMG Het Set pickups; a New Electra V copy for the opening songs on the M72 tour
- Amp
- Fractal Audio Axe-Fx, direct to the desk; Mesa 2:Ninety power amps drive unmiked cabinets for feel
- Effects
- Built into the Axe-Fx
Gear pages for this rig or its current versions: Fractal Audio Axe-Fx III, Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus.
Sources: Guitar World: why Metallica switched to amp modelers; Guitar Player: Hetfield and Hammett on their guitar rigs; Guitar World: Chad Zaemisch on Hetfield's 72 Seasons live rig
These are positions on a generic five-knob amp with gain, bass, middle, treble and presence, each running 0 to 10. They are a starting point, not the settings used on the record, and they will not transfer unchanged to an amp with a different gain structure or EQ voicing.
What amp settings did James Hetfield use?
The one set of numbers a named source has printed is below, with who printed it and how far it reaches. It is kept apart from the starting points above.
What amp settings did James Hetfield use on Sad but True?
Volume 1 at 9.5, treble 5 with the shift pulled, bass 2, middle 0, master 1 at 4 with deep pulled, lead drive 6 with lead pulled, lead master 4 and presence 3 on a Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC++, with its five-band graphic EQ at +2 on 80Hz, 0 on 240Hz, -12 on 750Hz, 0 on 2.2kHz and +3 on 6.6kHz. That is Chris Gill's reconstruction in Guitar World's 2019 feature on the song, which says it can cover only about 60 percent of the sound and has to speculate because the details are still closely guarded, so read the numbers as the magazine's estimate rather than a note from the session. The same feature lists the Marshall's settings as unknown.
Source: Guitar World: the secrets behind Metallica's Sad But True · Sad but True page →
How do you get James Hetfield's tone on your amp?
1.Use less gain than you think
"I often want to put more gain [on] than he likes," says Greg Fidelman, who co-produced Hardwired and 72 Seasons. "If it gets mushy at all, he's out." Dave Friedman, who repaired Hetfield's Arredondo Marshall, says the mod is not massively high-gain. Turn the gain down until each down-picked note stays separate.
Sources: MusicRadar: Greg Fidelman on Hetfield's four-amp blend
2.Set the middle for the record
The Justice sound was "all lows and highs with very little mid-range", in Hetfield's words. On the Black Album Bob Rock talked him into "a touch of" midrange, and on Death Magnetic he praised the Mark II C+ because "the mids just come alive". Scoop the middle for Justice, bring it up from the Black Album on.
Sources: Guitar World: Metallica's 1991 interview on the Black Album; Guitar World: James Hetfield on Death Magnetic (2008)
3.Double every rhythm part
Flemming Rasmussen doubled every rhythm guitar at least once in the 1980s, and Guitar.com describes the Black Album rhythm sound as many layered takes, each on a different setup. One guitar through one amp will sound thinner than the record however you set it.
Sources: SFL Music: producer Flemming Rasmussen on recording Metallica; Guitar.com: the gear used on Metallica's Black Album
4.Tune for the era
Master of Puppets is in standard tuning, Sad but True is in D, Load was the band's first album tuned down to E flat on every track, St. Anger is in drop C and most of Death Magnetic is back in standard. On stage Metallica tunes a half step down, to D#.
Sources: Guitar World: how to play Master of Puppets; Guitar World: the secrets behind Metallica's Sad But True; Wikipedia: Load (album); Guitar World: James Hetfield on Death Magnetic (2008); Guitar World: Chad Zaemisch on Hetfield's 72 Seasons live rig
5.Get the drive from the amp
"Distortion always starts with the amp," Hetfield told Guitar Player in 1992, as Ground Guitar quotes him, and his rhythm sound has come from amps since Ride the Lightning. The one pedal Fidelman names on 72 Seasons is a Klon Centaur in front of the Wizard head, one amp of the blend. On a modeller, pick a high-gain amp model rather than a clean amp with a distortion block.
Sources: Ground Guitar: James Hetfield's guitars, amps and gear; Guitar World: Greg Fidelman on the gear behind 72 Seasons
Tonelify rewrites any of these songs for the amp and guitar you own. Match a James Hetfield song on your gear →
James Hetfield gear questions
What amp did James Hetfield use on Kill 'Em All?
A 1970s Marshall modded for extra gain by José Arredondo, with a ProCo Rat in front and his white Electra Flying V copy. The amp was stolen in Boston in 1984.
What amp did James Hetfield use on Master of Puppets?
His Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ known as Crunchberries, on the rhythm guitars, with Kirk Hammett's Mark IIC++ on the leads, and a Jackson King V.
What amp did James Hetfield use on the Black Album?
A Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC++ blended with producer Bob Rock's Arredondo-modded Marshall, many layered takes, and an ESP Explorer with EMG pickups as his main guitar.
What amp did James Hetfield use on 72 Seasons?
A blend of four heads, usually three at once: his Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC++, an Arredondo-modded Marshall Super Lead that ended up on every song, a Wizard 100-watt with a Klon Centaur, and a Diezel for low end.
What amp does James Hetfield use live?
A Fractal Audio Axe-Fx since 2013, loaded with sounds taken from his Mesa/Boogie amps, a little of his Diezel and a Roland JC-120 for cleans. It goes direct to the desk.
What guitar does James Hetfield play?
Mostly ESP guitars with his EMG Het Set pickups, the Snakebyte and the Vulture among them. His first was a white Electra Flying V copy, which he played on Kill 'Em All and Ride the Lightning and went back to on Death Magnetic and 72 Seasons; he moved to ESP in 1987.
What tuning does James Hetfield use?
Standard tuning on Master of Puppets, D standard on Sad but True, E flat throughout Load, drop C on St. Anger and standard again on most of Death Magnetic. On stage Metallica tunes a half step down, to D#.
What are good amp settings for a James Hetfield tone?
On a generic five-knob amp, Master of Puppets starts at Gain 8, Bass 6, Middle 3, Treble 7, Presence 6, Reverb 1; Enter Sandman starts at Gain 7, Bass 5, Middle 4, Treble 7, Presence 6, Reverb 2; Nothing Else Matters starts at Gain 1, Bass 5, Middle 5, Treble 6, Presence 5, Reverb 4. These are starting points for the kind of part, not James Hetfield's own settings. The one set of numbers a named source has printed is for Sad but True, on the song's page.