Solo Tone

Creeping Death

Metallica

Guitarmetal1980s

Original Gear

GuitarESP M-II (early 1980s, custom, with Floyd Rose)

AmpMesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ (studio recording, 1984 Ride the Lightning era)

PickupsSeymour Duncan SH-4 JB (bridge humbucker, period-correct for Kirk Hammett on Ride the Lightning)

Amp Settings

gain8.5

bass6

mid4

treble7.5

reverb0

presence6

Effects & Signal Chain

overdriveIbanez Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer

eqTC Electronic TC Electronic Dual Parametric Equalizer

Notes

Studio recording, 1984. Kirk Hammett used his ESP M-II with a Seymour Duncan JB in the bridge for the solo. The amp was a Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ (confirmed for Ride the Lightning sessions). No evidence of live rig or later gear used on this recording. Effects include Tube Screamer and EQ pedal for solo boost and tone shaping.

Tone Character(10)

tight and percussivesaturated high-gaincutting upper midsaggressive attacksinging sustainarticulate note separationslightly scooped rhythm, boosted mids for solofast alternate picking claritycrisp treble biteminimal ambience, dry studio sound

Difficulty

The solo features fast alternate picking, sweep picking, and rapid position changes, requiring advanced picking technique and fretboard navigation typical of 1980s thrash metal solos.

Sources

Metallica – Ride The Lightning (Remastered) - Gear & Equipment Used on the Album | Equipboard How to get creeping death tone : r/Guitar - Reddit Guitarists, how does James activate distortion in mid-song if ... - Reddit

This tone has been researched 4 times by the community

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