Riff Tone

Harvester of Sorrow

Metallica

Guitarmetal1980s

Original Gear

GuitarESP MX220 (aka 'Eet Fuk' Explorer, 1987-88 model)

AmpMesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ (Simul-Class head, studio recording)

PickupsEMG 81 active humbucker (bridge position)

Amp Settings

gain9

bass6.5

mid3

treble7.5

reverb1

presence6.5

Effects & Signal Chain

No effects used for this tone

Notes

Studio recording for ...And Justice for All (1988). James Hetfield used his ESP MX220 'Eet Fuk' Explorer with EMG 81 in the bridge into a Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ head. No evidence of additional pedals or effects for the riff section. Settings are estimated from forum posts and typical Metallica AJFA-era studio rig.

Tone Character(10)

tight and percussivescooped midsaggressive palm mutinghigh-gain saturationrazor-sharp articulationdry and minimal ambiencechunky rhythm tonefast note decayfocused low endcrisp, metallic edge

Difficulty

The riff requires tight, consistent palm muting and precise alternate picking at a moderate tempo, with challenging rhythmic syncopation and muting technique to maintain clarity and aggression.

Sources

What are the Amp settings for a Metallica sound : r/Guitar - Reddit Metallica – ...And Justice for All (Remastered) - Gear & Equipment Used on the Album | Equipboard Interview: Metallica's James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett on their tonal evolution

This tone has been researched 15 times by the community

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