Riff Tone

Leper Messiah

Metallica

Guitarmetal1980s

Original Gear

GuitarESP MX220 (custom 'EET FUK' Explorer-style, 1984-1986)

AmpMesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ Head

PickupsEMG 81 (bridge, retrofitted post-1987) or stock passive pickups (likely Seymour Duncan SH-4 JB or Gibson Dirty Fingers, as EMGs were not yet used in 1986 recording)

Amp Settings

gain8

bass6

mid3.5

treble7.5

reverb0

presence6

Effects & Signal Chain

compressionBoss Boss CS-1 Compression Sustainer

Notes

Studio recording, 1985-1986. Master of Puppets album sessions. Guitar is most likely the white ESP MX220 with stock passive pickups (EMGs not yet in use for this album). Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ was the main amp for rhythm tracks. No evidence of live rig or alternate gear for this riff section.

Tone Character(10)

tight and percussivescooped midsaggressive palm mutinghigh-gain saturationfocused low endrazor-sharp treblecrushing rhythm tonearticulate note separationdry, immediate responseminimal ambience

Difficulty

The riff requires tight, fast palm muting and precise alternate picking at a medium-fast tempo, with aggressive right-hand technique and consistent note separation, making it moderately challenging for intermediate players.

Sources

Metallica – Master of Puppets (Remastered) - Gear & Equipment Used on the Album | Equipboard Anybody know how to get the guitar tone on Master of Puppets?

This tone has been researched 5 times by the community

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