Solo Tone

Nothing Else Matters (Live)

Metallica & San Francisco Symphony

Guitarmetal1990s

Original Gear

GuitarESP KH-2 (Kirk Hammett Signature, likely with EMG 81/60 pickups)

AmpMesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ (live rig, Metallica & San Francisco Symphony era, likely with rackmount effects)

PickupsEMG 81 (bridge), EMG 60 (neck) active humbuckers

Amp Settings

gain5.5

bass5.5

mid5.5

treble7

reverb3.5

presence6

Effects & Signal Chain

delayUnknown Delay pedal (model unknown)

reverbUnknown Reverb pedal or rack unit (model unknown)

Notes

Live performance with San Francisco Symphony, 1999. Gear based on known live rigs from this era; no direct source confirms exact pedal models for this specific performance. Kirk Hammett is known to use the ESP KH-2 with EMG pickups and Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ amps for solos in this era.

Tone Character(10)

singing sustainsmooth and fluidwarm neck pickup toneslightly overdriven but not high-gainclear note separationlush ambient reverbaudible digital delay repeatstouch-sensitive dynamicsmelodic and expressivenot heavily scooped mids

Difficulty

The solo requires intermediate technique, including expressive bends, vibrato, and smooth legato, as well as precise timing to match the ambient delay and reverb effects. While not technically extreme, musicality and control are essential.