Riff Tone
Sad But True (Live)
Metallica
Guitarmetal1990s
Original Gear
GuitarESP LTD EX-401 (Hetfield live rig, 1990s era) or ESP LTD James Hetfield Snakebyte (modern live rig)
AmpMesa/Boogie Mark IIC++ (primary for clean and dirty in 1990s live), sometimes Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier layered in
PickupsEMG 81/60 active humbuckers
Amp Settings
gain0
bass5.5
mid4
treble7
reverb1
presence5.5
Effects & Signal Chain
No effects used for this tone
Notes
Live performance, early 1990s era. No evidence of a dedicated clean amp for 'Sad But True (Live)' riff section; clean sections are rare and typically achieved by rolling down guitar volume or switching pickup positions. No evidence of Roland JC-120 or other dedicated clean amp for this song live.
Tone Character(10)
clean but not sparklingslightly compressedglassy with active pickup claritytight and percussivesubtle amp reverbmedium output, not pristine cleanno chorus or modulationnot scooped, balanced midscontrolled low endarticulate attack
Difficulty
The clean riff sections require precise muting and dynamic control to maintain clarity without breaking up, but do not involve complex chord voicings or advanced techniques.
Sources
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Create Free AccountGuitarmetal1990s
Original Gear
GuitarESP LTD EX-401 (Hetfield live rig, 1990s era) or ESP LTD James Hetfield Snakebyte (modern live rig)
AmpMesa/Boogie Mark IIC++ (primary for clean and dirty in 1990s live), sometimes Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier layered in
PickupsEMG 81/60 active humbuckers
Amp Settings
gain0
bass5.5
mid4
treble7
reverb1
presence5.5
Effects & Signal Chain
No effects used for this tone
Notes
Live performance, early 1990s era. No evidence of a dedicated clean amp for 'Sad But True (Live)' riff section; clean sections are rare and typically achieved by rolling down guitar volume or switching pickup positions. No evidence of Roland JC-120 or other dedicated clean amp for this song live.
Tone Character(10)
clean but not sparklingslightly compressedglassy with active pickup claritytight and percussivesubtle amp reverbmedium output, not pristine cleanno chorus or modulationnot scooped, balanced midscontrolled low endarticulate attack
Difficulty
The clean riff sections require precise muting and dynamic control to maintain clarity without breaking up, but do not involve complex chord voicings or advanced techniques.
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