Riff Tone

Seek & Destroy

Metallica

Guitarmetal1980s

Original Gear

Guitar1981 Gibson Flying V

AmpMarshall JMP 2203 (modified, 100W head)

PickupsStock Gibson humbuckers (likely Dirty Fingers or T-Top, passive)

Amp Settings

gain8.5

bass7

mid2.5

treble8

reverb0

presence6

Effects & Signal Chain

distortionPro Co Pro Co RAT

Notes

Studio recording for 'Kill 'Em All' (1983). Guitar: James Hetfield's white 1981 Gibson Flying V with stock humbuckers. Amp: Marshall JMP 2203 (modded), no evidence of Mesa/Boogie or other amps for this song/era. Pro Co RAT distortion pedal used for main rhythm tone. No evidence of time-based or modulation effects in riff section. Settings estimated from era, genre, and forum consensus. Pickup selector set to bridge. Studio context.

Tone Character(10)

tight and percussivescooped midsaggressive palm mutinghigh-gain saturationsharp and biting treblechunky low endarticulate pick attackdry, no reverbcompressed and focusedfast, staccato response

Difficulty

The riff requires fast, accurate alternate picking and tight palm muting at a medium-fast tempo, demanding precision and stamina typical of intermediate to advanced metal rhythm playing.

Sources

James Hetfield's Guitar Gear, Amps & Pedalboard - Equipboard Kill 'Em All Guitar Tone : r/guitarpedals - Reddit [QUESTION] Seek & Destroy guitar tone (Metallica) - Reddit [QUESTION] What is a good Metallica setting for my amp? - Reddit

This tone has been researched 170 times by the community

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