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Riff Tone

The Frayed Ends of Sanity

Metallica

Guitarmetal1980s

Original Gear

GuitarESP MX220 'Eet Fuk' Explorer
AmpMesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ Head
PickupsEMG 81 (bridge, active humbucker)

Amp Settings

gain8.5
bass6
mid3.5
treble7.5
reverb0
presence6

Effects & Signal Chain

No effects used for this tone

Notes

Studio recording for '...And Justice for All' (1988); James Hetfield's main rhythm guitar and amp for this album. No evidence of live/touring substitutions or additional pedals for the riff section.

Tone Character(10)
tight and percussivescooped midsrazor-sharp attackdry and compressedarticulate note separationhigh-gain saturationminimal ambienceaggressive palm mutingmetallic edgefast, staccato rhythm

Difficulty

The riff section is technically demanding due to its fast tempo, intricate palm muting, and precise alternate picking, requiring tight synchronization and stamina.

Sources

James Hetfield's Guitar Gear, Amps & Pedalboard

This tone has been researched 5 times by the community

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The Frayed Ends of Sanity settings for your amp

Exact settings ToneAdapt players use on these amps.

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The Frayed Ends of Sanity by Metallica — Riff Tone Settings | ToneAdapt