Riff Tone
The Unforgiven (Live)
Metallica
Guitarmetal1990s
Original Gear
GuitarESP LTD Iron Cross James Hetfield (live version, 1990s/2000s era)
AmpMesa Boogie Mark IIC+ (live, clean channel)
PickupsEMG 60 (neck, active humbucker)
Amp Settings
gain0
bass5.5
mid5
treble7
reverb2
presence6
Effects & Signal Chain
No effects used for this tone
Notes
Live version, early 1990s onward. Clean intro/riff played on ESP Iron Cross with EMG 60 neck pickup, amp set for crystal clean tone. Tuning is Eb standard. No evidence of acoustic or alternate guitars for the clean riff in live settings.
Tone Character(10)
warm and smoothshimmering cleanclear, bell-like attackslightly compresseddynamic fingerstyle responsemild amp reverb for spaceno audible modulationno breakup or gritfull-bodied lowsarticulate highs
Difficulty
The clean riff requires fingerstyle technique and dynamic control for clarity, but the tempo is slow and the chord shapes are accessible to intermediate players.
Sources
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Create Free AccountGuitarmetal1990s
Original Gear
GuitarESP LTD Iron Cross James Hetfield (live version, 1990s/2000s era)
AmpMesa Boogie Mark IIC+ (live, clean channel)
PickupsEMG 60 (neck, active humbucker)
Amp Settings
gain0
bass5.5
mid5
treble7
reverb2
presence6
Effects & Signal Chain
No effects used for this tone
Notes
Live version, early 1990s onward. Clean intro/riff played on ESP Iron Cross with EMG 60 neck pickup, amp set for crystal clean tone. Tuning is Eb standard. No evidence of acoustic or alternate guitars for the clean riff in live settings.
Tone Character(10)
warm and smoothshimmering cleanclear, bell-like attackslightly compresseddynamic fingerstyle responsemild amp reverb for spaceno audible modulationno breakup or gritfull-bodied lowsarticulate highs
Difficulty
The clean riff requires fingerstyle technique and dynamic control for clarity, but the tempo is slow and the chord shapes are accessible to intermediate players.
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