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Category: Who Plays What
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Last Updated on Tuesday, 05 March 2013 21:07
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Published on Thursday, 19 July 2007 13:19
James Hetfield does more than just provide the band Metallica with growling vocals - he is also the bands rythym guitarist. Let's checkout his gear.
Let's see what guitar gear and equipment Metallica's James Hetfield's has been seen using in his guitar rig.
Click the gear images for more info & specs at Musician's Friend
Guitars
James has uses a large amount of guitars. The following are some of them that have been seen:
- ESP James Hetfield Truckster Electric Guitar Distressed Satin Black
- Gibson 1973 Les Paul Custom "Iron Cross" (ESP made a James Hetfield Iron Cross Signature)
- ESP James Hetfield LTD Truckster Electric Guitar Aged Primer Gray
- ESP LTD James Hetfield Snakebyte Electric Guitar
- ESP Explorers, including a black and chrome version.
- He also has an ESP LTD 7-string guitar (coined "The Goblin") and an ESP LTD F-300M.
- ESP JH-1 Flying V
- Ken Lawrence Explorer guitars
- 1976 Gibson Explorer called "Rusty"
- 1973 Gibson Les Paul called "Uncle Milty"
- 1959 Gibson Les Paul
James designed the graphics for his original ESP Viper baritone guitar. The graphics were hand painted by Kirk Taylor of Custom Design Studios in Novato, California. Kirk Taylor also paints James' hotrods and motorcycles.
- Line 6 Variax Acoustic (Used for live performances of "The Unforgiven")
- custom Gibson Firebird guitar
- Jackson King V guitar (white, used in the 80's during Master of Puppets tour)
- BC Rich Wrath (seen using in 90's)
- EMG 81/EMG 60 pickups
- EMG James Hetfield JH pickup set
Amps and Cabinets
- Mesa Boogie Stiletto Deuces
His amp rack has a Mesa/Boogie Triaxis and a Strategy 400. He also plays two Diezel VH4 heads loaded with EL34s. a Wizard, a Marshall DSL, a Roland JC-120, and a Sears Magnatone amongst other amps.
- Marshall DSL
- Mesa Boogie Triaxis
- Diezel VH4 Heads
- Mesa Boogie Triple Rectifier
- Roland JC-120 (James uses the head version more recently of this amp)
- KRANK Revolution head
- Krank Krankenstein
- Wizard Modern Classic Amp heads and Wizard 4x12 cabs
- Marshall 4x12 cabinet
- Vox AC30
- Sears Magnatone
- Mesa Boogie Mark IIC+ (Master of Puppets)
- Mesa Boogie standard cabs
Effects and More
- Furman PL Pro Power Conditioner
- TC Electronic G-Major
- Line 6 DM4 Distortion
- MXR Phase 100
- Electro-Harmonix Bass Micro Synth
- Digitech Whammy WH1 pedal
- DMC GCX Audio Switcher
- Voodoo Lab Ground Control Pro
- Mesa Boogie High Gain AmpSwitcher
- Peterson Strobe 520 Tuner
- Boss CH1 Chorus pedal
- Levy M8P3GP Straps
- Behringer Multigate Pro
- Shure UR-4D Wireless Receiver
- DBX 1074 Quad Gate
- Boss NS2
- Klon Centaur
- ATI Nanoamp SUM 100
- Voodoo Labs Pedal Power 2 Plus
- Lovetone Brown Source
Strings and Picks
- Ernie Ball Power Slinky strings gauge .011-.048 (as shown on Ernie Ball site) and .013-.058 on the baritone guitar.
- Dunlop Ultex Black Fang guitar picks (by James and Dunlop)
- Dunlop .88mm (Green) Picks
- Custom Yellow/Black Picks from pick factory
Comments
RACK:
Furman
Shure wireless
T.C. Electronics G-Major
DBX 1074
Mesa/Boogie Triaxis pre amps Heavy modded (4)
Voodoo Lab GCX (2)
Mesa/Boogie Amp Switcher
Mesa/boogie 2:Ninety power amps (2)
furman pl plus
Behringer Multigate Pro XR4400
What looks to be another wireless but not hooked up.
Amps are:
Roland JC Jazz Chorus Head
Diezel VH4 Amp Heads (2)
proof:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jv_K2P9C-PA
www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-LAZQnrTaU
www.youtube.com/.../
RACK:
Furman
Shure wireless
T.C. Electronics G-Major
DBX 1074
Mesa/Boogie Triaxis pre amps Heavy modded (4)
Voodoo Lab GCX (2)
Some unknown rack unit
Mesa/boogie 2:Ninety power amps (2)
furman pl plus
Behringer Multigate Pro XR4400
What looks to be another wireless but not hooked up.
Amps are:
Roland JC Jazz Chorus Head
Diezel VH4 Amp Heads (2)
I was just watching 'Making Magnetic' and there are a few scenes where what looks to be a Bogner Uberschall on top of his rack in the drum room, and next to a console while he was tracking guitars. I don't think he's used them live (could be wrong) -but it looks like he was using them in studio. Cheers.
www.emgpickups.com/.../1
ultimate-guitar.com/.../...
www.metallica.com/.../
The ultimate source. It is accurate and has some good pics.
www.metallicaworld.co.uk/.../
www.flickr.com/.../4230181694
www.flickr.com/.../o
www.flickr.com/.../4168027979
www.flickr.com/.../o
i caught one from him. and his mick pick thing was full of em
he also mentioned that he doesn't take his gibson explorers on stage cuz they're to worthy and they sound great unless being custom guitars. he doesn't want them to get lost or damaged. his all time favorite setup off-stage. of course there are some extras like the BOSS NS2 and LINE 6 POD X3 PRO in use but that's just "the tail of the bull"
by the way i play a 84 gibson explorer and a dual rectifier with a mesa boogie STD cabinet and i get exactly his sound.
i think the biggest part of his gear is being used for some very special things, such as recording some very special parts, but this simple setup gives birth to his main sound, which is extremely powerful. and you won't realize a big difference between a Gibson or ESP loaded with EMGs. of course there's a tiny difference but ESP guitars are obviously easier to handle. it doesn't make sense to me putting Gibson stock guitars from the 80s above the ESP Custom Shop guitars, but anyway... I'm glad about that!
HE USES MESA BOOGIE STANDARD CABS!!...NOT THE MARSHALL 196O'S!!!!!....
AND HE USES ROLAND JC-120 HEAD, NOT COMBO (LIVE GIGS).
ESP EXPLORERS, NOT EX.
KEN LAWRENCE EXPLORERS.
VOODOO LABS GROUND CONTROL PRO SWITCHER!!!..
THERES ALOT OF STUFF THATS OFF. BUT PRETTY GOOD.
I'm sure, because of two facts:
1.) It is mentioned on the making of DVD in several places.
2.) With my Stiletto and my ESP guitars using EMG Pickups, I get the same sound...
Oh, yeah, ever since the Ken Lawrence Explorers (which aren't mentioned above either, I just saw :-p), most of his guitars have EMG 60s in the Neck-Position.
Great Site, btw!!