How James Hetfield Gets The Modern Metallica Guitar Tone! [Part 2 of 3]

Very interesting!!! Nice video man!!!

thx for your video. i really like his tone on 72 seasons and Hardwired. yes, master of Puppets rules but i can't unhear the limitations of the tape theyre recording to, just like all albums of the time. even black album, we're listening to the somewhat shitty format by todays standards of those sony tape machines. not to mention the master on that album was historically messed up and they had to use DAt backups...so at least now, you get to hear his sound without all of the extra stuff in the way and takes away which I think takes away all the impact and fidelity and thump from his tone. its a better reference for me when im dialing in my guitars

you speak like a true professional

Lowkey, I think Metallica have never sounded as aggressive and as heavy since the black album. Since St. Anger, they have been getting less and less heavy in my opinion.
In 72 seasons, the pick attack is so smooth that it doesn’t even chug.

This tone is a part of the entirety that made me quit being a lifelong Metallica fan. It lacks clarity, crunchiness, sounds straight up awful.

Metallica playing using AxeFX for their sounds is a Metallica selling their musical souls to go 'through the motions'. It's a Metallica that is NOT Metallica.

You have got to be kidding me. His tone sucks now. Not even in the same league as his now classic 80s tones, which were completely different and unique(and awesome) from each other on each album. The Black Album was the last time he had a really good guitar tone.

I got a 20 watt JCM800 and using just that and a tube screamer with my snakebyte guitar I can get 90% of the way there :)

For downpicking, what works for me is to first practice a lot of punk rock that utilizes a lot of downpicking. Ramones, and Misfits would be good examples. Then, practice Paranoid by Black Sabbath.

Then try For Whom The Bell Tolls, and work your way up.

Saying his tone gets better after the black album is pure fan copium. Metallica sonically peaked during their run up to the black album, and especially on that album with bob rock. No one wants to sound like 72 season lmao. Clown album

His live tone with the fractal is really good. Except, I noticed that it doesn’t nail the clean tone. It’s pretty close but when he was using the Roland with a Triaxis I believe it was HUGE

I love the white fang but I feel like they shred instantly. do you guys have the same problem? Jazz 3 last forever but definitely don’t sound as full.

I haven't liked his tone since the Load era. Just has a muddy sound to it. Sounds like when I forget to switch from neck to bridge pick-up.

Great video! 👍🏻

Dude i owned a Mesa Boogie Mark V 90w with a 2x12 Mesa Traditional Cab with Vintage 30’s and got very close to Hetfields tone, yes you do need a 4x12 with v30’s, but i got closer to Hetfields tone with a 2x12 because where i live my landlord told me that i could use a 2x12 cabinet instead of a 4x12 because of how loud it is 2x12 was enough for me i even have video proof of the exact Hetfield tone that i dialed in just 3 years ago, i also have an i-rig for Tonex & Amplitube because of the fact i have Mesa Boogie, Diezel and Roland JC-120, so with that being said you can use either cabinet

Even though I’m not a huge Metallica guy, I’m loving this mini series! It’s super insightful.

saw the may 11th show in columbus. Their live recordings don't do any justice to what it feels like to actually see them in person. the guitars smack you in the chest and sound awesome. thanks for these videos,subbed!

death magnetic isn't as bad if you listen to the guitar hero stems. cool vids, keep it up.

Thank you thank you, i just needed somewhere to start. I'm one of those girls who got sucked into the daisy rock jus strum some chords world when all i wanted to do was play metallica songs. I'm late but I'm beginning my tone hunt now, excited for the next part!

Flemming Rasmussen revealed that they slowed down the tracks so hetfield could sound tighter when sped up!! I was crushed... my hero cheated... slowing the songs down is like a baseball player using steroids

Really need to talk about how much gain to use live vs studio when layering guitars. I think most guitar players know your live tone and studio tone are two different animals but be good to go over that for younger people.

If you haven't tried the tortex sharps try em. I like the 1.35mm live but use the .88mm sharps in the studio.

This is great stuff! My band has a few songs that are heavily influenced by Hetfield. Especially for myself being the rhythm guitarist……

There’s a video of Dino from Fear Factory talking about pick types during recording. Pretty interesting.

After the black album they have went down hill so bad everything sucks ass in my opinion. How cares how good the tone it it he can't make music like he had before . His mesa boogie tone was the best of sounding to me .

Outstanding video man! I'm wondering how they get the Axe Fx 3 to sound so true to their tone.

More likely a t75 or mesa black speaker but im sure yoy can get close with v30 as well. Good job with the video.

Cool video!! Can you please make a video about how Linkin Park changed her guitar sound about the albums and what they used?

lovin this series man. do you think he uses his Klon anywhere else besides soloing?