Metallica's Guitar Rig

With over 125 million records sold, thousands of sold out shows across the globe, and a who’s who of bands directly inspired by them, Metallica are the biggest metal band of all time. In fact, they’re one of the biggest bands of any genre full stop! But aside from some top-notch songwriting, for many, part of Metallica’s appeal has always been their technical ability and polished production. High-gain tones, intricate solos, riffs that are as razor-sharp as they are machine precise, and wah pedals for days. It’s all part of Metallica’s undeniable charm. So, if you wanted to try your hand at replicating their sound, where should you start? Let’s check out some of the most important gear in Metallica’s guitar rig!

Metallica’s Guitars

As you might expect, James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett have used more than their fair share of guitars in their 40+ year history. They started out by rocking the non-more-metal Gibson Flying V, but it’s the Explorer model design that's become more synonymous with the band, at least for James.

Both guitarists are long-time advocates of ESP guitars and EMG pickups. Hetfield currently uses an ESP Snakebyte signature model for the most part, together with an ESP Eclipse single cutaway guitar, complete with its eye-catching “Iron Cross” design. On the other side of the stage, Kirk uses a more settled selection of guitars. He favours the Super-Strat-style ESP KH-2 M-II, one with a Ouija paint job and the other featuring a stunning illustration of Boris Karloff from his 1932 film, The Mummy. He also works with a Jackson Randy Rhoads Model RR1T and a couple of Gibson Les Pauls - a custom one for most ballads and a standard model for cuts from St. Anger.

Metallica’s Amps

To achieve their calling card distorted guitar tones, Metallica tends to favour a combination of Mesa Boogie and Randall valve amps. After using Marshall products for the first two albums, Hetfield and Hammett both picked up Mesa Mark IIC+ amps before hitting the studio to record the legendary Master of Puppets album.

Over the years, the famous electric guitarists have experimented with their setup along the way. While frequently using Mesa’s Triple Rectifiers, Hetfield has also dabbled in the Diezel VH4 head. Hammett, on the other hand, has explored the range of Randall amps, notably the RM100KH.  And when it comes to cleans, the Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus combo is the order of the day, favoured for its incredible high-end, ample headroom, and built-in chorus effect.

Metallica’s Pedals

One area that does divide Metallica’s guitarists is the pedalboard. James Hetfield famously prefers to derive most of his tone straight from his amp. Aside from a few simple effects, including a Mesa Boogie Custom Graphic EQ and a Line 6 effects unit, he doesn’t augment his sound all that much.

Kirk Hammett’s approach is a little different. Heavily influenced by Jimi Hendrix, his signature model Dunlop KH95 Crybaby wah-wah pedal is a core component of his rig – there’s a reason fans of the band lovingly refer to him as Kirk Wahmett! Other than that, Kirk also enhances his sound with a range of effects, including a modified Ibanez Tube Screamer, a Digitech WH-1 Whammy, and an Eddie Van Halen Flanger and Bass Octave Deluxe from MXR.

If you’re on a mission to craft your own version of Metallica’s iconic guitar tone, we hope this quick guide helps you get a little closer. And if you’re hunting for a few of the core elements of Metallica’s guitar rig, don’t forget to check out our complete range of electric guitars, guitar pedals, and electric guitar amps!