guitar · metal
James Hetfield
James Hetfield, Metallica
Metallica's downpicking rhythm engine.
Tap or hover any piece for details & sources. Drawings are stylized illustrations, not product photos.
How we label sources
- Verified artist gear Confirmed directly by the artist or their team. No items carry this label yet.
- Reliably sourced report Named in a published gear feature or interview (e.g. Premier Guitar Rig Rundowns, guitar magazines).
- YouTube / community reconstruction Compiled from YouTube rig tours, Wikipedia or fan archives. Treat as a starting point.
- Suggested alternative Boutique/budget clones are our editorial suggestions, not claims about what the artist uses.
Gear, prices and listings change. Owning the same gear won't guarantee an identical tone: technique, settings, recording, signal order and modifications all matter.
Modeler cheat sheet
Get this tone on your modeler
Suggested starting point, not an official preset. Tweak to taste.
Auto-mapped from this rig's sourced gear. Dashed chips have no verified model on that unit.
Pre-Boogie era: a José Arredondo-modded Marshall (later lost) and a Tube Screamer to push the amps.
- driveGREEN JRC-ODstand-infor Ibanez Tube ScreamerGain 2–3, tone noon, level 7. A push into the amp
- amp69 PLEXIGLAS 100Wstand-infor José Arredondo-modded Marshall Super Lead (1959SLP)Gain 6, Bass 5, Mid 7, Treble 6, Presence 5
- cab4X12 GREEN 25Wfor José Arredondo-modded Marshall Super Lead (1959SLP)Dynamic 57-style mic at the cap edge, low cut 80 Hz, high cut 8 kHz
Model names checked against the official HeadRush model list. Model names from HeadRush's official Pedalboard model list; Gigboard and Prime share the HeadRush model library. "Stand-in" means the closest verified model, not an emulation of the artist's exact unit.
Affiliate link. ToneLineage may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Shop HeadRush (Pedalboard / Gigboard / Prime) →
- driveScream 808stand-infor Ibanez Tube ScreamerGain 2–3, tone noon, level 7. A push into the amp
- ampBrit Plexi Brtstand-infor José Arredondo-modded Marshall Super Lead (1959SLP)Gain 6, Bass 5, Mid 7, Treble 6, Presence 5
- cab4x12 Greenback 25for José Arredondo-modded Marshall Super Lead (1959SLP)Dynamic 57-style mic at the cap edge, low cut 80 Hz, high cut 8 kHz
Model names checked against the official Line 6 Helix model list. Names from the official Line 6 Helix 3.80 model list (HX Stomp shares the library). "Stand-in" means the closest verified model, not an emulation of the artist's exact unit.
Affiliate link. ToneLineage may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Shop Line 6 Helix (Helix / HX Stomp) →
- driveGreen 808stand-infor Ibanez Tube ScreamerGain 2–3, tone noon, level 7. A push into the amp
- ampBrit Plexi 100 Brightstand-infor José Arredondo-modded Marshall Super Lead (1959SLP)Gain 6, Bass 5, Mid 7, Treble 6, Presence 5
- cab412 Brit 60B GB ’71for José Arredondo-modded Marshall Super Lead (1959SLP)Dynamic 57-style mic at the cap edge, low cut 80 Hz, high cut 8 kHz
Model names checked against the official Neural DSP Quad Cortex model list. Names from Neural DSP's official Quad Cortex device list. "Stand-in" means the closest verified model, not an emulation of the artist's exact unit.
Affiliate link. ToneLineage may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Shop Neural DSP Quad Cortex (Quad Cortex / QC mini) →
- driveT-SCREAMstand-infor Ibanez Tube ScreamerBOOSTER slot: Gain 2–3, tone noon, level 7. A push into the amp
- ampCRUNCHstand-infor José Arredondo-modded Marshall Super Lead (1959SLP)Gain 6, Bass 5, Mid 7, Treble 6, Presence 5
- cabBuilt-in speaker (no cab model)descriptionfor José Arredondo-modded Marshall Super Lead (1959SLP)Katana has no cab sim on its speaker
Model names checked against the official BOSS Katana model list and owner's manual. Amp types from the Katana MkII Owner's Manual; effect types from 'Using BOSS TONE STUDIO for KATANA Mk II'. Katana has its own speaker, so there is no cab block. Gen 3 renames some types, so check your unit. "Stand-in" means the closest verified model, not an emulation of the artist's exact unit.
Affiliate link. ToneLineage may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Shop BOSS Katana (Katana MkII (via BOSS Tone Studio)) →
Studio chain per Guitar.com: Boogie Mark II plus producer Bob Rock's José-modded Marshall, with outboard EQ and compression in the loop.
- eqGRAPHIC EQfor Aphex EQF-2 equalizers (x2)Mid hump: +3 dB around 800 Hz, cut below 80 Hz, level +2 dB
- compDYN111 COMPstand-infor Aphex CX-1 compressorRatio/sustain ≈4:1, attack medium, level at unity
- amp69 PLEXIGLAS 100Wstand-infor Bob Rock's José-modded MarshallGain 6, Bass 5, Mid 7, Treble 6, Presence 5
- cab4X12 CLASSIC 30Wfor Marshall 1960 4x12 cabinets (Celestion Vintage 30)Dynamic 57-style mic at the cap edge, low cut 80 Hz, high cut 8 kHz
Model names checked against the official HeadRush model list. Model names from HeadRush's official Pedalboard model list; Gigboard and Prime share the HeadRush model library. "Stand-in" means the closest verified model, not an emulation of the artist's exact unit.
Affiliate link. ToneLineage may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Shop HeadRush (Pedalboard / Gigboard / Prime) →
- eq10 Band Graphicstand-infor Aphex EQF-2 equalizers (x2)Mid hump: +3 dB around 800 Hz, cut below 80 Hz, level +2 dB
- compLA Studio Compstand-infor Aphex CX-1 compressorRatio/sustain ≈4:1, attack medium, level at unity
- ampBrit Plexi Brtstand-infor Bob Rock's José-modded MarshallGain 6, Bass 5, Mid 7, Treble 6, Presence 5
- cab4x12 Cali V30for Marshall 1960 4x12 cabinets (Celestion Vintage 30)Dynamic 57-style mic at the cap edge, low cut 80 Hz, high cut 8 kHz
Model names checked against the official Line 6 Helix model list. Names from the official Line 6 Helix 3.80 model list (HX Stomp shares the library). "Stand-in" means the closest verified model, not an emulation of the artist's exact unit.
Affiliate link. ToneLineage may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Shop Line 6 Helix (Helix / HX Stomp) →
- eqGraphic-9stand-infor Aphex EQF-2 equalizers (x2)Mid hump: +3 dB around 800 Hz, cut below 80 Hz, level +2 dB
- compOC-76 Compfor Aphex CX-1 compressorRatio/sustain ≈4:1, attack medium, level at unity
- ampBrit Plexi 100 Brightstand-infor Bob Rock's José-modded MarshallGain 6, Bass 5, Mid 7, Treble 6, Presence 5
- cab412 CA Trad S UKV30 90sfor Marshall 1960 4x12 cabinets (Celestion Vintage 30)Dynamic 57-style mic at the cap edge, low cut 80 Hz, high cut 8 kHz
Model names checked against the official Neural DSP Quad Cortex model list. Names from Neural DSP's official Quad Cortex device list. "Stand-in" means the closest verified model, not an emulation of the artist's exact unit.
Affiliate link. ToneLineage may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Shop Neural DSP Quad Cortex (Quad Cortex / QC mini) →
- eqGRAPHIC EQfor Aphex EQF-2 equalizers (x2)FX slot: Mid hump: +3 dB around 800 Hz, cut below 80 Hz, level +2 dB
- compCOMPstand-infor Aphex CX-1 compressorMOD slot: Ratio/sustain ≈4:1, attack medium, level at unity
- ampCRUNCHstand-infor Bob Rock's José-modded MarshallGain 6, Bass 5, Mid 7, Treble 6, Presence 5
- cabBuilt-in speaker (no cab model)descriptionfor Marshall 1960 4x12 cabinets (Celestion Vintage 30)Katana has no cab sim on its speaker
Model names checked against the official BOSS Katana model list and owner's manual. Amp types from the Katana MkII Owner's Manual; effect types from 'Using BOSS TONE STUDIO for KATANA Mk II'. Katana has its own speaker, so there is no cab block. Gen 3 renames some types, so check your unit. "Stand-in" means the closest verified model, not an emulation of the artist's exact unit.
Affiliate link. ToneLineage may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Shop BOSS Katana (Katana MkII (via BOSS Tone Studio)) →
The touring rack MESA/Boogie documented in 2011 (and which tech Chad Zaemisch says was retired after Antarctica, Dec 2013).
- amp85 M-2 LEADstand-infor Mesa/Boogie TriAxis preamps (x2)Gain 7, Bass 6, Mid 5, Treble 6, Presence 6. Add a noise gate
- cab4X12 CLASSIC 30Wfor Mesa/Boogie Traditional Straight 4x12 (x2)Dynamic 57-style mic at the cap edge, low cut 80 Hz, high cut 8 kHz
- delayAIR DELAYstand-infor TC Electronic G-MajorTime 1/4 dotted (tap), feedback 25%, mix 15%
Model names checked against the official HeadRush model list. Model names from HeadRush's official Pedalboard model list; Gigboard and Prime share the HeadRush model library. "Stand-in" means the closest verified model, not an emulation of the artist's exact unit.
Affiliate link. ToneLineage may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Shop HeadRush (Pedalboard / Gigboard / Prime) →
- ampCali IV Leadstand-infor Mesa/Boogie TriAxis preamps (x2)Gain 7, Bass 6, Mid 5, Treble 6, Presence 6. Add a noise gate
- cab4x12 Cali V30for Mesa/Boogie Traditional Straight 4x12 (x2)Dynamic 57-style mic at the cap edge, low cut 80 Hz, high cut 8 kHz
- delaySimple Delaystand-infor TC Electronic G-MajorTime 1/4 dotted (tap), feedback 25%, mix 15%
Model names checked against the official Line 6 Helix model list. Names from the official Line 6 Helix 3.80 model list (HX Stomp shares the library). "Stand-in" means the closest verified model, not an emulation of the artist's exact unit.
Affiliate link. ToneLineage may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Shop Line 6 Helix (Helix / HX Stomp) →
- ampCA MkCC+stand-infor Mesa/Boogie TriAxis preamps (x2)Gain 7, Bass 6, Mid 5, Treble 6, Presence 6. Add a noise gate
- cab412 CA Trad S UKV30 90sfor Mesa/Boogie Traditional Straight 4x12 (x2)Dynamic 57-style mic at the cap edge, low cut 80 Hz, high cut 8 kHz
- delayDigital Delaystand-infor TC Electronic G-MajorTime 1/4 dotted (tap), feedback 25%, mix 15%
Model names checked against the official Neural DSP Quad Cortex model list. Names from Neural DSP's official Quad Cortex device list. "Stand-in" means the closest verified model, not an emulation of the artist's exact unit.
Affiliate link. ToneLineage may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Shop Neural DSP Quad Cortex (Quad Cortex / QC mini) →
- ampLEADstand-infor Mesa/Boogie TriAxis preamps (x2)Gain 7, Bass 6, Mid 5, Treble 6, Presence 6. Add a noise gate
- cabBuilt-in speaker (no cab model)descriptionfor Mesa/Boogie Traditional Straight 4x12 (x2)Katana has no cab sim on its speaker
- delayDIGITALstand-infor TC Electronic G-MajorDELAY slot: Time 1/4 dotted (tap), feedback 25%, mix 15%
Model names checked against the official BOSS Katana model list and owner's manual. Amp types from the Katana MkII Owner's Manual; effect types from 'Using BOSS TONE STUDIO for KATANA Mk II'. Katana has its own speaker, so there is no cab block. Gen 3 renames some types, so check your unit. "Stand-in" means the closest verified model, not an emulation of the artist's exact unit.
Affiliate link. ToneLineage may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Shop BOSS Katana (Katana MkII (via BOSS Tone Studio)) →
Learn the songs
Affiliate links. These open tab and chord searches on Ultimate Guitar (Metallica). ToneLineage may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. We link to Ultimate Guitar only; we don't reproduce tabs or lyrics.
ToneLineage is not affiliated with or endorsed by the artists, manufacturers, retailers or Ultimate Guitar mentioned on this page. Names and trademarks belong to their owners.
RigLog newsletter