Metallica - Black Album (gear questions)

[Tricalibur]

Mesa Mark IV all the way. PLayed one last summer in a guitar shop and those things bleed 'Tallica. Great cleans too.

[Fubar]

Steady on, fubar,lets not deify it!

I can't think of much better to worship!  :lol:

It's not deification but it is a work of genius on the part of both the band and Bob Rock, the attention to detail is phenominal! Is the sort of thing you can only do if the record company are prepared to let you spend years in the studio at a time tho.

[nfe]

Justice sounds beter anyway.....

The black album's just to clean for my liking, there's no grit in their. To my ears anyway.

1 Second into the black album and Metallica were dead IMO. There's been two good albums after it, but they're by a different band.

[FELINEGUITARS]

Main amp would have been a MK3 Boogie - Mk 4 was newer than that

Main rhythm guitar was a white ESP explorer (may be the one with the "Kill Bon Jovi" sticker....amongst others

Also used telecasters and Gretsches too - very layered sound even if you cant hear it

I would use the Explorer and fit either a Miracle Man or a Ceramic Warpig (my choice is Miracle Man)

[MDV]

The ceramic warpig and MM are the best BKs for a metallica tone, but, lets face it, they used EMGs, and 'that' EMG sound is ALL OVER the black album tone.

If you have the Mesa (MkIV or dual/tripple rec will get you there) then you should get an 81/60 combo.

[Crazy_Joe]

EMG won't have the quality, in build and sound, and remember i said i don't want to copy it, i want something similar, i also don't want a fat ass battery pack shoved into my nicely crafted guitar!

But i will get that Mesa one day...

[HTH AMPS]

I agree with MDV - if you want Metallica's tone (or close), then go with EMGs, they're a specific sort of tone but it just works for heavy stuff.  I agree that the 60 in the neck is best too but I'm a bigger fan of the 85 in the bridge.

As for BKPs to get that tone, I'd say either MM or WP (I'd go for a ceramic WP).

 :twisted:

[MDV]

Well if you dont want to nail it, but close with a BK I'd get a miracle man, overwound to something like 20k (the stock one just doesnt have that level of gain or compression).

[screamingdaisy]

The gist of it is;

Boogie Mark IIC+
Boogie Mark IIC+ slaved into a Marshall JMP head
Boogie Mark IV
Roland JC-120 (clean tones)

Aphex Parametric E.Q.

Various ESP & Gibson Explorers (EMG 60/81)
Telecaster
Gretch White Falcan
SG


He also used some sort of multi-effect at the time, but I can't remember which one.

[octavio_amzer]

emgs going to a Mark IV or a Mark IIC+

a good EQ for nailing the perfect "scoopness"

some V30s

and a roland JC 120

-------NOTE: don't even bother getting Kirk's lead sound

thats the "heart" of the Justice (mainly IIC+) and Black album tones (closer to a mark IV).

if you want to use other pickups use:

ceramic Warpigs to completly nail the Metallica chug

miracle man for a more "master of puppets" and "ride th lightning" tone.

and the IIC+ is the CORE tone of all the Metallica tone from master of puppets to black album.

the funny thing is that the IIC+ can also nail ride the lightning tones if set properly  with Miracle Man on the bridge 8)

reccomended: Mark III with the right stripe and some old boogie preamps that sound alike to the IIC+ (studio something... just look around and you will find the info)

if recording... just make SHURE you quadruple track the rythm parts.

all this tested by me in real life.

PS: green tortex .88 for nailing it even more...


hope this helps  8)

[Crazy_Joe]

haha cheers, that pickup to album thing you did just made it clearer as to what i need for each era. Though now it is even harder to choose between the MM and CW!

[octavio_amzer]

haha cheers, that pickup to album thing you did just made it clearer as to what i need for each era. Though now it is even harder to choose between the MM and CW!

for me... the Miracle Man wil give you a more "vintage" Metallica Tone and the Ceramic Warpig will nail all the "Modern" sounding Metallica (considering all this from Ride to Black album)


I prefer the Miracle Man. Because it can give you power, pinches, chugness etc... without being STUPIDLY powerful.

all the Ceramic Warpigs I've heard sound WAY to bassy and powerfull. They eat EMGs with no mercy   :shock: !!

but I think that the Ceramic Warpig is just TOO much considering Metallica was an 80s thrash band.

Miracle Man gets you alot more range of the Metallica sounds and early albums because it isn't stupidly powerfull and overwhelming.


but I'm sure a Ceramic Warpig would sound CRUSHING while playing MASTER OF PUPPETS  :twisted: !!!!


think about it like this...

Miracle Man = Vintage Metallica with more THRASH grind feel
Ceramic Warpig = Modern Metallica with more HEAVY chug feel

but in my opinion the Miracle Man can give you both if set right
:)

[Crazy_Joe]

It seems like the Miracle Man is going to be more versatile than the Warpig, and i was thinking it might be a bit too bassy. DO you know the specs of the Miracle Man neck? I don't think it's ceramic and i can't remember the dc.

[octavio_amzer]

It seems like the Miracle Man is going to be more versatile than the Warpig, and i was thinking it might be a bit too bassy. DO you know the specs of the Miracle Man neck? I don't think it's ceramic and i can't remember the dc.

sorry... just own a Miracle Man on the Bridge  :(

I'm sure someone with a Miracle Man set will pop-up and give you the answer

[FELINEGUITARS]

I would not go for a MM neck if you want to do the Hetfield thing

You need something that will be a bit like a EMG60 which is like a mini humbucker (think Firebird or LP Deluxe).
Maybe a Cold Sweat neck or something - even something with a P90 tone  like an MQ