Trying to nail the Metallica rhythm tone

[Guitarjon]

Not going to lie, I really like the modern Metallica rhythm tone! James' rhythm tone on 72 Seasons just sounds so thick and crunchy but with plenty of bite. I know not everybody likes their modern tone but I really do! I took it upon myself to try to recreate that tone with the following gear-items:

- ESP LTD Iron Cross with the EMG Het Set
- Diezel VH2 tube amp
- Mesa Boogie Mark V 35

I'm definitely not saying it turned out 100% the same and realistically that would be rather impossible. BUT, I think I got pretty darn close! It can be pretty hard to blend amps because of phasing issues etc. but I think I got the balance good enough here. Curious to hear your thoughts:

 

[Hoss632]

I'd definitely say you got the tone dialed in quite well. Great vid as usual!

 

[Hollowway]

I watched this already, and loved your tones. I did a bunch of screen grabs of the Mesa settings, and now I have to figure out which knob is which, so I can translate it to the V:90 I have.

You've got some of the best videos out there, Jon. One thing I appreciate is that you respect your viewers' time, and learn the amp prior to making the video. You've done the homework for the viewer, and are able to explain the amp, and play it with settings that give a really good tone. They're very organized, very thought out, and well worth the time spent watching, IMO. I see a crap ton of other guys making amp videos, saying, "Hey guys, I haven't dialed in this amp yet, and haven't read the manual, but I thought it would be neat if I just tried to dial in a useable tone with you guys, on this video." No, no YouTube personality, I am not going to watch you try to figure out wtf you're doing for 20 min, only to have you say, "well, there you have it. I'm sure if I spent more time with this I could get some really good tones. But what I think doesn't really matter - tell me what YOU guys think, down in the comments."

 

[TonyFlyingSquirrel]

I really liked this video, hope to see a Helix equivalent with as few blocks as needed.

 

[complex-barb.0t]

"Hey guys, I haven't dialed in this amp yet, and haven't read the manual, but I thought it would be neat if I just tried to dial in a useable tone with you guys, on this video." No, no YouTube personality, I am not going to watch you try to figure out wtf you're doing for 20 min, only to have you say, "well, there you have it. I'm sure if I spent more time with this I could get some really good tones. But what I think doesn't really matter - tell me what YOU guys think, down in the comments."

Shots fired at guys like Ola lol. It’s super annoying how he bumbles through product videos where he spends as little time as possible with it.

Jon clearly spends tuns of time on his videos. The Metallica tones were great and unlike most Metallica tone videos he went for the more modern sound and not a KEA or AJFA tone that is more common.

 

[Hollowway]

Shots fired at guys like Ola lol. It’s super annoying how he bumbles through product videos where he spends as little time as possible with it.

Jon clearly spends tuns of time on his videos. The Metallica tones were great and unlike most Metallica tone videos he went for the more modern sound and not a KEA or AJFA tone that is more common.

Yeah, I didn’t actually have Ola in mind, but he does kind of do that. He has a number of videos where he’s got things dialed in really well, though. I think Ola gets away with it because he’s always messing around and people expect it from him.

Anyway, I watch Jon’s videos like it’s my job, because they’re so damn good. Like the Ampero Stomp one, where he composed a song to highlight a bunch of the different tones/features, and then played the whole song, as well as isolated guitar tracks, and gave the settings for the tones.

 

[narad]

I disagree. Of course there is an audience that just wants to get to the point, but that's not everyone on youtube (me). Tone is subjective and I want to see a range of tones to understand the versatility and roughly how much of it seems useful to me. There's appreciable aspects of both approaches, so I'll basically watch all the videos.

 

[complex-barb.0t]

I disagree. Of course there is an audience that just wants to get to the point, but that's not everyone on youtube (me). Tone is subjective and I want to see a range of tones to understand the versatility and roughly how much of it seems useful to me. There's appreciable aspects of both approaches, so I'll basically watch all the videos.

There is something to be said about gear that is quick to dial in. If you can just dick around and get a sound you like that is even better than something you have to memorize the manual to get a useable tone.

Like you I just watch everything that features stuff I am interested in.

 

[complex-barb.0t]

A bit more on topic, is there any good Diezel-like preamp pedals? Never looked into their pedals before.

 

[narad]

A bit more on topic, is there any good Diezel-like preamp pedals? Never looked into their pedals before.

There is a exactly Diezel preamp pedal, one for the Herbert, and an older more flexible one called the Zerrer.

 

[soul_lip_mike]

Ola did a video recently where he showed his room full of gear that has been sent to him that he hasn’t had time to unbox. I get it.

Yeah, I didn’t actually have Ola in mind, but he does kind of do that. He has a number of videos where he’s got things dialed in really well, though. I think Ola gets away with it because he’s always messing around and people expect it from him.

Anyway, I watch Jon’s videos like it’s my job, because they’re so damn good. Like the Ampero Stomp one, where he composed a song to highlight a bunch of the different tones/features, and then played the whole song, as well as isolated guitar tracks, and gave the settings for the tones.

 

[Kaura]

I was gonna make a joke about just getting an used Mark IIC2+ (or whatever they're called...) but then I saw it was Guitarjon, the god of tonez.

 

[Hollowway]

I disagree. Of course there is an audience that just wants to get to the point, but that's not everyone on youtube (me). Tone is subjective and I want to see a range of tones to understand the versatility and roughly how much of it seems useful to me. There's appreciable aspects of both approaches, so I'll basically watch all the videos.

OK, that's a good point. How about this: We should expect that the youtuber at least familiarizes himself with the amp to know what the features are, and what they do, so we don't get a "hey guys, a lot of you mentioned in the previous video that I didn't adjust the X setting, and that's why it sounded like crap. I did that, and it sounded much better." I don't mind a guy dialiing through a bunch of tones. I just don't like the idea he has no idea what he's doing, and figuring it out. Like on a Mark amp, they should understand the pentode vs triode difference, and understand how the treble, mid, and bass knobs influence the sound.

But yeah, it might just be me on that.

 

[Hollowway]

On the topic of pedals, Jon's got that 53 amps video, and there are a couple of pedals in there. I was really impressed about how good they sounded. I couldn't tell which were pedals and which were amps. I may have to rethink those pedals, as opposed to buying full amps. Always wanted a Diezel, so that pedal may be right up my alley.

 

[USMarine75]

A bit more on topic, is there any good Diezel-like preamp pedals? Never looked into their pedals before.

Distortion pedals:
Diezel VH4
Diezel Herbert

Preamp pedals:
Diezel Zerrer
AMT D2

 

[Thaeon]

Excellent tones. I’m actually weird and my favorite metallica tones are from the Black Album. This isn’t that. But it’s close. Really close. Those were a little thinner I think and I believe some mids were added back in post for that album. Plus Newstead’s bass sound fucking incredible on that album which a big piece of that album’s sound. I think it was Mark IIC+ and an early revision Recto. May have been some of the studio pre as well.

 

[HeHasTheJazzHands]

Excellent tones. I’m actually weird and my favorite metallica tones are from the Black Album. This isn’t that. But it’s close. Really close. Those were a little thinner I think and I believe some mids were added back in post for that album. Plus Newstead’s bass sound fucking incredible on that album which a big piece of that album’s sound. I think it was Mark IIC+ and an early revision Recto. May have been some of the studio pre as well.

MKIIC+(+) Mark IV, and I think Kirk's leads were ADA MP-1. Recto didn't come into play until later when Kirk started using it.

 

[USMarine75]

Apparently you only need EMGs for the rhythm tone and vintage PAFs (pronounced Pafffh) for the leads according to Kirk.

 

[complex-barb.0t]

Apparently you only need EMGs for the rhythm tone and vintage PAFs (pronounced Pafffh) for the leads according to Kirk.

Turns out you only need PAFs right after you start selling guitars with them.

 

[soul_lip_mike]

Turns out you only need PAFs right after you start selling guitars with them.

I really hate the fact Kirk plays greenie so much. It looks so “not Metallica” compared what we grew up watching.