Looking online there seems to be a bit of an argument about the amps / speakers used on Metallica's Ride the Lightning, specifically for Hetfield's rhythm tone.
Some sites seem to say it was modded Plexis, with TS in front.
Others say stock JCM800 with a TS, but with an unusual choice of speaker at the time - the G12-65.
Anyone got any insight?
It's one of my favourite recorded tones. It's not as distorted as some of the later albums but it sounds far bigger. No doubt there was plenty of double tracking going on and IIRC Hammett didn't play any rhythm parts on recordings in those days, it was all Hetfield.
A big slab of mahogany with EMGs is no doubt a big part of it too, but I'd like to find out as much as I can. I've got a riff idea in my head, and in my head it uses that tone!
ta
Comments
I think this might be up your street?
https://soundcertified.com/speaker-ohms-calculator/
Just didn’t recall ever seeing a picture post record deal without them.
https://soundcertified.com/speaker-ohms-calculator/
Sounds marshall, bright, and picked hard. Hetfield don't mess about!
I think EMG's were a more recent thing, even on the back of garage days they're all using seymour duncan passive humbuckers
Yes - up to Master of Puppets Hetfield was using SD Invaders, Ride the lightning was the last album they used only Marshalls on, James had a Jose modded JMP and Kirk was using a TS in front for leads. It's also the only album they used reverb on while recording.
There used to be a site called Monty Jays that listed all this stuff but it does not seem to exist anymore!The amps are 800s and/or JMP 2203s borrowed from friends in Denmark so it's likely to to JMPs as that is what you see in Mercyful Fate live photos from the time. Not sure what Artillery used but probably the same.
The Jose modded plexis were stolen just before they recording started.
It was around this time they Hetfield first saw Trouble and it would appear the tone was an influence. There is a story about him jumping on stage to write down amp settings although neither Bruce Franklin nor Rick Wartell said it happened when I asked them.
https://soundcertified.com/speaker-ohms-calculator/
There I was thinking about one of the Jet City or Harley Benton 2x12s and then swapping the cones... The new ones would be far more expensive than the cab with the V30s / Eminence in them.
https://soundcertified.com/speaker-ohms-calculator/
View my feedback at www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/comment/1201922