James used this guitar extensively from 1996 as one of his main live guitars. James started using this guitar around the release of the “Load” album in 1996, but it was likely used during the studio sessions as well. . James started using two ESP-made Flying Vs in 1996 called the model JH-1, designed and built by Matt Masciandaro. This obviously annoyed Hetfield, which resulted in the iconic sticker being added to the guitar. You decide! Rick Beato gets the string-gauge experiment started with a Les Paul Standard running through a Marshall JCM2000. UberProAudio is reader supported. James designed the graphics for his original ESP Viper baritone guitar. As far as his gear goes, James started out with a relatively cheap Gibson Flying V copy which he used on Metallica’s debut album “Kill ’em All”, but soon replaced it with a couple of white 1984 Gibson Explorers that served him well for the next two albums. Let's see what guitar gear and equipment Metallica's James Hetfield's has been seen using in his guitar rig. For some reason the pilot decided to hover over the stage, which annoyed James. 1977 - James Hetfileld very first guitar 1979 - GIBSON COPY SG 1969 with tremolo 1980 - ELECTRA 2236 Flying Wedge. JAMES HETFIELD - PERSONAL GUITARS. Stevie Ray Vaughan was known for using real thick gauges. Black model; can be seen live on Live Shit: Binge & Purge DVD on the song “The Unforgiven” . Few months after that, the neck on it snapped and James just didn’t bother repairing it. Around 2007, prior to the recording of Death Magnetic James started experimenting with Krank Krankenstein and Revolution 1 amps, which he ended up using on the album. Dino used a technique called pyrography – a process of burning a design on the surface with a heated metallic point. The guitar features see-thru black cherry finish on a mahogany body with figured maple top, and the neck is a 7-string featuring rosewood fingerboard. Get the gear to sound like James Hetfield and get their tone. And the reason for that is, you know, as a lead guitar player, I need to be able to like bend out the light strings. For instance, a .010 gauge means 0.01 diameter inches. The guitar has mahogany body with a set neck with rosewood fretboard featuring custom middle finger inlays. Dunlop DEN1046 Nickel-plated Steel Electric Guitar Strings … Winners will also take home their choice of a Hetfield or Hammett Signature ESP Guitar as well as an Ernie Ball Prize Pack complete with their favorite gauge of Slinky guitar strings and other prizes. James has at least two of these guitars. EMGs didn’t come into play until the EP: Garage Days Re-revisited (1987) and …And Justice for All (1988). Metallica uses various lowered pitches, ranging from a half step to two full steps, in their song repertoire. Used on “Ride the Lightning” as the replacement for the stolen ProCo Rat. 49. Most noticeable feature on the guitar is without a doubt the black diamond plate which is fitted on top of the body, giving this guitar it’s recognizable look. Ah yes, the industry standard . Martin Authentic Acoustic MA175 Custom-Light-Gauge Acoustic Guitar Strings, 80/20 Bronze. Many electric guitar players used to use a 10s, or 11s for the high E, Stevie used 13s! 4.7 out of 5 stars 3,278. He is proficient on the bass guitar, lead guitars, keyboards and drums. – TC Electronic G-Major 2 This latest model is manufactured to the exact specifications of James' Truckster, a modified ESP Eclipse-style stage guitar used on the St. Anger tour. 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