What pickup did Metallica use before EMG??

[xypher]

As above, does anyone know? I heard that they used marshal JCM<something> in their early days.. Anyone can confirm this too?

 

[Toejam]

Re: What pickup did Metallica use before EMG??

James used a Duncan Invader (I believe on the Master of Puppets album), and I think a Duncan Distortion at one point, too.

 

[jmh151]

Re: What pickup did Metallica use before EMG??

Duncan Distortions were Hammett, Invaders were Hetfield

 

[Animal]

Re: What pickup did Metallica use before EMG??

James used an Invader in his Flying V copy. In his Gibson Explorer he may have just used the stock Gibson pickups, I think I've read somewhere they were Gibson 500Ts. Can't say I've read a reliable source yet claiming James used Distortions.

Kirk probably used stock Gibson pickups in his Gibson Flying V. He started experimenting with different pickups during the Ride The Lightning tour, including Duncan Distortions.

So, if you want to get as close as possible for pre-EMG Metallica, an Invader or 500T in the bridge would be your ticket. A Custom or Distortion would be good also.

 

[Monty-Jay]

Re: What pickup did Metallica use before EMG??

I don't think Kirk has really said what he used, just that he tried a bunch of dimarzios and duncans. James' were most likely stock in the V during KEM. He later switched out the bridge to an Invader. His gibson explorer had dirty fingers.

 

[jmh151]

Re: What pickup did Metallica use before EMG??

Hetfield's V was a low end copy.Maybe epiphone but epiphone wasn't making good replices back then.

Neither of them used 500T's. Gibson didn't make those until about 1992, and by that time Metallica was devoted to EMG's

 

[nightwing122087]

Re: What pickup did Metallica use before EMG??

I've actually always wondered about this, but I've never read that they used Duncans...interesting. Good thread