What pedal am I looking for to get Metallica sound?

[lex666]

Hey guys,

I'm really trying to nail that early metallica sound like heard on Kill 'Em All. I can play the songs, but I'm having trouble nailing that fast, heavy palm muting open E sound on the beginning of "whiplash". Anyone know how the guys in 'Tallica achieve this sound?

I'm using my ESP with EMG 81's into my Marshall TSL602. The only distortion I'm using is ch 2 (lead) on my marshall. I tried using an Ibanez TS9DX and a EH Double muff, but can't get that sound rite. Will a compressor help? Maybe a different distortion? No, I can't buy a mesa right now...

 

[bryvincent]

Re: What pedal am I looking for to get Metallica sound?

IIRC metallica used marshalls on their early days so you don't need a mesa for the sound you want. have you tried scooping the mids on your marshall? krank the treble and bass controls and scoop the mids, it should get you close to the early metallica sound

 

[XSSIVE]

Re: What pedal am I looking for to get Metallica sound?

you won' be able to get the kill 'em all sound from a stock marshall...well, you'll get close but Hetfield used a Jose Arrendondo modded Marshall SLP 100watt head with a Pro Co Rat pedal through a marshall 4x12 for most of the recording of Kill 'em All. you can try out the pro co rat if you only want the kill 'em all sound (close to it). for Ride the lightning he used a tubescreamer and a modded marshall this was the last time he used a pedal b/c he found the magic of mesa amps!! granted he used a mix of marshalls and mesas on puppets. anyway my suggestion is to go for a mesa v-twin pedal so you can get close to all of metallica's sounds from old to new. unless you only want the kill 'em all sound 100% then try a rat, it may work for you. remember scoop those mids and turn the gain up high!!

-Mike

 

[lex666]

Re: What pedal am I looking for to get Metallica sound?

Thanks for your reply.

I've scooped the mids on my amp, and actually I think my amp is rite on, but the trouble I'm having is the fast palm muting they do at the beginng of Whiplash. Their sound is very tight and defined, but on mine its just kinda "chunky". I don't think its my technique, I can do palm mutes on other tunes just fine and they sound great. Are they using an effect to get that "tight" sound?

I've been practicing this song for weeks now, and can play the tune, but that into just sounds boomy and chunky when I do it...

 

[XSSIVE]

Re: What pedal am I looking for to get Metallica sound?

you said you tried the tubescreamer and it didn't work? hmmm i was thinking it might be that also b/c kirk used a tubescreamer for kill 'em all and james may have tried it. i'm listening to whiplash as i type this...you know...try rolling back the bass a bit and move the mids up a bit if you have them 100% scooped...i forgot how sharp/edgy that part sounds...

-Mike

 

[lex666]

Re: What pedal am I looking for to get Metallica sound?

you said you tried the tubescreamer and it didn't work? hmmm i was thinking it might be that also b/c kirk used a tubescreamer for kill 'em all and james may have tried it. i'm listening to whiplash as i type this...you know...try rolling back the bass a bit and move the mids up a bit if you have them 100% scooped...i forgot how sharp/edgy that part sounds...

-Mike

Yeah, I tried the tubescreamer turbo (TS9DX) in to my marshall, but I don't think that tone was getting that metallica sound just right. I tried the TS9DX at different settings, and while it was very good, it just didn't soudn right. I also tried the double muff, but that was nowhere closer. The TS9DX does help give a nice boost for solo's, but I'm searching for that heavy rhythm sound...

thanks,

 

[some_dude]

Re: What pedal am I looking for to get Metallica sound?

Thanks for your reply.

I've scooped the mids on my amp, and actually I think my amp is rite on, but the trouble I'm having is the fast palm muting they do at the beginng of Whiplash. Their sound is very tight and defined, but on mine its just kinda "chunky". I don't think its my technique, I can do palm mutes on other tunes just fine and they sound great. Are they using an effect to get that "tight" sound?

I've been practicing this song for weeks now, and can play the tune, but that into just sounds boomy and chunky when I do it...

Well, James is using an Invader on that tune, but your 81 should be tighter....

....I'd try lowering the gain on your head and using a rat to bump it back up again. When I was working on Four Horsemen I ended up using the clean channel on my Recto (gain on full) and boosting that with the Wylde OD.

 

[bryvincent]

Re: What pedal am I looking for to get Metallica sound?

your room might be a factor, an amp can sound different on different rooms. maybe your room is just boomy.

 

[Metalman_666]

Re: What pedal am I looking for to get Metallica sound?

It may be that you won't be able to achieve that tone spot on because of the fact that James was using a modded Marshall Plexi and you're using a stock TSL.

 

[ex-250]

Re: What pedal am I looking for to get Metallica sound?

Well, James is using an Invader on that tune, but your 81 should be tighter....

NO!!! james didnt use the invader till RTL, on kill em all he used the stock pickups in his white v

 

[lex666]

Re: What pedal am I looking for to get Metallica sound?

Thanks for your replies, guys. i'll try all those suggestions.

Rock On!