best pick up for old school metallica?

[j2379]

For old Metallica, you'd be best off with a Duncan Distortion (Hammett) or Invader (Hetfield).

They didn't use EMGs until the Justice album, and James started out with dual 81s like Kirk, then he went to the 81/60.

yeah and that album sounded like processed cheese. one of the worst metal guitar tones ever IMHO. they havent sounded good since master....

[toejam]

Agreed. If they added some midrange, or at least the midrange on Jason's bass, it would have sounded much better and fuller.

[toejam]

Ultrasonic Reference 6... Great pickup but very hard to find... I think the company went belly up in 1987 or so and the last time I checked there wasn't a West Germany any longer.

Didn't Kirk use the Ultrasonics on his gray/bowling ball swirl Tom Anderson guitar?

[El Chiguete]

Invader would be a good pick I guess... but I don't think they where all that ¨tone searching guys¨, they just crank there amps and started the show.

[AfterForever]

I'd still go EMG 81.. ultimate metal pup. Btw, isn't AJFA considered old school metallica too?

[j2379]

Didn't Kirk use the Ultrasonics on his gray/bowling ball swirl Tom Anderson guitar?

YES, dont know which ones they had 3 models IIRC.

[GodOfRhythm]

Yeah but wasn't Hammett using his EMG-equipped Rhoads live from at least '86 or '87?

'85 even. MOP(album) had the RR on it as well. James used his Gibson and his King V to record the album. (both non emg-ed). Though James state he got EMG's from EMG during the RTL tour, I have yet to find a single shred of evidence to support that fact. James had EMG's in his Gibson as far back as during the MOP tour. I am 99% sure there are no EMG's on the rhythm tracks of MOP. There ARE EMG's on some of the solos though (Kirk's RR).

EMG is the way to go. You'll sacrifice some warmth, but I think it gets the job done beautifully.

[SouthernXer]

YES, dont know which ones they had 3 models IIRC.

I remember seeing him in an ad fro the Ref 6 in the bridge. The reason why I own one today. However, it isn't in a guitar of mine right now...

[DonP]

Believe it or not, I get a very good Kill Em All tone with my '63 SG Special, loaded with the original P90s. They have a clean spank to them for stuff like Seek n Destroy.

[Valeck]

SH5. Best compromise between JB & Distortion. Nice clean, nice leads, nice pup. ^^

[Dan]

yeah and that album sounded like processed cheese. one of the worst metal guitar tones ever IMHO. they havent sounded good since master....

I HAVE to disagree on that. I LOVE the sound of the Guitars & Drums on Justice,But the lack of Bass is kinda sad

[åron]

I HAVE to disagree on that. I LOVE the sound of the Guitars & Drums on Justice,But the lack of Bass is kinda sad

Yeah, I'll second that. Justice guitars are great. One of my best friends learned to play metal bass with ...aJFA. It's a good "karaoke" album for bass.

I always considered the Metallica sound to be more a product of Hetfield's supreme riffing than anything else. (Too bad Mustaine was such a mess back then - that would have to be the best metal riffin' section. Alas I wasn't old enough to see Metallica until '87.) Having seen Metallica about 10 times on the Justice and Black tours, where the both Kirk and James used basically the same stuff, Metallica IS Hetfield. Kirk is a hack. Though he writes good melodies, the sloppy crap that comes from his side of the stage is pretty bad at times - especially at the beginning of a tour.

oh... yeah... EMGs ftw

[themisfit138]

You might want to also pick up a Mesa Boogie MK 2B while your at it.

They used a Mark IIC+ not a B, on Puppets James slaved the Mark IIC+ through a Marshall