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JAMES' EQUIPMENT CHRONOLOGY
- KILL 'EM ALL
- Guitars
- Epiphone Flying V
- White with golden hardware, dot inlays, Seymore Duncan pickups
- 2 volume controls, 1 tone
- Can be seen: "Cliff 'Em All" - ("Whiplash")
- Last time used live: "Master of Puppets" gigs
- Amps
- Marshall 100 watt head and 4x12 cabinets - Jose Arrengando modified
- Effects
- ProCo Rat Distortion
Picks
- Dunlop Green Tortex .88 mm
- RIDE THE LIGHTNING
- Guitars
- Gibson Explorer #1
- White w/ black headstock, dot inlays, has sported different stickers
- 496R/500T ceramic magnet humbuckers were replaced by two
- EMG 81 humbuckers in 1987
- Can be seen: "Cliff 'Em All" - ("Creeping Death")
- Last time used live: "Monsters of Rock" tour
- Amps
- Marshall 100 watt head and 4x12 cabinets
Picks
- Dunlop Green Tortex .88 mm
- MASTER OF PUPPETS
- GUITARS
- Jackson KV1 (King V - Dave Mustaine signature serie)
- White, triangle inlays
- Duncan humbuckers, replaced by two EMG 81 humbuckers in 1987
- With this guitar James used to play "The Thing That Should Not Be"
- during "Master of Puppets" gigs
- Neck thru body, poplar body, ebony fingerboard
- LSR tuning machines
- Last time used live: 1987 (Jaymz broke the neck down the middle)
- Amps
- Mesa-Boogie Mark C+ amp (re-wired as a pre-amp)
- Marshall 100 watt power amp
- Marshall 4x12 cabinets
Picks
- Dunlop Green Tortex .88 mm
- GARAGE DAYS RE-REVISITED
- GUITARS
- Gibson Explorer #2
- White w/ black headstock, dot inlays, EMG 60/81 humbuckers
- Different knob layout than on current explorers.
- MORE BEER sticker
- Last time used live: "... And Justice For All" gigs
- Amps
- Mesa-Boogie Mark C+ amp (re-wired as a pre-amp)
- Marshall 100 watt power amp
- Marshall 4x12 cabinets
Pics
- Dunlop Green Tortex .88 mm
- ...AND JUSTICE FOR ALL
- GUITARS
- White ESP Explorer #1
- Extended middle finger inlays, EMG 60/81 humbuckers
- EET FUK sticker on body
- Can be seen: "Live Shit: Seattle" - most songs
- Only used live: "...And Justice For All" gigs
- The EET FUK Explorer was autographed by him and reside now at the
- "House of Guitars" (641 Titus Ave. Rocester, NY) the place where the
- "Kill 'Em All" album was recorded.
- White ESP Explorer #2
- Dot inlays, EMG 60/81 humbuckers
- Now sticker covered, most predominatly "So Fucking What" on rear
- horn and "Mud flap woman" on lower horn.
- Hetfield's main recording guitar for the "Metallica" and "Load" album
- Can be seen: "A Year and a Half..." and "Nothing Else Matters" video
- Black ESP Explorer #1
- Dot inlays, EMG 60/81 humbuckers
- FUK EM UP sticker on real horn, LA Raiders sticker between pickups,
- and somehthing on the top of the headstock, I can't make it out.
- Can be seen: "Live Shit: Seattle" - ("The Thing That Should Not Be")
- Last time used live:
- "... And Justice For All" gigs or possibly "Black Album" gigs
- Amps
- Roland Jazz Chorus 120
- Mesa-Boogie Mark C+ amp (re-wired as a pre-amp)
- Marshall 100 watt power amp
- Marshall 4x12 cabinets
Picks
- Dunlop Green Tortex .88 mm
- METALLICA
Guitars live:
-
Black ESP Explorer #2
- Dot inlays, EMG 60/81 humbuckers
- Can be seen: "Live Shit: San Diego" - most songs
- Last time used live: Before the "Load" gigs
- Black ESP Explorer #3
- 'Man to Wolf' inlays, EMG 60/81 humbuckers
- Can be seen: "Live Shit: San Diego" - ("Harvester of Sorrow")
- Still used live
-
Black ESP Explorer #4
- 'Black Album Snake' inlays, EMG 60/81 humbuckers
- Mainly used as a D-tuned guitar
- Can be seen: "Live Shit: Seattle" - ("Sad But True")
- Black ESP Explorer #5
- National Rifle Association inlays, EMG 60/81 humbuckers
- Probably never played live
- Black ESP Explorer #6
- Deer Skull inlays, EMG 60/81 humbuckers
- Last used live: Before the "Load" gigs
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ESP Double Neck Explorer #1
- Black, duck inlays, EMG 60/81 humbuckers (each neck)
- 12 string top neck, 6 string bottom neck
- Can be seen: (barely) inside the Live Shit booklet
- In Montreal on 8th August '92 James was burnt in a pyro accident with
- this guitar. James used to play "Fade to Black" with this guitar.
- Last time used live: "Black Album" gigs
- Gibson Chet Atkins Accoustic/Electric
- Black, gold hardware
- Body: Solid Spruce top, Acoustically chambered Mahogany back
- Neck/Profile: Mahogany/Modern classic
- Fingerboard/Inlay: Rosewood/None
- Scale/Nut Width: 25 1/2"/1 13/16" (CE) or 2" (CEC)
- Binding: Multi-ply top
- Pickups:Gibson Hex piezo bridge transducer
- Controls:Active volume, Active volume, treble and bass (boost and cut)
- on rim Internal individual string volume adjustment
- Can be seen: "Live Shit: San Diego" - ("The Unforgiven")
- Last used live: Before the "Load" gigs
- Studio:
-
Gretsch White Falcon II (model 7594)
- Coral Electric Sitar (Red)
- 12 string electric-guitar
Amps
- Roland Jazz Chorus 120
- Mesa-Boogie Mark IV amp (re-wired as a pre-amp)
- Mesa-Boogie 100 watt power amp
- Mesa-Boogie 4x12 cabinets
For the "Black Album" gigs and beyond, equip manager and bass roadie Zack Harmon designed
speaker coffins for consistant tone. These were essentially large road cases housing a
speaker cabinet, sound dampening and fixed positon microphones (Senheiser 421s).
Picks
- Dunlop Green Tortex .88 mm (Metallica logo / TBA snake)
- LOAD
- Guitars
-
Black ESP Explorer #7 - Elk Skull
- Barbed wire inlays, EMG 60n/81b humbuckers
- 4-M logo burnt on back of guitar
- Wood burning and graphics by Dino Murdian
- Elk skull graphic on body (which looks more like a deer skull graphic)
- Can be seen: "Cunning Stunts" - ("So What"), "The Memory Remains" - video, Still used live
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Ken Lawrence Explorer
- Mahogany body w/ Chichino bark laminate,
- EMG 60n/81b humbuckers
- 'Tribal Hunting Scene' inlays
- Modified Kenneth Lawrence headstock
- Can be seen: "Cunning Stunts" - ("One")
- James uses this guitar for the most songs live
- Still used live
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ESP JH-1 Flying V #1
- Black, 'Red Hot-Rod Flame' graphics, EMG 60/81 humbuckers
- 4-M inlay at 1st fret, top of M at each other fretmarker
- Similar model availiable as ESP JH-1
- Can be seen:'Guitar World Presents Guitar Legends: Metallica edition'
- Occasionally still used live
-
ESP JH-1 Flying V #2
- Black, 'Fuel Injected' graphics, EMG 60/81 humbuckers
- 4-M inlay at 1st fret, top of M at each other fretmarker
- Stickers: Corvette racing flags
- Can be seen: "Cunning Stunts" - ("Kill/Ride Medley") and inside ReLoad booklet
- Still used live
-
ESP Black Explorer #8 - Black Diamond Plate
- Black w/ black diamond plate (on body), EMG 60/81 humbuckers
- Elk skull inlays
- Used as D-tuned guitar
- Similar model available as ESP JH-2
- Can be seen: "Cunning Stunts" - ("Sad But True")
- Still used live
- ESP Black Explorer #9 - Black Diamond Plate
- Black w/ black diamond plate (on body), EMG 60/81 humbuckers
- Inlays: 4M logo at 1st fret and diamonds at the rest
- Used as a D-tuned guitar
- Similar model available as ESP JH-2
- Can be seen: "I Disappear" video
- Never used live
- Amps
- Roland Jazz Chorus 120
- Mesa-Boogie Mark IV amp (re-wired as a pre-amp)
- Mesa-Boogie Triaxis preamps
- Mesa-Boogie 100 watt power amp
- Mesa-Boogie 4x12 cabinets in sound coffins described above
Picks
- Dunlop Green Tortex .88 mm (Metallica logo / 4M Ninja Star)
- RE-LOAD
Guitars
-
Fender '52 Telecaster
- Butterscotch w/ black hardware
- Equiped with a Parsons-White B-bender system
- Can be seen: 'American Music Awards 1998' which is the only live performance of "The Unforgiven II"
- National Reso-Lectric
- Red, resonator type guitar
- Used for accoustic sets on "ReLoad" gigs
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ESP Rounded Top Eclipse
- Black w/ white bindings and white accents, EMG 60/81 pickups
- Flag inlays, gold hardware
- Similar model available as ESP JH-3
- Can be seen: "MTV ReLoad, Rehearse, Request"
- Amps
- Roland Jazz Chorus 120
- Mesa-Boogie Mark IV amp (re-wired as a pre-amp)
- Mesa-Boogie Triaxis preamps
- Mesa-Boogie 100 watt power amp
- Mesa-Boogie 4x12 cabinets in sound coffins described above
Picks
- Dunlop Green Tortex .88 mm (Metallica logo / 4M Ninja Star)
- Dunlop Green Tortex .88 mm (Metallica logo / Fixxxer Doll)
- GARAGE INC. / S&M
- Guitars
-
1963 Gibson SG
- Cherry Red, mahogany body, chrome hardware
- 490R/498T Alnico magnet humbucker
- Mahogany neck, rounded profile, rosewood fingerboard
- Trapezoid inlays
- Scale/Nut Width: 24 3/4"/1 11/16"
- Binding: Fingerboard
- Bridge/Tailpiece: ABR/Stop bar
- Controls: Two volume, two tone, three-way switch
- Can be seen: "Turn the Page" video
- 1966 Martin D-28 (acoustic)
- Amps
- Roland Jazz Chorus 120
- James used Wizard amps and cabinets for the "Garage Inc." gigs, but after these gigs
he switched back to the Mesa/Boogie amps and cabinets.
Picks
- Dunlop Green Tortex .88 mm
- SUMMER SANITARIUM TOUR
Guitars
- ESP Black Explorer #10 - Chrome Diamond Plate
- Black w/ chrome diamond plate (on body & headstock), EMG 60/81
- humbuckers
- Inlays: Mother of pearl 4M logo at 1st fret and diamonds at the rest
- Used as a D-tuned guitar
- Similar model available as ESP JH-2
- Can be seen: "MTV Movie Awards 2000" - live performance of
- "I Disappear"
- Otherwise never used live
- ESP Black Explorer #11 - Chrome Diamond Plate
- Black w/ chrome diamond plate (on body & headstock), EMG 60/81
- humbuckers
- Inlays: Abalone colored 4M logo at 1st fret and diamonds at the rest
- Used as a D-tuned guitar
- Similar model available as ESP JH-2
- Still used live
- Amps
- 4x customized Mesa Boogie Tri-Axis preamps
- 2x Mesa Boogie Strategy 400 power amplifiers
- Mesa/Boogie 4 x 12" speaker cabinets
- Wizard 4 x 12" speaker cabinet
- Mesa Boogie Tremoverb 2 x 12" combo amp
- James' ESP guitars (unless otherwise noted):
Are built or overseen by Matt Masciandaro. James guitars are neck-through-body
constructed. They mainly have maple necks and mahogany bodies. All of the ESP guitars have
rosewood fretboards except for the "Black Album" guitars which are Ebony. All hardware
(tune-o-matic bridge, stop piece and tuners) is black. There are Gibson style 3 way switches,
and 2 volume controls (one for each pickup).
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