ESP Explorer 'Snake'

Model: ESP EXP Color: Black Inlays: Black Album Snake Pickups: 2x EMG-81 humbucker Hardware: 2 volume controls Can be seen: Live Shit: San Diego ("Sad But True") First time used live: "Black Album" gigs Still used live This guitar is mainly used to be played D-tuned James' ESP Explorers in general: They are all based upon the standard ESP EXP serie and were built or overseen by Matt Masciandaro. Meanwhile the EXP serie has been replaced by the ESP EX standard serie which has a sharp shape for its ends and headstock instead of the old EXP serie which was comparable to the rounded shape of the Gibson Explorers. The difference between the EXP model and James' Explorers: In difference between James' Explorers and the standard ESP EXP serie, James guitars have set-necks (glued joint) instead of bolt-on necks. Besides the "Black Album" guitars' fingerboards consist of ebony instead of rosewood. Identical to the EXP model: The body consists of mahogany, the neck of maple and the fingerboard (with its 22XJ [XJ=extra jumbo] frets) of rosewood. All hardware (the tune-o-matic bridge, the stop piece and tuners) is black. It has one volume control for each pickup.

The Black Album Era : James Hetfield's Equipments

Guitars:

Black ESP Explorer #2 Custom - (Recording/Live)
Short description: Set Neck, Ebony Fretboard, Black Hardware.
Inlays: Dots
Pickups: EMG 81/60
Controls: 1 Volume, 1 Tone
Note: James' first truly Black Esp Explorer. Used on the road and recording up to this day. Can be seen: "Live Shit: San Diego" - most songs. Last time used live: Before the "Load" gigs.


Black #3 ESP Explorer Man To Wolf Inlays - (Live)
Short description: Set Neck, Ebony Fretboard, Black Hardware.
Inlays: Man to Wolf inlays
Pickups: EMG 81/60
Controls: 1 Volume, 1 Tone
Note: Used a ton during the Roam Tour, and still used live today. Can be seen in the video "Live Shit: San Diego" during "Harvester of Sorrow".


Black ESP Custom Explorer #4 Snake Inlays - (Recording/Live)
Short description: Set Neck, Ebony Fretboard, Black Hardware.
Inlays: Snakes
Pickups: EMG 81/60
Controls: 1 Volume, 1 Tone
Note: James Still Uses this on the road from time to time. Can be seen in the video "Live Shit: Seattle" during "Sad But True". Mainly used as a D-tuned guitar

Black ESP Explorer #5 NRA logo inlays - (Recording/Live)
Short description: Set Neck, Ebony Fretboard, Black Hardware.
Inlays: NRA (National Rifle Association) Logo
Pickups: EMG 81/60
Controls: 1 Volume, 1 Tone
Note: Not Seen or Used a lot, probably never played live.


Black ESP Explorer #6 Deer Skull Inlays - (Recording/Live)
Short description: Set Neck, Ebony Fretboard, Black Hardware.
Inlays: Deer Skull
Pickups: EMG 81/60
Controls: 1 Volume, 1 Tone
Note: Later Converted to the Diamond Plate Top. Last used live: Before the "Load" gigs








Black ESP Doubleneck Explorer - (Live)
Short description: Set Double Neck, Rosewood Fretboard, Black Hardware.
Strings: 12 on Top, 6 on bottom.
Inlays: Black Ducks
Pickups: EMG 81/60 x 2
Controls: 1 Volume, 1 Tone x 2
Note: Used For Fade To Black Live. In Montreal on 8 August 1992 James was burnt in a pyrotechnics accident with this guitar.



Gibson Chet Atkins Acoustic/Electric (Live)
Short description: Solid Spruce top, acoustically chambered Mahogany back. Black with gold hardware. Rosewood fingerboard.
Inlays: None
Pickups: Gibson Hex piezo bridge transducer
Controls: Active volume, Active volume, treble and bass (boost and cut)
Note: Can be seen in the video" Live Shit: San Diego" during "The Unforgiven".


Gretsch White Falcon (Recording)
Short description: The maple body has two F-perforations. The 22 frets large fretboard consists of ebony. White with gold hardware. Model 7594.
Inlays: Pearl blocks
Pickups: 2 Filtertron pickups
Controls: 2 volume controls for each pickup, 1 master volume control and 1 tone control Note: In Gretsch's tradition this guitar was constructed by hand. It is a reissue of the original White Falcon series which has been constructed for the first time in 1950. In contrast to the 'White Falcon I' series that reissue has a double-cutaway Used on the recording of Nothing Else Matters.
Fender 1952 Telecaster (Recording)
Short description: Butterscotch with black hardware.
Inlays: Dots
Pickups:
Controls: Parsons-White B-bender system
Note: Used mainly for recording in the studio. The only live performance was during the "1998 American Music Awards" for "The Unforgiven II".








Other Guitars Used During The Metallica Era:

Olympic White Danelectro 12 string - (Recording) - Nothing Else Matters
Blue Jerry Jones Dano Longhorn Baritone - (Recording - Sad But True main riff)
Red Vincent Bell Coral Sitar - (Recording) - Where Ever I May Roam And My Friend Of Misery
Natural "Hetfield" Stratocaster style - (Recording)
Black Gibson Moderne
Red Gibson SG Doubleneck - Another Trial on Nothing Else Matters
Guild 12 string - Another Trial On Nothing Else Matters
Tom Anderson Electric - Man Guitar Used on Nothing Else Matters
Aria Nylon String Acoustic (Gift from Cliff Burton) - Probably for The Unforgiven
Fender Shenandoah Steel String - Used for its "shimmery, high end qualities."
Red Coral Electric Sitar

Amplifiers:

Mesa Boogie Mk IIC+ - Main Sound Combined With Below
Mesa Boogie Mark IV - Main Sound Combined With Above
Jose Arrengando Modified 100 watt Marshall Head
Roland JC-120 Combo - Used for Pretty Cleans
ADA MP1 - Preamp Modded By Voodoo Amps. Makes for some killer high gains...for crunchy Rhythm tones.
ADA MQ1 - Preamp
Aphex Parametric EQ - Just for Tightning Tones
Marshall 4x12
Mesa Boogie 4x12
Mesa Boogie Studio Preamp
Mesa Boogie Strategy 400 Power Amp

Note: For the "Black Album" gigs and beyond, equipment manager and bass roadie Zack Harmon designed speaker coffins for consistent tone. These were essentially large road cases housing a speaker cabinet, sound dampening and fixed position microphones (Senheiser 421s).

Picks:

Dunlop Green Tortex .88 mm imprinted with the Metallica logo / The Black Album snake.

...And Justice for All Era : James Hetfield's Equipments

Guitars:


Olympic White ESP Custom #1
Short description: Set Neck, Rosewood Fretboard, Black Hardware
Inlays: Middle Fingers
Pickups: EMG 60/81
Controls: 1 Volume, 1 Tone
Note: Refferred to as the "EET FUK" Guitar. Favorite road guitar used by James. 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 now resides at "House of Guitars" (641 Titus Ave. Rocester, NY) the place where the "Kill 'Em All" album was recorded.


Olympic White ESP Stock #2
Short description: Rosewood Fretboard, Black Hardware.
Inlays: Dots
Pickups: EMG 60/81
Controls: 1 Volume, 1 Tone
Note: Seen With "So Fucking What" Written on the 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.



Satin Black/Purple Esp Custom Explorer
Short description: Set Neck, Ebony Fretboard, Black Hardware. LA Raiders sticker between the pickups and a FUK EM UP sticker on the body.
Inlays: Dots
Pickups: EMG 81/60
Controls: 1 Volume, 1 Tone
Note: Used in the later part of the Justice Tour, and some of 1990. And It actually is a Purple tinted guitar. 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:

Replacement 100 watt Marshall Heads that were later modified - Replaced after searching 2 continents for the amp that was stolen before a gig in Boston on a cold night of January. It was James' First Amp. Marshall 4x12 Cabinet James found his love for Mesa Boogie Products Due to the popularity of Marshalls and Tryed Mesas after his Marshall was stolen
Mesa Boogie Mk IIC+ - Responsible for a major part of the sound in this. Mesa Boogie Quad Preamp Marshall JCM 800 Marshall JMP Heads Marshall 4x12 with 65 watt speakers Mesa Boogie Heads slaved into Marshalls Marshall 4x12 Cabinets

Picks:

Dunlop Green Tortex .88 mm

Effects and Other Stuff:
Ibanez Tube Screamer- used as an overdrive/distortion pedal. - James didn't use this often, Pretty much never again after 1984.
Boss Flanger Pedal
Boss Tuner
Rocktron Compressor/Limiter/Hush - Used on the mics for reducing background noise, making vocals alive and real. Also can be used to balance out Instrument feedback and such. Only mono.
ADA 2FX Multi Effects Processo - A popularly used 80's Rack mount product. With 3 separate purposes Flanger (4 Nobs), Chorus (2 Nobs), And a Delay of 1 second maximum (4 Nobs)
Ibanez UE400 Multi-F - Just guitar effects
Furman PQ4 parametric E - Good for boosting EQ and fine tuning guitar tones.

Olympic White ESP Custom #1, Olympic White ESP Stock #2, ESP Stock #2 Custom Explorer

Garage Days Re-Revisited Era : James Hetfield's Equipments

Guitars:

White Gibson Explorer #2
Short description: Cream White Stock 1984 Explorer,
Inlays: Dot
Pickups: Gibson 500T in the bridge, 496R in the neck. In 1988 EMGS 81/81 Installed
Controls: 2 Volume, 1 Tone.
Note: This guitar will be seen with a lot of different artwork throughout 1984-1988. Including the "More Beer" Sticker with "Jaggermiester."

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

Effects and Other Stuffs:

Ibanez Tube Screamer- used as an overdrive/distortion pedal. - James didn't use this often, Pretty much never again after 1984.
Boss Flanger Pedal
Boss Tuner
Rocktron Compressor/Limiter/Hush - Used on the mics for reducing background noise, making vocals alive and real. Also can be used to balance out Instrument feedback and such. Only mono.
ADA 2FX Multi Effects Processo - A popularly used 80's Rack mount product. With 3 separate purposes
Flanger (4 Nobs), Chorus (2 Nobs), And a Delay of 1 second maximum (4 Nobs)
Ibanez UE400 Multi-FX - Just guitar effects
Furman PQ4 parametric EQ - Good for boosting EQ and fine tuning guitar tones.

White Gibson
Explorer #2

Master of Puppets Era : James Hetfield's Equipments

Guitars:

Jackson King V
Short description: Neck-Thru-Body, Ebony Fretboard, 24 Jumbo Frets,
Inlays: Shark Fin
Pickups: Duncan Invaders
Controls: 2 Volume, 1 Tone
Note: Dubbed the "Kill Bon Jovi" guitar. Jackson Wanted James to endorse this guitar but James Felt it hurt his image and he looked better with the explorer. Never-the-less he used this one mostly on the road in 1986 for down tuned songs such as "The Thing That Should Not Be."

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

Effects and Other Stuffs:

Ibanez Tube Screamer- used as an overdrive/distortion pedal. - James didn't use this often, Pretty much never again after 1984.
Boss Flanger Pedal
Boss Tuner
Rocktron Compressor/Limiter/Hush - Used on the mics for reducing background noise, making vocals alive and real. Also can be used to balance out Instrument feedback and such. Only mono.
ADA 2FX Multi Effects Processo - A popularly used 80's Rack mount product. With 3 separate purposes
Flanger (4 Nobs), Chorus (2 Nobs), And a Delay of 1 second maximum (4 Nobs)
Ibanez UE400 Multi-FX - Just guitar effects
Furman PQ4 parametric EQ - Good for boosting EQ and fine tuning guitar tones.

Jackson
King V

Ride The Lightning Era : James Hetfield's Equipments

Guitars:

White Gibson Explorer #1
Short description: Cream White Stock 1984 Explorer,
Inlays: Dot
Pickups: Gibson 500T in the bridge, 496R in the neck. In 1988 EMGS 81/81 Installed
Controls: 2 Volume, 1 Tone.

Amps:

Marshall 100 watt head and 4x12 cabinets

Picks:

Dunlop Green Tortex .88 mm

Effects and Other Stuffs:

Ibanez Tube Screamer- used as an overdrive/distortion pedal. - James didn't use this often, Pretty much never again after 1984.
Boss Flanger Pedal
Boss Tuner
Rocktron Compressor/Limiter/Hush - Used on the mics for reducing background noise, making vocals alive and real. Also can be used to balance out Instrument feedback and such. Only mono.
ADA 2FX Multi Effects Processo - A popularly used 80's Rack mount product. With 3 separate purposes
Flanger (4 Nobs), Chorus (2 Nobs), And a Delay of 1 second maximum (4 Nobs)
Ibanez UE400 Multi-FX - Just guitar effects
Furman PQ4 parametric EQ - Good for boosting EQ and fine tuning guitar tones.

White Gibson
Explorer #1

Kill 'Em All Era : James Hetfield's Equipments

Guitars:


Epiphone Flying V
Short description: Alder Body, Croe Hardware.
Inlays: Dot
Pickups: Stock / Later Seymour Duncan Invaders were installed.
Controls: 2 Volume, 1 Tone.
Note: This is not a real Gibson though it was treated by James as a Gibson. James had taken a truss-rod cover off of a Gibson and placed it on his to make it appear to be a "real" Gibson.

Amps:

Marshall 100 watt SLP - Jose Arrengando Modified
Pro Co. Rat Distortion Pedal
Marshall 4x12 Cabinet

Picks:

Dunlop Green Tortex .88 mm

Effects and Other Stuff:

ProCo Rat Distortion

Epiphone
Flying V

Summation of James Hetfield's Equipments

Summation of James Hetfield's Equipments According to Metallica.com

Guitars:

Ken Lawrence Custom Explorer Natural

ESP Custom Black Explorer - Deerskull Inlay

ESP Custom Black Explorer - Snake Inlay

ESP Custom Black Explorer - Wood-Burn Deer

ESP Custom Black Explorer - Black Diamond Plate

ESP Custom Black Explorer - Silver Diamond Plate

ESP Custom Black Explorer - Bright Diamond Plate

ESP Custom Black Flying V - Green Flames

ESP Custom Black Flying V - Hot Rod Flames

ESP Custom Black "Fuel" Les Paul Style with Gold Pinstripe

ESP Custom Black & White Pinstripe Les Paul

ESP Custom Black & Gold Pinstripe Les Paul

ESP New Model Black Explorer - Mother-of-Pearl Inlay

Amplifiers:

Mesa Boogie 4x12 Speaker Cabinets

Wizard 4x12 Speaker Cabinets

4x Costumized Mesa Boogie Tri-Axis Pre-Amps

4x Mesa Boogie Strategy 400 Power Amps

Mesa Boogie Tremoverb 2x12 Combo Amp

Strings:

Ernie Ball (.010-.046)

Picks:

Dunlop Custom Nylon Picks (Green Tortex .88 mm Guitar)

Differences of ESP Guitars

ESP Guitars

James' ESP Explorers
They are all based upon the standard ESP EXP series and were built or overseen by Matt Masciandaro. Meanwhile the EXP series has been replaced by the ESP EX standard series which has a sharp shape for its ends and headstock instead of the old EXP series which was comparable to the rounded shape of the Gibson Explorers.

The difference between the EXP model and James' Explorers
In difference between James' Explorers and the standard ESP EXP series, James guitars have set-necks (glued joint) instead of bolt-on necks. Besides the "Black Album" guitars' fingerboards consist of ebony instead of rosewood.

Identical to the EXP model
The body consists of mahogany, the neck of maple and the fingerboard (with its 22XJ [XJ=extra jumbo] frets) of rosewood. All hardware (the tune-o-matic bridge, the stop piece and tuners) is black. It has one volume control for each pickup.

Who Is : James Hetfield

James Hetfield
Born: August 3, 1963
From: Los Angeles
Personal: Married, 3 Children
Instrument: Vocals, Guitar
Vitals: Blue eyes, blonde hair, 6'1"/1.85 meters tall


When it comes to defining Metallica, most people use James Hetfield as their guide. There's never any bullshit with James and there's never any shirking of duties. Example? When he threw his back out on the Summer Sanitarium 2000 tour, James ploughed his way through three weeks of intense physical therapy in four days, according to his physical therapist. And when the going got really tough, and James needed help in 2001, he sought it out, took it on and came back stronger than ever. It is precisely this sort of fierce, unbending dedication, devotion and spirit which has made James such an inspirational focal point through the years for millions of fans.

Ironically, the voice of Metallica (indeed, a defining voice of his rock'n'roll generation) very nearly wasn't a voice at all, simply because in the early days, James Hetfield didn't fancy being a lead vocalist. Metallica tried a few different vocal/guitar configurations. Some of the options considered included adding another
guitar player, having then-lead guitar player Dave Mustaine play the sole guitar and asking John Bush from Armored Saint to sing for the band. Of course common sense prevailed, James decided to fight harder to establish himself as a frontman and the results are, ahem, history

To trace the roots of Hetfield's unflinching dedication and determination, you have to go back to a childhood that was often tough but laid a foundation, which underscores James today. Born to a truck driver and light opera singer on August 3rd, 1963, in Los Angeles, his family's Christian Science religious beliefs played a large part in the young Hetfield's life, and subsequently form a central point for many of Metallica's lyrics. He was 9 years old when he first took piano lessons before taking on brother David's drums and finally picking up a guitar in his pre-teens.

With the likes of Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin and Thin Lizzy providing inspiration, James quickly set about the task of becoming a rock star in his first band, Obsession. Made up of the Veloz brothers on bass and drums, with Jim Arnold on guitar, plenty of time was spent in the Veloz's garage jamming with Ron McGoveny and Dave Marrs acting as roadies. McGovney subsequently stepped in alongside Marrs and Hetfield when the Veloz brothers incarnation ended.

After moving to Brea, California, James attended Brea Olinda High School and met up with drummer Jim Mulligan. The two jammed at lunch time scaring fellow guitarists with their loud and heavy sounds before a guy called Hugh Tanner was seen carrying around part of a flying V guitar at school. Phantom Lord was born with Hugh on guitar, Mulligan on drums and James singing plus playing guitar. The group went through a few bass players until graduation when James moved back to Downey.

Back in Downey, James moved into a house owned by Ron McGovney's parents that was slated for demolition due to an expressway expansion. It was the perfect place for James and Ron to crash, rehearse and jam. James talked Ron into taking up bass, Phantom Lord was no more and the third band under Hetfield's leadership.

Leather Charm, was born. The only difference between Charm and Lord, was James singing without guitar and Ron playing bass guitar, Hugh Tanner and Jim Mulligan retaining their former 'Lord positions. Leather Charm was a largely hard rock combo, playing some originals and covers such as Iron Maiden's 'Remember Tomorrow' amongst others. The band managed to perform at a few parties and recorded a demo, but then began to fall apart.

First Tanner left the band (replaced by Troy James), then Mulligan left for a more progressive, Rush-like band. And with no drummer, the band was forced to call it quits. Although it was Mulligan's departure that led to James searching for a new drummer, we can safely say that Hugh Tanner was responsible for the catalytic moment which would change the course of James Hetfield's life and out him on the path to achieving his childhood ambition. How? Simple...Tanner introduced James to Lars Ulrich. The rest, as you'll read elsewhere, is a long, illustrious (occasionally curious) and still-evolving history...

James is the main songwriter in Metallica, co-creating the framework and structure for most Metallimaterial. When he's not writing, singing or playing, James enjoys a variety of outdoor activities including hunting, snowboarding, water and jet-skiing, sketching, annoying neighbors with guns and loud pipes on his chopper "The Saga", watching his favorite Oakland Raiders and going to hot-rod shows. He also collects older guitars (particularly those from 1963) and enjoys working on old cars. Amongst his favorites are a '55 Chevy BelAir (which he helped built and restore himself), and 'The Beast', a fearsome all-terrain 4-wheel drive Blazer that is designed to survive everything from earthquakes to nuclear holocausts. Aside from these pursuits, James is often happiest spending time with his wife Francesca and three children, Cali, Castor, and Marcella.

Kill 'Em All Album Personnel

Who made Kill ' Em All possible...

• James Hetfield - rhythm guitar, vocals
• Lars Ulrich - drums
• Cliff Burton - bass
• Kirk Hammett - lead guitar
• Dave Mustaine - lead guitar - composition
• Jon Zazula - executive producer
• Paul Curcio - producer
• Chris Bubacz - engineer
• Andy Wroblewski – assistant engineer
• Bob Ludwig - mastering

Kill 'Em All

Kill 'Em All is American thrash metal band Metallica's debut album, released on July 25, 1983 on Megaforce Records.

The album is acclaimed for combining high-tempo (discounting the Cliff Burton bass solo "(Anesthesia) Pulling Teeth" and a tribute to the band's early influences: Diamond Head, Iron Maiden, Motörhead and Venom, all ENGLISH bands who combined the heaviness and technicality of Black Sabbath with the speed and aggression of punk rock.

The band received criticism from the Bay Area scene and the underground rock press at the time for their proposed title for their debut album. The band initially planned to call it Metal Up Your Ass, and it would boast a cover featuring a toilet bowl with a hand clutching a dagger emerging from it. The band's label urged them to change this, so they agreed, switching to the marginally less-offensive Kill 'Em All, with a cover featuring the shadow of a hand letting go of a bloodied sledgehammer. Cliff Burton is credited with coming up with the name Kill 'Em All (referring to timid record distributors and the censors) as a response to the whole situation.

• In 1989, the album was ranked #35 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the The 100 Greatest Albums of the 80's.

• The album would reach #120 on the charts, according to Metallica.com

• The album was deemed the #1 underground album by Hit Parader

Track listing

1. "Hit The Lights" (Dave Mustaine, James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich) - 4:17
2. "The Four Horsemen" (Hetfield, Ulrich, Mustaine) – 7:12
3. "Motorbreath" (Hetfield) – 3:08
4. "Jump In The Fire" (Hetfield, Ulrich, Mustaine) – 4:41
5. "(Anesthesia) Pulling Teeth" (Cliff Burton) – 4:14
6. "Whiplash" (Hetfield, Ulrich) – 4:10
7. "Phantom Lord" (Hetfield, Ulrich, Mustaine) – 5:01
8. "No Remorse" (Hetfield, Ulrich) – 6:26
9. "Seek & Destroy" (Hetfield, Ulrich) – 6:55
10. "Metal Militia" (Hetfield, Ulrich, Mustaine) – 5:09
11. "Am I Evil?" (Sean Harris, Brian Tatler) (originally recorded by Diamond Head, bonus track on 1989 re-release) – 7:50
12. "Blitzkrieg" (Ian Jones, Jim Sirotto, Smith) (originally recorded by Blitzkrieg, bonus track on 1989 re-release) – 3:36

Metallica's Quartet

Metallica consists of four heavy metal freaks namely James Hetfield (Vocals and Rhythm Guitar), Kirk Hammett (Lead Guitar), Lars Ulrich (Drums) and their fourth Bassist by far, Robert Trujillo who, before joining Metallica, has played for Ozzy Osbourne and Suicidal Tendencies.

Metallica has released 11 Main Albums namely Kill 'Em All, Ride The Lightning, Master of Puppets, The $5.98 E.P.: Garage Days Re-Revisited (EP), ...And Justice For All, Metallica, Load, ReLoad, Garage Inc., S&M(Live), St. Anger and the Untitled Ninth Studio Album to be released on February, 2008.

Who is this Metallica..?

Metallica is an American heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1981. Metallica has become one of the most commercially successful musical acts of recent decades, and are considered one of the "Big Four" pioneers of thrash metal, along with Anthrax, Slayer and Megadeth. The band has sold more than 90 million records worldwide, including 57 million albums in the United States alone.