lead guitar from “lux æterna” by metallica | ToneDB

lux æterna

metallica

lead guitar

85% ai confidence

Tone Profile

Aggressive and articulate high-gain tone, with a tight low end and searing high frequencies. A modern thrash metal sound designed for fast riffing and soaring leads.

Production Credits

Producer: Greg Fidelman

Engineer: Greg Fidelman

Recorded at: HQ (Metallica's studio)

Signal Chain

Instrument: ESP Explorer

Amp: Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+

Microphone: Shure SM57

Processing: Ibanez Tube Screamer TS808

Recording Notes

  • The lead guitar tone was achieved by blending direct input (DI) with the mic'd cabinet signal.
  • EQ and compression were applied during mixing to further shape the tone.
  • The guitar was likely recorded with a pick, using down-picking for a more aggressive attack.

Recreation Tips

  • Start with an ESP Explorer style guitar into a Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ or similar high-gain amp.
  • Use an Ibanez Tube Screamer to tighten the low end and add sustain.
  • Blend a DI signal with the mic'd amp for added clarity.
  • Use a dynamic microphone like a Shure SM57 close to the speaker cone.
  • Experiment with different cabinet IRs to find one that sounds tight and aggressive.
  • Use EQ to remove any muddiness in the low end and add presence in the high frequencies.
  • Apply compression to even out the dynamics and add punch.

Community Insights

No community insights yet. Be the first to contribute!