What guitar did James Hetfield use on Seek and Destroy?

James Hetfield used a Gibson Flying V on "Seek and Destroy." This guitar's mahogany body and high-output humbuckers contributed to the aggressive, midrange-heavy tone that became synonymous with early Metallica.

What amp did Metallica use for Kill Em All album?

Metallica used Marshall JCM800 amplifiers for the Kill 'Em All album, including "Seek and Destroy." The JCM800 was cranked to achieve the saturated, high-gain distortion that defined their early thrash metal sound.

How to get James Hetfield's tone on Seek and Destroy?

To recreate Hetfield's tone, use a Gibson Flying V or similar humbucker-equipped guitar into a Marshall JCM800 amp, boosted with an Ibanez TS808 Tube Screamer. Multi-track the guitars and use close mic placement with an SM57 for the aggressive, tight sound.

What Tube Screamer did Metallica use in the 80s?

Metallica used the Ibanez TS808 Tube Screamer during their early recordings including "Seek and Destroy." They used it as a boost to drive their Marshall amps harder and tighten the low-end response for a more focused thrash tone.

Where was Kill Em All recorded?

Kill 'Em All, including "Seek and Destroy," was recorded at Sweet Silence Studios in Copenhagen, Denmark with producer/engineer Flemming Rasmussen. The studio's setup and Rasmussen's engineering contributed significantly to the album's distinctive sound.

lead guitar from "seek and destroy" by metallica

seek and destroy

metallica

lead guitar

85% ai confidence

Tone Profile

Aggressive and crunchy high-gain tone with a tight low end and searing highs, characteristic of early Metallica. It's a quintessential thrash metal sound, perfect for aggressive riffs and soaring leads.

Shop This Rig

ToneDB may earn a commission from purchases made through these links.

Gibson Flying V(instrument)
Marshall JCM800(amp)
Shure SM57(microphone)
Ibanez Tube Screamer TS808(processing)

The Story

For Metallica's "Seek and Destroy," James Hetfield used his Gibson Flying V through a Marshall JCM800 amplifier, boosted by an Ibanez Tube Screamer TS808. The track was recorded at Sweet Silence Studios in Copenhagen with producer/engineer Flemming Rasmussen, using a Shure SM57 microphone placed close to the speaker. The guitars were multi-tracked to create the characteristic thick wall of sound that became a thrash metal template.

Production Credits

Producer: Flemming Rasmussen

Engineer: Flemming Rasmussen

Recorded at: Sweet Silence Studios, Copenhagen

Signal Chain

Instrument: Gibson Flying VShop on Reverb

Amp: Marshall JCM800Shop on Reverb

Microphone: Shure SM57Shop on Reverb

Processing: Ibanez Tube Screamer TS808Shop on Reverb

Recreation Tips

Start with a Gibson Flying V or similar guitar with high-output humbuckers.
Use a Marshall JCM800 amp or a similar high-gain amplifier.
Place a Shure SM57 microphone close to the speaker cone.
Use an Ibanez Tube Screamer as a boost to drive the amp harder and tighten the low end.
Experiment with mic placement to find the sweet spot.
Consider double or quad tracking the guitars to achieve a thicker sound.

Original Gear

ToneDB may earn a commission from purchases made through these links.

Gibson Flying VShop on Reverb(guitar)
Marshall JCM800Shop on Reverb(amp)
Shure SM57Shop on Reverb(mic)
Ibanez Tube Screamer TS808Shop on Reverb(pedal)

Substitutions & Recommendations

Epiphone Flying VShop on Reverb$300-$500

Alternative to: Gibson Flying V

Offers the same mahogany body and humbucker pickup configuration as the original Gibson, delivering the aggressive midrange punch needed for this thrash tone at a budget price

Marshall Studio Classic SC20HShop on Reverb$600-$800

Alternative to: Marshall JCM800

Modern recreation of the JCM800 circuit with power scaling, allowing you to achieve the same saturated high-gain distortion at manageable volumes

Neural DSP Fortin Nameless SuitePlugin Boutique$100-$150

Alternative to: Marshall JCM800

High-quality amp modeling that captures the aggressive JCM800-style saturation and tight response perfect for modern thrash production

Boss SD-1 Super OverdriveShop on Reverb$50-$70

Alternative to: Ibanez Tube Screamer TS808

Budget alternative that provides similar midrange boost and low-end tightening when used to push an already driven amp

Ibanez TS808 Tube Screamer ReissueShop on Reverb$170-$200