Metallica's James Hetfield talks about touring in the 80's with EMGtv

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  • Опубліковано 5 жов 2024
  • James Hetfield talks about life on the road, getting ripped off, and discovering his iconic metal sound with his EMG guitar pickups.
    Buy EMG pickups here: www.emgpickups....
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    Produced by: thecubeproducti...
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КОМЕНТАРІ • 216

  • @shanedingz
    @shanedingz 4 роки тому +85

    “If you put EMG’s in it, and it doesn’t sound good, it’s not a good guitar.”
    - James Hetfield
    Words of wisdom.

  • @RanS2804
    @RanS2804 13 років тому +31

    00:00 "The End Of The Line"
    00:50 "Wherever I may roam"
    01:06 "Ride The Lightning"
    01:28 "Cynide"
    01:43 "My Apocalypse"
    02:02 "Broken Beat & Scarred"
    02:25 "All Nightmare Long"
    02:53 "The Judas Kiss"

  • @kyleruthstrom5439
    @kyleruthstrom5439 11 років тому +77

    There was not a single bad song on Ride the Lightning, Master of Puppets, or ...And Justice For All. You can argue any of those 3 as the best, personally I prefer Master but Ride and Justice aren't far behind

    • @rypatmackrock
      @rypatmackrock 4 роки тому +4

      Kyle Ruthstrom what about the beginning with Kill ‘Em All, and the early demos?

    • @Andy-km3pg
      @Andy-km3pg 4 роки тому +3

      Even as a huge fan, I will say that "Escape" is a terrible song but besides that

    • @obadiah650
      @obadiah650 4 роки тому

      Orion overrated as shit

    • @MrTongen
      @MrTongen 4 роки тому +16

      @@obadiah650 someone arrest this man

    • @nemonucliosis
      @nemonucliosis 4 роки тому

      Contrary to what James says here EMG was not a part of any of those albums.

  • @leonrosser183
    @leonrosser183 7 років тому +43

    the best rythym sound i ever heard of any metal band is james hetfield theres noone who can touch his tone without over doing it nu style with treadplate type distorsion , his sound his is uniqueness and his voice !!!

    • @rosiewhitfield123
      @rosiewhitfield123 4 роки тому

      Absolutely...his rhythm is fantastic as. His a great player and singer as well. I love him. Good that he can even play the drums and his good at arranging music. Him and Lars are good at it. Smart men.

    • @faz6877
      @faz6877 3 роки тому

      John Schaffer can touch his tone when it comes to rhythm guitar, and it's not nu style. Now take nothing away from James. James is a huge influence on Schaffer. But when it comes to pure tone I have to give Schaffer credit. Sounds like a combination of that James crunch fused with the galloping of Iron Maiden.

    • @rudolfmolnar8554
      @rudolfmolnar8554 3 роки тому

      Paradise Lost have much better rhythm guitars but Greg Mackintosh and Aaron Aedy are very underrated guitarist.

    • @gainonten4031
      @gainonten4031 3 роки тому

      theres lot of nice rythms from megadeth, children of bodom, pantera. you gotta get out of the little metallica bubble.

  • @The_Apothecary
    @The_Apothecary 4 роки тому +21

    "there's pick ups with Batteries?" ... First song on Puppets ... BATTT-ER-RYY.

  • @ViajeporelMundo
    @ViajeporelMundo 6 років тому +27

    EMG pickups and Mark IIC+ = master, justice tone

    • @serenityk2tu749
      @serenityk2tu749 4 роки тому +4

      Nah, emgs weren’t used on the master of puppets album they only used it on the following tour

    • @mattdummitt9500
      @mattdummitt9500 3 роки тому

      Seymour Duncan Invaders were used on Puppets, and then on the tour James switched to EMG's

    • @SilentNightBodomNight
      @SilentNightBodomNight 3 роки тому

      Don’t forget the cab/speaker/mic...

    • @arbazann
      @arbazann 3 роки тому

      @@SilentNightBodomNight also the player...

    • @jerrumite4425
      @jerrumite4425 3 роки тому

      @@serenityk2tu749 Kirk's guitars had emgs.

  • @PANICBLADE
    @PANICBLADE 12 років тому +32

    James just said "emgs sound the same in every guitar" in the nicest most complementary way possible.

  • @joe2804
    @joe2804 13 років тому +5

    Aside from being a talented in music I think James is a well spoken person and he could easily be a motivational speaker... of course who has time for that when you are part of Metallica!

  • @8Junio76
    @8Junio76 11 років тому +6

    @1:39 "you can put the EMG in pretty much any guitar and it gonna sound like an EMG".
    he described the EMG pickups. That's why if you put an EMG in a brick, it will sound like an EMG.

  • @ibexthadevil3533
    @ibexthadevil3533 9 років тому +6

    james used duncans on kill em all and ride with a pedal and a marshall..master was passive pickups as well with a mesa mark IIc..justice was his gibson explorer with emgs and his mesa..he didnt use esp explorers till justice tour

  • @BigBi90
    @BigBi90 13 років тому +7

    2:10 Dude, you're James Hetfield ! Nobody can say "no" to you !

  • @UjjwalTripathi5
    @UjjwalTripathi5 11 років тому +4

    I like all the albums. But sound wise, I personally think that 'And Justice For All' had a brilliant combination of sounds. The bass drums were amazing. I do respect your opinion.

  • @rypatmackrock
    @rypatmackrock 4 роки тому +2

    I used to think that James and Kirk used passive pick ups, and I felt that EMGs were overrated and overused even if I hadn’t played with one. Only within the past few years or so, I discovered Metallica was indeed at the forefront of bringing active pick ups into the metal world after only a few other guitarists like David Gilmore and Steve Lucather were using them from what I remember. My bias came from my own rig that I had at the time, and still have, which was a kit build PRS style guitar, with passive humbuckers, and a Roland cube street with a rectifier preset. That, and a few different cables have been my practice Metallica sound that I used, and still use at home when I was learning how to play Metallica riffs. I used to practice all the songs of master of puppets with my rig along with singing like James Hetfield. I can still play the songs to this day, even if I need to practice them a bit to play them up to speed. 🤘🎸

  • @lovestospooge646
    @lovestospooge646 12 років тому +2

    i actually have tried these and they sound pretty good gives you that
    'and justice for all" kinda sound

  • @RolanTHUNDER
    @RolanTHUNDER 11 років тому +10

    I will definitely get a set of EMG's in a new guitar like an ESP next :)

    • @MB-yw3pv
      @MB-yw3pv 8 років тому

      JUST GET AN LTD VERSION, EVERY SINGLE 1 ARE GREAT EVEN DOWN TO THE CHEAPEST, MY FIRST GUITAR WHEN I STARTED WAS A LTD EC-10 AND IT WAS ONLY 99 BUCKS BUT IT PLAYS BETTER THEN ALOT OF $300 GUITARS AND IT SOUNDS GREAT, THE PICKUPS ARE PRETTY GOOD CONSIDERING THE PRICE, IF YOU WANT TO PUT IN A HET SET JUST GET A LTD 330 SERIES, THEY COME WITH AN ESP COPY OF AN EMG(I HAVE A KH330 AND OTHER LTDS WITH EMGS, THEY SOUND 100% IDENTICAL TO EMGS) AND SAVE YOURSELF A TON OF MONEY, DO NOT GET A 2016 400 SERIES LTD THOUGH, ITS BASICALLY THE SAME GUITAR AS THE 330 SERIES BUTWITH BRANDED EMGS AND NOT THE ESP COPY OF AN EMG BUT LIKE I SAID THEY SOUND IDENTICAL, YOU CAN GET 2 OR 3 330 SERIES GUITARS FOR THE PRICE OF 1 2016 400 SERIES LTD GUITAR

    • @kevinruiz4125
      @kevinruiz4125 6 років тому

      MB215 esp guitars are a big difference from ltd. for the money LTD is so worth it for the quality and so are ESPs but esp plays and feels better and slicker which is important

  • @summitthescale
    @summitthescale 13 років тому +1

    EMG's are the top choice to get that FULL bottom end tone. Definitely high quality. Slightly muddy at times, but there is always an EQ for that. The new EMG 808x is nuts.

  • @nkmcfrln
    @nkmcfrln 5 років тому +29

    Crushing all deceivers, mashing non-believers
    Never ending EMG
    Hungry violence seeker, feeding off the weaker
    Breeding on insanity
    Smashing through the boundaries
    Lunacy has found me
    Cannot stop the battery ; )

    • @fredriksvard2603
      @fredriksvard2603 5 років тому

      nkmcfrln i see what you did

    • @nkmcfrln
      @nkmcfrln 5 років тому

      @@fredriksvard2603 I'm actually into passive pickups and vintage gear. But I like the sound that Kirk and James and Dave get from EMG's and similar artists.

  • @zeppelinhead93
    @zeppelinhead93 11 років тому +9

    imo Metallica hasn't written any bad songs. some are better than others but they're all good.

  • @stormfreak526
    @stormfreak526 7 років тому +1

    For sure suggest getting the ESP Ltd Snakebyte, bad ass guitar with the awesome sounding Het Set.

  • @Andos2325
    @Andos2325 11 років тому +1

    Couldn't agree more!

  • @technewsfortechnoobs
    @technewsfortechnoobs 3 роки тому

    The only reason I started playing both bass and guitar...Cliff Burton and James Hetfield. I almost only play explorers because regular start style or Les Paul bodies just don't work with how I play. And the only pickups I use anymore are the EMG's...not specifically the JH series (yet), or DiMarzio Invaders.

  • @rosiewhitfield123
    @rosiewhitfield123 4 роки тому +2

    Pretty good short video explaining the Emg pick ups. How bloody ridiculous MetallicA had their gear..guitars (and drum kit I’m guessing) from them before they set out to go and tour.Britain. What a shit thing to happen to them. If I found their equipment I would gladly give it back to them. Only low lives steal others belongings. If I had James’ first amp his mother brought for him, I’d gladly return it to him. In return all I want is his signature on a white T-shirt and a cuddle. Them guys are so awesome and I love them and their music. No band like them except Black Sabbath and Scorpions. Real good music them three are in my opinion.

  • @TheChrispablo
    @TheChrispablo 12 років тому

    james hetfiels is such a great person!

  • @sleepdeep305
    @sleepdeep305 Рік тому

    I need to get myself some het sets. They punch like no other pickup.

  • @Wildchildinc
    @Wildchildinc 13 років тому

    @Wrathofkala it say its about 8 or 8.5-9 I mean it's not like their old stuff but it still has the agression and good feel of thrash metal

  • @KyleBurnsMusic
    @KyleBurnsMusic 11 років тому +4

    That's awesome! The newest guitar i'm planning on buying comes with emg's. I've played them before and i love them, he's right about the quality. It's weird. when i first started playing emg's were the way to go, top of the line. as i got older, after a 11 years of playing, I got snobish about my tone and will only play passive pickups.. but i'll play an active pickup and think it sounds amazing hahaha guess it's more mind than ear

  • @mitchbarden17
    @mitchbarden17 2 роки тому

    EMG is a company that that loves its customers more than money. Companies like that have the best reputations and the best artists use their products

  • @OblivionZXZ
    @OblivionZXZ 5 років тому +3

    2:24 Name of the song????

  • @DropdaLTDtoB
    @DropdaLTDtoB 12 років тому +16

    don't forget James' MONSTER rhythm hand. DISTORTION IS IN THE FINGERS!! haha!

  • @NotoriousYeshi
    @NotoriousYeshi 12 років тому

    @roryport its so much the pickups that go clean, its more the amps..James uses a Roland jc120 for clean and then his mesa boogie amps, diezel, and marshall heads for distortion, he hasnt used any pedals since Ride the Lightning

  • @PapaRikkiBalls
    @PapaRikkiBalls 3 роки тому

    I'm just watching emg videos until my first pair of the 81 60s come in haha

  • @Wildchildinc
    @Wildchildinc 12 років тому

    that was the single coil emgs for his strats he didn't use humbuckers till his first esp

  • @zzzhuh
    @zzzhuh 12 років тому

    00:31- This story inspired Fade To Black.

  • @neckreth
    @neckreth 13 років тому

    awesome!

  • @krisgraves69
    @krisgraves69 12 років тому

    I want them

  • @ryanwood7657
    @ryanwood7657 3 роки тому

    Puppets, Justice and Ride...epic...epic sound...epic time.

  • @metalheadblues
    @metalheadblues 3 роки тому

    My guitar came with stock 81-7/85-7 , will never swap them out

  • @frogtastic1000
    @frogtastic1000 12 років тому +1

    Greatest heavy metal band of all time,

  • @acidangelster
    @acidangelster 11 років тому +1

    Holy shit...wait.So ride the lightening was recorded on Passive pick ups? I know kill em all was.Any idea on what guitar and pick ups Ride the lightening was recored on?

    • @Kobejp8
      @Kobejp8 4 роки тому

      acidangelster I think puppets was too, with James’ Jackson V with a Seymour Duncan invader. As for Ride, I’m pretty sure James recorded with his Gibson explorer which had dirty fingers at the time, I’m not as sure as that as I am with master though

  • @christopherreed2694
    @christopherreed2694 Рік тому

    I hate that I can't get a Ibanez with the first EMG with a floyd rose locking 27 fret for a thousand dollars stock and some of there styles from the late 80s early 90s Ibanez and fender were killing it but you always had to tare your guitar apart and put a EMG

  • @DrKnow1969
    @DrKnow1969 12 років тому

    He seems to be a nice bloke, and for sure knows his gear. EMG used to make pickups that made any ol' block of wood sound like "metal". Hopefully they learned from JH to make something more sane like a passive sounding pickup with more punch added by the active stuff.

  • @4572dk
    @4572dk 9 років тому +1

    because hatfield and hammett loved emgs so much I'm not sure if they still try other pickups that are being invented, what would happen if they tried blackouts I'm sure they would IMMEDIATELY SWITH OVER

    • @BrokenStrings231
      @BrokenStrings231 7 років тому +1

      it's hetfield lol and it depens , at start i think they were using passive humbuckers

  • @10000rambos
    @10000rambos 12 років тому

    Try Marshall JCM800. 900's didn't come out till the 90's, hence JCM900, JCM 2000 in the 2000's. And actually they used pedal boosted Plexi's on their early studio recordings.

  • @markeemark85
    @markeemark85 3 роки тому

    Now he has his own JH custom pickups

  • @Wrathofkala
    @Wrathofkala 13 років тому

    @CrushedJustice ...How would you rate the Death Angel album verse they others you have mentioned. Just curious if it's worth a purchase. Also, have you heard Forbidden's Omega Wave?

  • @RichardA5150
    @RichardA5150 13 років тому

    The interview is cool and all but there is obvious footage of Het playing them through his rig in that studio. THATS what i want to hear show that video EMG

  • @JonathanChunPrevenge
    @JonathanChunPrevenge 13 років тому

    18v modded EMG 808s: AAAAAAAAAAAW YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH

  • @pacovl46
    @pacovl46 13 років тому

    @awkwardh1ppo here's another one: ESP LTD snakebyte with EMG JH pickups

  • @Hammett4567
    @Hammett4567 11 років тому

    wherever i may roam

  • @RichardA5150
    @RichardA5150 13 років тому

    @troubletoe Why the regular 81 and 60 would cost anywhere from 200.00 to 210.00 unless you find a killer deal or buy them used. 249.00 really isnt that bad compared to some of the pickguard sets EMG offers

  • @Aticze
    @Aticze 12 років тому

    Secret? No way. Here's the key to a Kill 'em All sound: Tube screamer in front of a Marshall JMC900 with the bass & treble boosted and the mids cut.

  • @Max_Kleiber
    @Max_Kleiber 13 років тому

    @roryport
    no signature set. he uses a 81/81 combination.

  • @rocafella142
    @rocafella142 13 років тому

    @troubletoe Where you're at they cost twice as more then they do here. Here they're about the same price as a 81/60 set just a little bit more.

  • @gerardoh.3099
    @gerardoh.3099 10 років тому +3

    00:50- song ?

  • @michaelclavelli1409
    @michaelclavelli1409 7 років тому

    I love these guys, but another way to look at it is the guitar doesn't matter; the tone is the pickup and the pickup alone.
    I like passives because I want to hear the tonewood, too.

    • @fredriksvard2603
      @fredriksvard2603 5 років тому

      Michael Clavelli emg:s in bad guitar = bad sound

  • @div911X
    @div911X 12 років тому

    @RanS2804
    you rock man!!! thnx!!

  • @musicduct
    @musicduct 11 років тому +2

    Too bad the bass is lacking and the guitars sound thin. The bass drum yes, is very clear (you can hear every beat) and packs a punch. With proper mixing / mastering that album could have been killer.

  • @Bearskickass976
    @Bearskickass976 13 років тому

    @awkwardh1ppo I ain't picking shit. The video is a interview! Not a pickup demo! all i was trying to say

  • @cvpuga
    @cvpuga 11 років тому +1

    tank t-shirt \o/

  • @pacovl46
    @pacovl46 13 років тому

    @awkwardh1ppo then why did u click on a video that says interview in the title!!!???

  • @DDRisBEST
    @DDRisBEST 11 років тому

    You gotta find some FLAC files of the Guitar Hero version of that album. So much better. For that they had the master tracks so they got rid of the shitty compression. If you want I could send you the files. Just shoot me a message

  • @0Heavy0Metal0
    @0Heavy0Metal0 12 років тому

    @RanS2804 Since you seem to know your Metallica very well, please watch part one of this video series and tell me what the name of the song is @ 1:20 It's driving me nuts I can't remember! I posted this question there, so you can either reply here or there, your choice. Thanks bro.

  • @jaspersteenhuis3792
    @jaspersteenhuis3792 11 років тому

    put strings on it and power up an amp and plug it in?

  • @PieterVanNevel
    @PieterVanNevel 13 років тому

    @rocafella142 but where i buy pickups they cost 249€ and a set of 81/60 only €140

  • @R0bb89
    @R0bb89 13 років тому

    @butterknucklez That's true. Atleast Kirk said so in his EMG interview clip. But I think James can't admit that Kirk introduced EMG to him :D

  • @rocafella142
    @rocafella142 13 років тому

    @troubletoe they're not overpriced at all...these pickups sound fucking amazing. and anyway a regular 81 60 will cost you 200 dollars anyway

  • @97warlock
    @97warlock 4 роки тому

    wonder who hes actually talking to, hes looking off to his left talking about the picups. Maybe an interviewer off camera?

    • @xvx_k1r1t0_xvx_killme5
      @xvx_k1r1t0_xvx_killme5 4 роки тому

      that’s usually the setup. the camera is usually next to the interviewer, or if it’s behind them it’s zoomed in so they’re out of frame

  • @megaluisdeth
    @megaluisdeth 13 років тому

    I bet they are going to sound HEAVY! If sounds like Death Magnetic I rather not get them.

  • @HenTheKing
    @HenTheKing 11 років тому

    'My Apocalypse' - Death Magnetic's last track!

  • @Wildchildinc
    @Wildchildinc 13 років тому

    @AllRockClassic I wouldn't say the thrash is back in metallica... the Death Magnetic album was still kind of a progressive album like AJFA and Black. I say isn't back in metallica because of what I hear from the LuLu album compared to Anthrax's Worship the Music, Megadeths Th1rt3en, and Death Angels Relentless Retribution. I'm waiting for Metallica to have a pure thrash album that can match up to what current thrash bands have been bringing out

  • @ultimatemetalguitartones
    @ultimatemetalguitartones 3 роки тому

    The coolest of the cool

  • @Shelbones01
    @Shelbones01 13 років тому

    anyone else wanna enter the EMG contest but doesnt have emg pickups?

  • @Daan7000
    @Daan7000 13 років тому

    @awkwardh1ppo It's an INTERview not a REview

  • @unknowchicken
    @unknowchicken 12 років тому

    will these pick up would sound good on a Jackson JS30DKT Dinky? (i have a peavey vypyr 15w)

  • @REACTIONTV420
    @REACTIONTV420 5 місяців тому

    Produced by Jeff Brockman! I knew it…

  • @Juventinos
    @Juventinos 11 років тому +1

    you do realize the album was and still is killer. even though it had an ego mix...

  • @DDRisBEST
    @DDRisBEST 11 років тому

    It's pretty bad. The tracks are heavily compressed so they (Metallica or whoever s decision) can increase the volume. Damn loudness wars. Anyways, the compression causes the crackle sounds because of the clipping and there's less of a dynamic range you get from the instruments.

  • @djacksonpix
    @djacksonpix 12 років тому

    I look a shot everytime he said "EMG."

  • @joaoponte2620
    @joaoponte2620 12 років тому

    Hetfield is my favourite musician and Orion is my favourite song. Try to guess how jealous I am...

  • @wertyuioman
    @wertyuioman 11 років тому

    I'm pretty sure it's producer Rick Rubin's fault. Many albums he has done have the same problem including Black Sabbath's new album "13".

  • @mckay91095
    @mckay91095 13 років тому

    @awkwardh1ppo wrong video buddy. it clearly says "interview" (not being mean)

  • @edgenail85
    @edgenail85 11 років тому

    I got my own het-set. Best fucking piece of investment I'd say!

  • @kray2511
    @kray2511 13 років тому

    nice

  • @Aticze
    @Aticze 12 років тому

    EMG is good for everything... Except for basswood body guitars. But if you have a basswood body guitar and you want EMGs, you can get EMG-HZ passives. Less output, more clarity and no need for a battery.

  • @pacovl46
    @pacovl46 13 років тому

    @awkwardh1ppo i tried to copy the link into the last post, but youtube wouldn't let me post it including the link so just search for "JH Set ~ James Hetfield Signature Set - EMG Pickups" and u'll find it right away!

  • @unholybadge95
    @unholybadge95 12 років тому

    song in the beginning of the vid??

  • @Wildchildinc
    @Wildchildinc 12 років тому

    THey started using EMG and Mesa Boogies in Master of Puppets

    • @ViajeporelMundo
      @ViajeporelMundo 6 років тому

      Exactly! Mesa Boogie Mark IIC+ = Master, Justice guitar tone
      Black album, the same EMG's guitar pickups + Mesa Boogie Mark IV

  • @Lynlish
    @Lynlish 11 років тому

    Oh yeah! Haha, haven't listened to Death Magnetic in a while, so yeah

  • @BradleyWilloughby
    @BradleyWilloughby 13 років тому

    Does anyone else find it hilarious what he says from 1:18 - 1:25?

  • @Aticze
    @Aticze 12 років тому

    It's not only about amps, it's about proper mixing, EQing, mastering and big bands have different people for all these tasks. Believe me, if Metallica had only quality amps and mics with no proper mixing and mastering, they would sound way different. I don't say bad, just different. But yeah, downloading a preset and running it through some kind of crappy amp modeler is not enough. If you want quality, you have to invest in it.

  • @Charple
    @Charple 12 років тому

    I shook his hand at orion :D

  • @Oldschoolfish1
    @Oldschoolfish1 11 років тому

    song at 00:49 ?

  • @DropdaLTDtoB
    @DropdaLTDtoB 12 років тому

    Alright, knew it was something like that. it's weird, people always wonder for years about guitar tone from big bands, and it's like, it's because they actually have good quality amps, and still 5 year old kids try to get a band's sound from some download website and run the preset through their crappy line 6 spider amp.

  • @pacovl46
    @pacovl46 13 років тому

    @awkwardh1ppo if u just want to hear what they sound like and aren't interested in the story behind them then simply search for EMG james hetfield pick up demo on youtube and don't click on a video that says interview. sorry if u r not intelligent enough to understand that!

  • @Lynlish
    @Lynlish 11 років тому

    song at 1:44 ?

  • @ernestkronberg
    @ernestkronberg 12 років тому

    it's ok with the Les paul!
    I have a telecaster, and it NOT good with this kind of guitar :D

  • @indian3750
    @indian3750 3 роки тому

    The seymour duncan jb and jazz or a 59 is a great combo much better than any emg
    You can get any tone with the right amp and pickup selector combo with it
    Emg is very sterile no dynamics
    Good for what james is looking to do but does not appeal to me one bit
    On the other hand seymour duncan blackouts i liked quite a bit it still has that Seymour quality to it still sterile though but better than emg anyday.
    Although passive emg would like to try someday

  • @musicduct
    @musicduct 12 років тому

    Ride the lighting is their best album in my opinion due to excellent sound, atmosphere and technical perfection all blended it. The Master of puppets had some better songs, but it wasn't as tight and the sound is more brutal on the Ride the lightning I think. A bit more metal.

  • @RedShoresofBodom
    @RedShoresofBodom 11 років тому

    what song at 1:00?

  • @xurxo12
    @xurxo12 10 років тому

    how do pick ups can substitute a distortion pedal on stage???

    • @PANICBLADE
      @PANICBLADE 10 років тому +19

      With a tube amp, as it reaches it's volume limit, the sound starts to break up, and it goes into overdrive. The hotter and louder the signal coming from the guitar, the harder it hits the amp and pushes it into breaking up even more, allowing more gain and distortion. Nowadays, people often use different gain channels or pedals to clip and break up the tone, even at lower volumes, but when the amp is cranked without the need for artificial clipping (distortion pedal etc) then it comes upon a point of harmonic resonance and "softer" clipping that creates full and smooth, yet a biting and big sounding distortion that is incredibly responsive to pick attack since there is no filter clipping your tone. The only clipping your guitar gets is from "hitting the ceiling" or pushing it to that overdriven point. If an amp can retain it's clean signal without breaking up from overdrive at really high volumes, it means it has a lot of "headroom". Some guitarists deliberately use weaker amps with LESS headroom, so they can reach that breaking up and saturation point without making eardrums bleed from excessive volume. So when you pick soft, that distortion and drive backs off, but dig in and it comes right back, and notes sustain longer or shorter depending on how your pick attack changes because it isn't being compressed as much, so the tone is also more dynamic this way. So Hetfield here is trying to make his sound more dynamic and punch sounding like a passive WHILE keeping the huge fat sound and signal that hits the amp hard to send it into that overdrive/distortion point without using a different gain stage, channel, or pedal to clip his sound. In otherwords, it is just the natural amp being pushed to it's limit as opposed to simulated distortion which can limit how his pick attack effects his sound, and we ALL know how badass Hetfield's pick attack is.

    • @xurxo12
      @xurxo12 10 років тому +1

      wow, now that's an explanation mate!

    • @justinthymes5680
      @justinthymes5680 8 років тому +1

      Well said.I have EMG's in a few guitars and really like them.People think they are like a super distortion pickup and theyre not.I like guitar to head.And to get that punch those tubes have to be hot(fuck solid state).I just have an old JCM800 50wt,but it sounds great cranked up.Shit the soundmen when I played live would only let me turn it up to 3!So I had to use a tube screamer to push it.

    • @fredriksvard2603
      @fredriksvard2603 5 років тому

      PANICBLADE emg:s arent really hot. Clean, maybe.