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Independent research by truerecs. Not affiliated with, endorsed or verified by Cliff Burton. Every item links to its public source.
9 items · Last checked

What bass does Cliff Burton play?

Cliff Burton was seen using a modified 1979 Rickenbacker 4001 on Kill 'Em All and Ride the Lightning, then an Aria Pro II by Master of Puppets. He also played an Alembic Spoiler, ran Mesa/Boogie amps and used a Morley Power Wah Fuzz for solos like Anesthesia (Pulling Teeth).

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What bass gear Cliff Burton uses: a sourced gear guide

Independent research by truerecs: every item links to the public source it comes from.

Basses

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About Cliff Burton's gear.

What bass did Cliff Burton play?

His best known bass was a 1979 Rickenbacker 4001, heard on Kill 'Em All and Ride the Lightning. By Master of Puppets he had switched to an Aria Pro II, after an Aria endorsement on the 1986 Ozzy Osbourne tour. He also played an Alembic Spoiler.

What pickups were in Cliff Burton's Rickenbacker?

Guitar World says his 4001 had three replacement pickups: a Gibson EB, a Seymour Duncan stacked Jazz and a Seymour Duncan Stratocaster pickup under the bridge for extra top end.

What wah pedal did Cliff Burton use?

A Morley Power Wah Fuzz, the pedal he stepped on for solos like Anesthesia (Pulling Teeth) and For Whom the Bell Tolls. Morley reissued it as the Cliff Burton Tribute Power Wah Fuzz in 2024.

What amp did Cliff Burton use?

Guitar World reports he used Mesa/Boogie amps with a custom built 1x15 cabinet.

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Cliff Burton
About this guide · Last checked

Cliff Burton (1962 to 1986) played bass on Metallica's Kill 'Em All, Ride the Lightning and Master of Puppets. This legacy guide covers the basses, pickups, amps and fuzz wah he was seen using, from Guitar World, MusicRadar and his tech's accounts.

truerecs put this guide together from public videos, interviews and posts. Each item says how we know and links to the source. Cliff Burton didn't write it or choose anything on it. How we source gear guides.

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truerecs gear guides are independent research from public sources, not made or approved by the artist. Store buttons on this page may be affiliate links: truerecs may earn a commission when you buy through them, at no extra cost to you. Cliff Burton isn't paid for them. Report an error or ask for removal. Full disclosure.