truerecs
Explore truerecs
Log inFor artists
Independent research by truerecs. Not affiliated with, endorsed or verified by Metallica.Are you Metallica? Claim this page
Metallica, Photo: Library of Congress Life (Wikimedia Commons)

Photo: Library of Congress Life (Wikimedia Commons) · CC0

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

What guitar does Metallica play?

Metallica's guitarists mostly play ESP. James Hetfield has said he plays the Vulture and Snakebyte, after the MX-220 'EET FUK' and a 1984 Gibson Explorer. Kirk Hammett played a 1979 Gibson Flying V, a Jackson Rhoads and the ESP KH-2 Ouija before Greeny. Lars Ulrich uses a Tama Starclassic Maple signature kit; Robert Trujillo plays Warwick basses.

Shop the gear
AllTop 5GuitarsAmpsDrumsBassPedals
In stores now

Shop Metallica's setup.

Top 5

Where to start with Metallica's gear.

01
02
03
04
05

What guitars Metallica uses: a sourced gear guide

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

Guitars

21 items

Amps

13 items

Drums

11 items

Bass

11 items

Pedals

1 item
Questions

About Metallica's gear.

What guitars does Metallica use?

James Hetfield's main guitars are ESP signatures like the Snakebyte and Vulture, after the ESP MX-220 'EET FUK' and a 1984 Gibson Explorer 'So What'. Kirk Hammett's include the ESP KH-2 Ouija and Mummy, a 1979 Gibson Flying V, a Jackson Rhoads on Master of Puppets and Greeny, a 1959 Les Paul.

What amp does James Hetfield use?

On tour both guitarists have said they use Fractal Axe-FX units built from their amp sounds. In the studio for 72 Seasons, Greg Fidelman described a Jose Arredondo-modded Marshall Superlead, a Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC++, a Wizard 100-watt head and a Diezel.

What guitar does Kirk Hammett play?

He has said his touring rigs center on his original 1988 ESP KH-2 Skully and his ESP Mummy, and Fidelman says he used Greeny, Peter Green's Les Paul, on 72 Seasons.

What drums does Lars Ulrich play?

Mixdown reports a Tama Starclassic Maple kit since Load in 1996, after Tama Imperialstar, Superstar and Granstar II kits in the 80s. The Black Album was cut on a hired 80s Gretsch 'Stop Sign' kit with a Tama Bell Brass snare. He has Ahead signature sticks and Zildjian cymbals.

What bass does Robert Trujillo play?

He told Guitar World a Warwick five-string dominated Hardwired, and he plays Ampeg SVT-2 Pro heads with an old-school P-Bass for retro songs. His listed gear includes Warwick Artist Series signature basses, an ESP 5-string, Ampeg SVT-CL heads and Dunlop Icon Series strings.

Does Metallica use amp modelers?

Yes. James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett told Guitar Player they switched to Fractal Axe-FX processors so both touring rigs sound the same, running direct to the board.

M
Metallica
About this guide · Last checked

Metallica are the San Francisco Bay Area band behind Master of Puppets, the Black Album and 72 Seasons. This guide covers the whole band across every era: James Hetfield's and Kirk Hammett's guitars, amps and pedals from the Kill 'Em All Flying Vs to the 72 Seasons sessions, Lars Ulrich's Tama kits and the Gretsch kit behind the Black Album, and Robert Trujillo's Warwick, ESP and Fender basses and Ampeg rigs, from interviews, rig rundowns and producer Greg Fidelman.

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

Report an error or ask for removal. We fix or remove within 72 hours. You don't need to sign up.

Are you Metallica?

Claim this page to make it yours: verify with your Instagram, TikTok or YouTube, keep what's right, drop what isn't, and add your own.

Claim this page
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. Metallica isn't paid for them. Report an error or ask for removal. Full disclosure.