www.shortscale.org

[Fran]

For a few months I've been messing around at home doing Rock covers and with the gear I have there hasn't been much problem getting close to the sounds I'm copying.

Enter Metallica.

I can't get near Hetfields sound. I've blamed the Amp, cab size, string gauge...

I'm using the Orange Tiny Terror with a 1x12 and I've tried the Amp gain with the tone low, the Amp clean with various pedals like a tubescreamer, Marshall jackhammer, boss ds-2. It's close to the older sound but not the 'Load' era.
I've tried a Jackson with an EMG 81, SG with a Gibson pickup, none of it sounds right. It's thin and lacks that low end thud.
Then I considered string gauge, I'm using 9's. Maybe bottom heavy strings would give me better results?

Without software has anyone got any ideas?

Obviously a Mesa is out of the question but there must be an easier way.

Edit: This is one of the tracks I've been doing


Link

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[George]

Have you tried stacking one of those heavy pedals into the Tubescreamer then into the amp?

That seems to be a bit of metal player's trick, if I remember correctly.

Otherwise, no idea. I don't usually go for these tones

[Doog]

[Bacchus]

I'd say that you've set yourself a bit of a challenge there, trying to get a Tiny Terror and a 112 to have that sound. I think that's maybe the fun in doing this, though, that you set yourself certain limits and then try to make it work. Like, if you really want to get that sound, get a half stack.

George's suggestion could be a winner. Or, get a 212. Did you have the Line 6 Flextone?
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[sunshiner]

I've no idea what Metallica sounds like apart from Nothing else matter and Enter sandman. Anyway, my 2 cents would be, find a Les Paul type guitar where neck pickup sits next to the 22nd fret and with a good humbucker you'll get the fatest tone possible. Neck pickups on SG and all kind of superstrats sit way back closer to bridge. On SG it is a part of the design, on superstrats it's because of 24 frets fretboard.
Or tune down an SG/superstrat a half step
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[Doog]

It's more of an amp/cab issue for sure though.

Ultimately, the actual input guitar into a distorted amp makes so little difference, it's hilarious.

[Fran]

Thanks for the replies!

When I posted the thread up it reminded me of one of those n00b threads you see on somewhere like Ultimate Guitar forum but... it is fucking difficult!

George, I tried pushing the Amp but not cascading pedals. The sound has less gain than you think so I'd not tried that.
No Line 6 anymore Paul.
Doog, I think you're right. I'd not considered the limitations of the Tiny Terror or 1x12 cab beforehand, they've coped with stuff like AC/DC, Sabbath and even Sepultura, but they all use a lot of mids.
The cab is obvious but I thought I'd get away with processing the signal.

My last roll of the dice with this rig is trying the Sansamp GT2 clone by Behringer on the Californian setting. I seem to remember the clean mode with the drive maxed out was quite a thuddy thrash tone.

I'm quite enjoying this little adventure, it's got me playing again and learning new stuff. It's more challenging than you think as well
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[Fran]

Oh, I sold my 4x12.

I thought good riddance at the time but I knew this day would come.
Still, I think we've established the Orange is the majority of the dilemma.
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[dezb1]

Danelectro lipstick pickups are the secret to the modern Metallica sound... Sad but true.
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Extreme distortion used discreetly...

[Fran]

Loooooolz...
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[Fakir Mustache]

You could get that sound with a Metal Muff:

Link


and you also need the top-of-the-line model, because you'll need a full 3-band eq which your amp doesn't have. You have to cut the mids a bit and boost the bass.
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[Fran]

Thanks Fakir.
I thought I'd achieve similar with the Marshall Jackhammer as the EQ on them is really good. But it wasn't quite there.

I've found some interesting stuff on the Digitech RP1000 Multi FX and I've actually got one of these gathering dust.
It gives you cab options and much more EQ than the TT.

This guy on YouTube has done a great demo with a link to all the settings.

[Noirie.]

Try Orange Dark Terror. The mini ones are kinda cheap.

[Bacchus]

Actually, an EQ pedal? Scoop them mids?
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[Fakir Mustache]

[Doog]

If you've got a half decent computer or an iPad or summat I can 100% recommend Amplitube and the lot.

Every now and then I do a 'lets play along with this album and try to nail the sound' and I get pretty fucking close; amp and pedal models are fucking bonkers nowdays.


Link


Link


They'll get you closer than bullying your own gear will, for sure. Loadsa fun.

[Concretebadger]

I kinda like the Load/Reload guitar sounds...it's more hard rock than metal, so I prefer it over the buzzy thrashy tone of their early stuff. I still enjoy Ride the Lightning and Puppets, but it's not a sound that I've ever felt the urge to emulate.

The speaker could well be part of the problem...Oranges are usually fitted with V30s so if that's what's in yours, you could try something like a GT-75 or even a hot 100 for a flatter response instead of the V30's upper mids peak. If it's only a 1x12 you're using, it's relatively easy to do. Zilla do 'em with any Celestion you want for as little as £300.

Otherwise, there's the option of a post-distortion pedal eq...Sansamps are great for that. I remember how my old BDDI could completely transform the sound with a guitar, even through a midrangey amp like a Blackstar HT-5. They still make the "US Metal" version of the 'character' series, which might give a more Recto sort of chug. A quick bit of googling mentions Triaxis preamps and Mk IICs, so I suppose the Mesa route is an easy one. I might give my F50's gain channel a try later this week and see what it can do!

[dezb1]

[Fran]

[Doog]