Metallica – Death Magnetic

The guitar was James' first ESP guitar. He bought the guitar around c.1987 and used it to record parts of And Justice For All. James added the EET FUK logo in 1988 while finishing up the master recording for the album it also sports middle finger inlays. This was his main axe through out the damaged justice tour. He retired this guitar right before the black album was recorded and he now uses as a recording guitar. He used the guitar to "warm up" for practice sessions during the recordings of Death Magnetic.

Hetfield bought this guitar in 1980 for $200, and it was his second electric guitar. He played it on Metallica’s first album “Kill ’em All”, and kept playing it up until 1984 when the neck snapped after an accident on stage. At that point the guitar had two Seymour Duncan Invader humbuckers, a Tune-o-Matic Bridge.

Just prior to recording “Death Magnetic” in 2008 Hetfield decided to restore this guitar. He changed a couple of things, including the pickups which he replaced with the EMG 81/60 set, and reparation of the headstock which was broken more than one time in the past.

James used this Aged Primer Gray ESP Signature Truckster on the St Anger and Death Magnetic World Tours

Around 2007, prior the recording of Death Magnetic James started experimenting with Krank Krankenstein and Revolution 1 amps, which he ended up using on the album.

James Hetfield used the Audio-Technica Artist Elite AE5400 microphone primarily during live performances on Metallica's tours from "St. Anger" through "Death Magnetic." He can also be seen using this microphone in the "St. Anger" rehearsal video. While he now opts for the Shure Super 55, the AE5400 was a significant part of his setup during that period. This information is detailed in an article on Metalwani.

Robert Trujillo used the Tech 21 SansAmp Bass Driver DI during Metallica's "Madly in Anger with the World" tour and the recording of the "Death Magnetic" album. This is evidenced by the video from Which Bass titled "Robert Trujillo Conspiracy: Did His Bass Rig Hold the Key to Metallica's Success in the 21st Century?" between the timestamps 7:00 and 11:35.

Robert Trujillo used the Electro-Harmonix Q-Tron Plus during the recording of Metallica's album Death Magnetic. This is confirmed at the 12:47 timestamp in the YouTube video, "Robert Trujillo Conspiracy: Did His Bass Rig Hold the Key to Metallica's Success in the 21st Century?" by Which Bass.

Robert Trujillo used the Boss OC-2 Octaver during the recording of Metallica's "Death Magnetic," as detailed at the 12:47 timestamp in the YouTube video "Robert Trujillo Conspiracy: Did His Bass Rig Hold the Key to Metallica's Success in the 21st Century?" by Which Bass.

At 12:47 in the video "Robert Trujillo Conspiracy: Did His Bass Rig Hold the Key to Metallica's Success in the 21st Century?" by Which Bass, it is confirmed that Robert Trujillo used the Morley Power Wah PWO during the Death Magnetic tour and in the studio.

Robert Trujillo used the Tech 21 XXL live and on the recording of "Death Magnetic," as detailed at 12:47 in the YouTube video "Robert Trujillo Conspiracy: Did His Bass Rig Hold the Key to Metallica's Success in the 21st Century?" by Which Bass.

On www.metallica.com you can search photos of the making of death magnetic and you can see Kirk using the Radial Tonebone and on Radial's website, Hammett is quoted as saying:

"This box (Tonebone Hot British) is very deserving of the word Hot--I definitely love my Bone!"

In www.metallica.com seek the photos of the making of Death Magnetic and you can see Kirk using the Ibanez TS-808 with True Bypass. If you look closely you can see it’s a Keeley Mod+ tube screamer. You can tell by two ways. The sticker on the top of the pedal box and it’s led light which is blue instead of red.

Kirk uses his ESP Flying V since Death Magnetic. You can see him playing a lot at live performance of "The Day That Never Comes".

Manufactured by TC Custom during 2008 for the Death Magnetic Tour.

He uses this model of Tama live from 1996 to 2000. It is also seen in the making of St-Anger & Death Magnetic. He changed the Hoops into an original brass for Die-Cast Hoops like those of Starclassic for example. Tama has even designed a signature Snare from this model named the LU1465BB with 3mm thickness, Die-Cast Hoops, wooden lacquer in limited version. 200.

Lars Ulrich has been known to prefer Sabian HH 15'' Rock Hats, particularly evident in the "Making of 'Atlas, Rise!'" video by Metallica on YouTube. He initially began using these hi-hats during the "And Justice for All" era, prominently featuring them in the "Black Album" sessions. Although he switched to Zildjian Z Custom 14'' Dyno-Beat Hats for "Death Magnetic," he returned to the Sabian 15'' hi-hats for "Hardwired... to Self-Destruct" in 2015-16. Notably, this period also marked his first use of Zildjian K cymbals as his primary crashes.