Metallica – Ride The Lightning (Remastered)

Kirk shows of his 1963 Korina Explorer at 1:02:26

Kirk's famous," EDNA''/HAMERCASTER.'' Originally a ''Fernandes Strat copy.'' [Exact model is unknown.] Modified to have a ''Floyd Rose Tremolo system'', and EMG active pickups. Used on Ride the Lightning and Master of Puppets before the ESP deal. He can be seen using it during the 1985, ''Day on the Green'' and ''Metal Hammer'' live shows.

In the Gibson TV episode titled "The Collection: Kirk Hammett of Metallica," Kirk Hammett mentions that he owns a 1978 Fender Stratocaster equipped with a DiMarzio Super Distortion pickup in the bridge position.

In the Gibson TV episode titled "The Collection: Kirk Hammett of Metallica," Kirk Hammett discusses his 1956 Gibson Les Paul Custom at the 16:42 mark, providing insight into his extensive guitar collection.

At 28:10 Kirk discusses his 1958 Les Paul Custom and the middle pickup being out of phase.

At 58:43 Kirk shows his 1957 Korina Flying V, black on black, prototype.

At the 1:44:15 mark of the Gibson TV episode titled "The Collection: Kirk Hammett of Metallica," Kirk Hammett showcases his black 1964 Gibson J-180 Everly Brothers Signature guitar.

In this photo Kirk is seen playing his signature Flying V!

Hammet recalls that during the recording of Metallica's Ride the Lightning, he "had the [Dunlop] Cry Baby wah [he's] always had." Considering that the only Dunlop wah available during the time of the Ride the Lightning sessions was the GCB95, Hammet must have used this wah on the album.

Kirk's been using TC Electronic gear since the old days as well, choosing the precise tonal shaping options of the TC Electronic Dual Parametric Equalizer to achieve his crushing tone. Not only did Hammett use the Dual Parametric Equalizer live during the early days, it was a staple of his tone during the recording of the 1984 classic Ride The Lightning album, shaping the famous lead sounds on the album that cemented Metallica as leaders of the thrash movement.

Used on “Ride the Lightning” as a replacement for the ProCo Rat which was stolen in 1984.

In the video "James Hetfield Metallica Gear Run" by suonatelevision, at the 00:40 mark, you can see James Hetfield's TC Electronic G-Major II Guitar Effects Processor as part of his rig.

The unit can be seen at the very top of James's and Cliff's amp rack some time during touring for Ride the Lightning. The foot controller can be seen by James's feet at the Lyceum Ballroom in London in a picture taken by Ross Halfin dated 1984 https://i.pinimg.com/originals/51/8b/65/518b65b41a38a7bf8da28701ccb8d327.jpg

This is an amazing guitar that was created by Ken Lawrence in the style of James' usual Ken Lawrence explorers, but with a cool twist. It was made using the wood from the garage where Metallica wrote Ride the Lightning and Master of Puppets.

The fretboard art depicts James, Lars, and Kirk together, them meeting Cliff, his death, and them all returning to the garage forever. A very meaningful guitar and a work of pure art.

This picture from the book: back to the front, shows James hetfields rig during the ride the lightning era. It was a Marshall Jmp 2203 boosted with a tube screamer. The rig also features two tc electronic dual parametric equalizers and a Ibanez stereo box.

this photo from the book: back to the front, you can see hetfields rig from the ride the lightning era mic’d up with a shure sm 7

In this instagram post from fabianexp84 a scanned image from an unspecified 1984 James Hetfield interview states "On my axes i use Dean Markeley Magnum custom light stirngs"

In this video Burton can be seen playing a Rickenbacker 4001 in a Burgundyglo finish.

This Bass has been heavily modified with a Gibson EB-0 "Sidewinder" pickup in the neck position, a Seymour Duncan Stacked Jazz pickup in the Bridge position, and a Seymour Duncan Stacked Strat pickup in the chamber for the foam mute under the bridge, activated by a push/pull pot.

This Rickenbacker was Burton's main rig from about Pre-1980 to 1984 and was used in the recording of "Kill 'Em All" and parts of "Ride The Lightning" until it was retired due to malfunction(s). Burton can be seen with this Bass in many pictures from the "K.E.A." tour.

In a handwritten list Burton made for the orginal Metallica Fanclub in the summer of 1983, he lists his gear and modifications as follows:

"Right now, I'm using a Randall 300 watt head into: 1 Randall 1x18 cab and 1 road 2x18 cab."

"At this time I only use 2 effects. A Morley Power Wha Boost and an MXR Limiter."

"I play a Rickenbacker 4001 bass. The 2 stock pickups have been replaced as follows: In the bass position there's a "Gibson EB" pickup. In the treble position, there's a "Seymore Duncan Stacked Jazz" pickup. I have also had a 3rd pickup installed in the bridge. It's a "Seymore Duncan Stacked Strat." Both Duncan pickups are "Humbucking" in design so they help reduce unwanted noise."

In the video titled "Metallica - For Whom the Bell Tolls (Live) [Cliff 'Em All]," Cliff Burton is seen playing the Aria SB-1000 Bass in black and gold. This bass was used by Burton throughout the recording of the albums "Ride the Lightning" and "Master of Puppets," and was integral to his distinctive sound, including the high-pitched notes featured in songs like "For Whom the Bell Tolls" and "Orion." The video, recorded live on August 31, 1985, at Day on the Green in Oakland, CA, is provided by Metallica on their official YouTube channel.

This is the photo of Cliff Burton from 1985. You can see the Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer right next to the Morley PWB. There are more than a handful photos of him using the TS9(some black n white, some in colour) including: live in Paris France 84, Poperinge Belgium 84, unknown show from 84, Ruthie's Inn Berkeley CA 85 and Castle Donington UK 85(as seen here). Reason why I decided for this particular photo is because it's the highest quality 'in-colour' one I could find and the shape, switch and radioactive green tint of the TS9 are easily recognised.

On a side note, other than the live shows, Cliff used an Ibanez TS9 as a source of overdrive in the studio as well. Featured at least on every song of the "Ride The Lightning" album(except the first few notes in "Fade" and the intro to "Fight Fire", those being purely clean). There are many isolated bass tracks on YouTube, the unmistakable TS9 clipping, midrange 'hump' and dynamic sensitivity can be heared providing the 'thunder' on every "RTL" album track with more or less gain depending on the song(and sometimes paired with Boss CS2, Morley PWB and some delay for 'lead bass' sections of the songs such as intro to "Bellz" and lead licks in "Ktulu") . For example: https://youtu.be/XD0PcU429ms?si=OZ0SPVVVYZcy6atF

P.S. After I've set out to confirm Cliff's use of the TS9 some 10+ years ago when most people talked exclusively about Big Muff Pi and there were only few blurry photos available, Cliff's childhood friend, now late, mr. Ken Ryken, better known as Funkytoe on TalkBass forum confirmed it for me in a private message.