Kirk Hammett's Amplifiers during the Kill em All Era (1983-1984)

Released in 1983, Kill em All was Metallica's debut release and is widely considered to be one of the albums that would come to define the genre of Metal.

 

 

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STUDIO

• Jose Arrendondo modified 100 watt Marshall head
• Boss Distortion Pedal
• Ibanez Overdrive Pedal
• Dunlop Wah Pedal
• Marshall 412 cabinet

Jose Arrendondo Modified Marshall

Not only was this the amp that James Hetfield recorded his rhythm guitar parts with, this is also the amp that Kirk Hammett used for all his solos. This is THE Kill em All Marshall head. Click the photo for an enlargement.

After the release of Van Halen I, every rock guitarist wanted that same Browned out guitar tone. James was no exception and had to have one of his own. This is the amp Kirk used, along with a Boss Distortion pedal, to record his solos for Kill em All.

Jose Arrendondo was the man that modified/serviced Eddie Van Halen's Marshalls back in the day....and that's a whooooole other Costco sized can of worms. There never really was "A" Jose mod, just mods that he performed on many amps. Some sounded great, some not so good. Regardless, the amp Metallica used on Kill em All was a Jose Arrendondo modified 100 watt Marshall SLP.

This amp would later be stolen and never recovered.

Specs recap:

• Jose Arrendondo modified
• 100 watts
• Metal switches
• 4 input
• Large logo
  

LIVE

• Marshall JMP 2203 head
• Dunlop wah pedal
• Boss Distortion pedal
• Marshall 412 cabinets

Notes/Quotes

• "...I used my black Flying V with an old '57 humbucker, which I've had for 12 years now. I plugged in through James' modified Marshall amp, mainly because we didn't have a lot of equipment at that time. I also used a Boss Distortion pedal." gw october, 1991
• Speaking about the solo for 'Seek & Destroy:'
  "When I was doing that guitar solo, I was using James' Marshall. That was the Marshall-it had been hot rodded by some L.A. guy, the same guy who hot rodded Eddie Van Halen's Marshalls [Jose Arrendondo-MJF]-and when it came time to do my guitar leads, I just plugged into that...I had my trusy old Ibanez Tube Screamer, my trusty wah pedal, and my black Gibson Flying V that I used on the first four albums-it was either a '74 or a '78, I'm not sure." Guitar World, March 2002

 

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