Battery

The recording

“Battery” opens with layered nylon‑string acoustic guitars before the electric riff erupts. The rhythm part was recorded at Sweet Silence Studios in Copenhagen, tracked to analog tape under the direction of producer/engineer Flemming Rasmussen. Hetfield played a Jackson Custom‑Shop King V “Kill Bon Jovi” with Seymour Duncan Invader pickups, in standard E tuning, using all downstrokes. The signal ran through a Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ used as a preamp, into a modified 100‑watt Marshall JCM800 power section and a 4×12 cabinet, capturing the tight, aggressive thrash tone that defines the track.

Tuning Standard (E A D G B E)

Reported gear

Jackson Custom Shop King V 'Kill Bon Jovi'

Guitar

James Hetfield used his custom‑shop Jackson King V, nicknamed “Kill Bon Jovi”, equipped with Seymour Duncan Invader pickups for the aggressive rhythm tone on “Battery”.

Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ (preamp)

Preamp

The Mark IIC+ served as a high‑gain preamp, shaping the tight, aggressive tone before feeding the signal into the Marshall power section.

Modified Marshall JCM800 (100‑watt)

Power Amp

The signal was routed into a modified 100‑watt Marshall JCM800 power section, delivering the classic high‑gain, British‑voiced punch heard on “Battery”.

4x12 Cabinet (likely Marshall)

Cabinet

A 4×12 speaker cabinet completed the rig, providing the massive low‑end and tight mids that drive the song’s rhythm section.

Alternatives

Jackson KV2

Modern equivalent · for the Jackson Custom Shop King V 'Kill Bon Jovi'

$900 to $1,200

Marshall JCM800 100‑watt head

Budget alternative · for the Modified Marshall JCM800 (100‑watt)

$1,200 to $1,800

Mesa/Boogie Mark V

Modern equivalent · for the Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ (preamp)

$2,200 to $2,800

Marshall 1960A 4x12 Cabinet

Budget alternative · for the 4x12 Cabinet (likely Marshall)

$700 to $1,000

Practical playing approach

Recreation guidance, not a claim about undocumented studio control positions.

1. 1.Use strict down‑picking for every eighth‑note to keep the attack tight.
2. 2.Lock the low E string with a solid palm‑muted anchor while playing the chug.
3. 3.Set the pickup selector to the bridge humbucker and roll the tone knob back slightly to tighten the high‑end.
4. 4.Maintain a relaxed yet aggressive picking motion to sustain speed without fatigue.
5. 5.Dial the guitar’s volume to full for maximum gain and attack.