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The recording
Fade to Black opens with a clean acoustic arpeggio before diving into the heavy electric section. The electric parts were recorded at Sweet Silence Studios in Copenhagen under engineer Flemming Rasmussen. Both James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett tuned down a half-step to E♭ Standard. Hetfield’s rhythm tracks were captured with a Gibson Flying V plugged into a Marshall JCM800 2203 head, using a Boss DS-1 for a subtle boost. Hammett’s iconic solo was played on a black Gibson Flying V through a Cry Baby wah, also feeding the same Marshall stack. The amp was miked with a Shure SM57 and a Marshall 4×12 cabinet, giving the track its aggressive yet articulate tone.
Tuning E♭ Standard (E♭ A♭ D♭ G♭ B♭ E♭)
Signal chain
Original gear
1970s Gibson Flying V
Guitar
Hetfield tracked the rhythm parts on a 1970s Gibson Flying V, running it straight into a Marshall JCM800 2203 head, and used a Boss DS-1 for a slight boost on the heavy sections.
Black Gibson Flying V (1984)
Guitar
Hammett recorded the soaring solo on a black Gibson Flying V, employing a Cry Baby wah to shape the vocal‑like phrasing.
Boss DS-1 Distortion
Pedal
The Boss DS‑1 was used as a boost pedal, adding extra gain for the distorted rhythm tones.
Dunlop Cry Baby Wah
Pedal
A Cry Baby wah pedal was placed before the amp for the solo, with the filter swept up to accentuate the lead lines.
Marshall JCM800 2203 (1979)
Amp
Marshall 1960 4x12 Cabinet
Cabinet
The amp was paired with a Marshall 4×12 speaker cabinet, delivering the tight, mid‑focused crunch characteristic of Ride the Lightning.
Alternatives
Practical playing approach
Recreation guidance, not a claim about undocumented studio control positions.
- 1.Drop to E♭ Standard tuning before you start.
- 2.Use the bridge pickup for the heavy rhythm sections.
- 3.Engage the wah pedal and sweep the filter up for the solo, using wide bends and sustained vibrato.
- 4.Let the guitar dynamics breathe: clean arpeggios then crank the gain for the lead.
- 5.Pick the strings with a firm attack to bring out the mid‑range of the Marshall.
Sources
Frequently asked questions
What gear was used for the Fade to Black guitar tone?
The available research points to 1970s Gibson Flying V into Marshall JCM800 2203 (1979). The full reported signal chain and evidence links are listed on this page.
Are the original Fade to Black amp settings documented?
Exact historical knob positions are not reliably documented for most recordings. ToneTwin does not publish generated values as studio fact; it creates playable settings only for the amp and pedals a player selects.
What tuning is Fade to Black in?
The current research record lists E♭ Standard (E♭ A♭ D♭ G♭ B♭ E♭). ToneTwin keeps corrections open when reliable accounts disagree.
How do I recreate the Fade to Black tone on my own gear?
Use the reported pickup, gain character, effects and signal-chain order as the target, then translate that target to your equipment. The matcher models controls for your selected rig rather than copying undocumented studio numbers.
Researched and reviewed by the ToneTwin Research Team.
