Fade to Black

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♭)

Reported 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

Gibson Flying V Reissue

Reissue · for the 1970s Gibson Flying V

$1,500 to $2,800

Dunlop Cry Baby Wah

Still made · for the Dunlop Cry Baby Wah

$80 to $120

Gibson Flying V (black) Reissue

Reissue · for the Black Gibson Flying V (1984)

$1,500 to $2,800

Marshall JCM800 2203 Reissue

Reissue · for the Marshall JCM800 2203 (1979)

$1,200 to $1,800

Boss DS-1 Distortion

Still made · for the Boss DS-1 Distortion

$100 to $120

Marshall 1960 4x12 Cabinet

Still made · for the Marshall 1960 4x12 Cabinet

$900 to $1,200

Practical playing approach

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

1. 1.Drop to E♭ Standard tuning before you start.
2. 2.Use the bridge pickup for the heavy rhythm sections.
3. 3.Engage the wah pedal and sweep the filter up for the solo, using wide bends and sustained vibrato.
4. 4.Let the guitar dynamics breathe: clean arpeggios then crank the gain for the lead.
5. 5.Pick the strings with a firm attack to bring out the mid‑range of the Marshall.