The bass guitar is a vital part of metallica’s sound. They use a variety of techniques to create their unique sound, including slapping and tapping. They also use a variety of effect pedals to add to their sound.
Cliff Burton was the original bassist for thrash metal titans Metallica before his death in a tour bus accident in 1986. He was known for using a Rickenbacker 4001 bass.
1. Jaco Pastorius Bass Of Doom
Known as one of the world’s most influential bassists, Jaco Pastorius was a multifaceted musician who transcended genres, with an impact that extends to jazz, rock, and even metal. During his brief stint in the group Weather Report, he revolutionized the way bass was played on stage, incorporating harmonics and multi-note melodies to create a unique sound. His improvisational skills were legendary, and his chameleonic scat playing was a major influence on many modern bassists, particularly those of fusion and progressive metal bands like Metallica.
While the tone of his bass and his expert knowledge of it are certainly of mythical proportions, what’s most intriguing is the lore surrounding his number one instrument, the infamous Bass of Doom. The fretless 1962 Fender Jazz Bass was reportedly bought by Pastorius already “badly defretted” (according to some accounts, he filed down the key slots with a butter knife and filled them in with wood putty or plastic wood, then coated it with multiple coats of Poly Poxy). Regardless of its poor condition, the bass served as Pastorius’ main weapon throughout his years with the band, appearing on recordings such as Mood Swings and 8:30 and allowing him to perfect his signature playing style heard on recordings from Joni Mitchell and Herbie Hancock to Weather Report.
Although Pastorius preferred a two-tone sunburst 1960 Fender Jazz during these years, the Bass of Doom was so beloved by him that he decided to send it back to luthier Kevin Kaufman for refurbishment, using it only once more before it disappeared. He had used it to record Mood Swings with guitarist Mike Stern only days before its theft, and he never saw it again.
After he died in 1987, the family of the renowned bassist started a legal battle to get their hands on the Bass of Doom, and this eventually led to Metallica bassist and longtime Pastorius fan Robert Trujillo purchasing the bass from its anonymous owner in 2007. Trujillo recently visited City Paper to discuss his relationship with the fabled instrument and the legacy that it has left behind.
2. Fretless Bass
The bass guitar is a key part of the Metallica sound, and Robert Trujillo’s unique style has helped to create their iconic heavy metal tone. His use of different effects and techniques, such as slapping and tapping, have also contributed to the band’s signature sound. Additionally, he often uses distortion pedals like the Electro-Harmonix Bass Big Muff Pi to add a gritty edge to his playing.
Pino Palladino is one of the most respected fretless bassists in music, and has performed with a wide range of artists, including The Who, David Gilmour, Elton John, and Nine Inch Nails. He has a deep knowledge of jazz, blues, and funk, and can also play more rock-oriented melodic bass lines. He has a unique style that blends these different styles into his own unique musical voice.
Metallica’s 1988 album And Justice for All is notable for its lack of a bass guitar on many tracks. While many fans have speculated on the reason behind this decision, it is likely that the band wanted to emphasize the drums and other lead instruments.
While the limited recording quality of this grinding tune from Metallica’s debut album doesn’t do much justice to Kirk Hammett and James Hetfield’s crunching intentions, it does show off Burton’s intuitive bass pulsing. He knows when to let his fingers wander and when to sit on the beat, resulting in an undeniably catchy groove.
Cliff Burton, who died in a tour bus crash in 1986, was known for his distinctive Rickenbacker 4001 bass guitar. His use of this instrument was key in the creation of Metallica’s classic albums, including Master of Puppets and Ride the Lightning. In this track from the album, he creates an intricate and complex bass line that lays the foundation for the rest of the song.
In addition to his famous Rickenbacker bass, Burton used a Fender Precision Bass and a customized Warwick streamer bass. He also used various amps to achieve his desired sound, including a Mesa Boogie Mark V amplifier. He is also known for his use of a variety of different bass strings, which has helped to create the metallic and distorted sound that is characteristic of Metallica’s music.
3. Jason Newsted Bass
The bassist for Metallica in the 1980s and 1990s was Jason Newsted, who played with Flotsam and Jetsam before joining the band. He wrote three of the tracks on their 1988 album… And Justice For All, but his death in a car crash shortly afterward led to a change in the recording process and ultimately the removal of the bass parts. Newsted was hired to fill the enormous shoes of Cliff Burton, and he is often credited with coining the word “thrash.” He was also one of the first bassists to take advantage of modern amp technology, using effects like distortion and feedback.
His performance on the track Kill ‘Em All is a good example of his mastery of this technique. He combines the sounds of both distortion and feedback to create an effect that is truly otherworldly. He was a huge influence on the sound of Metallica, and it’s easy to see why he is considered one of the greatest bass players of all time.
Although he only remained in the group for 15 years, he left a lasting legacy on metal music. His influence on the genre is unparalleled, and he is a true pioneer in the field of bass guitar.
In his short tenure in the band, he established himself as a powerhouse bassist, despite his troubled relationship with drummer Lars Ulrich and lead singer James Hetfield. His departure was due to a clash over the release of his side project Echobrain, and the turmoil was captured in the documentary film Some Kind of Monster. He was replaced by Robert Trujillo for the recording of 2003’s St. Anger and on the subsequent tour, but he was later reinstated as the permanent bassist for the band.
Trujillo is a phenomenal player, and his skills are evident in every Metallica recording. He has a deep knowledge of the bass and is able to improvise, which makes him an ideal bassist for the band. He has also been a member of Suicidal Tendencies, Infectious Grooves, and Black Label Society, and he has a unique style that is uniquely his own. He plays with a pick, but is also a talented slap bassist and can play with his fingers.
4. Robert Trujillo Bass
Robert Trujillo has been playing bass with Metallica since 2003. Before joining the band, he had been playing with bands such as Infectious Grooves and Black Label Society. He also worked with Jerry Cantrell in a short stint for his solo project. He plays a variety of basses for Metallica including Warwick, Nash, and Zon. He also uses a variety of strings, primarily Dunlop bass guitar strings.
The bass in hard rock/metal is often seen as a support role. It provides a foundation for the drums and guitars. It can add some funk, a deep sound, and it can even be the driving force for the band’s overall sound. It’s important that the bass player has a good understanding of the music they’re playing and can play it well.
Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo has a very unique style that is highly recognizable. He’s known for his finger dexterity and his use of a tapping technique. He’s also a huge fan of jazz, which is evident in the way he plays his bass. He’s a true master of the instrument and knows how to use it to make the music come alive on stage.
He’s also a huge fan of Jaco Pastorius and has been working on a documentary about the late jazz virtuoso. It’s been a long journey for the film, but it’s finally starting to make the rounds. He’s excited about the final product and hopes to have it released soon.
In the video below, you can see some of the equipment Robert uses for his live shows. The rig includes a Mesa Dual Rectifier and various Mesa cabinets. The cabs on the left are probably an Ampeg SVT 2 and a Marshall 405 on top of an Ampeg 8×10.
Robert used a lot of the same gear on the World Magnetic tour. One addition was a Fernandes Gravity bass in silver with blue flame decals. He also used a new Warwick bass with artwork by Chloe Trujillo. The band would also use a bass named the Bass of Doom, which was a de-freted Fender Jazz Bass that belonged to Jaco Pastorius.