Hetfield + Jose

[RaceU4her]

That's great that it sounded "insane" in the room but sadly that insanity isn't reflected on the album. Is there an example of a Greg Fidelman metal tone that isn't junk? It's ok to mix some records with the 'big picture' in mind but this is Metallica, the guitars absolutely must have authority. His tones carry no weight, Slipknot went from brutal nasty tones on Iowa to the polite castrated whimper heard on the Fidelman mixed Vol 3.

I don’t know how it works when you get to the level of these bands but don’t metallica, slayer or slipknot have at least some say in what their album sounds like? Dosent the band have the final approval? Someone must hear something in this dude if he keeps getting hired, I’m not sure who though

 

[Deleted member 16554]

I don’t know how it works when you get to the level of these bands but don’t metallica, slayer or slipknot have at least some say in what their album sounds like? Dosent the band have the final approval? Someone must hear something in this dude if he keeps getting hired, I’m not sure who though

If it’s anything like the board rooms of large corporations, successful people become enamored by their success…money suckers show up to stroke their ego…the successful people are so scared of losing relevance or the “it” factor, they stop trusting their gut and just look for someone to say “oh yea, that sounds awesome”. And that’s why no one gets to be king forever lol

My $.02 from personal experience

 

[dawnofdreamx97]

I believe it was the KEA tour when it was stolen, because they had to go looking for an amp to use on RTL.

I want to know where THAT amp is right now. Like.... can you imagine that amp is just sitting in someone's basement right now and they don't even know what they have.... what a shame ! It'd be pretty incredible to find that amp again. Someone's gotta know. There's gotta be a way

 

[thegame]

I want to know where THAT amp is right now. Like.... can you imagine that amp is just sitting in someone's basement right now and they don't even know what they have.... what a shame ! It'd be pretty incredible to find that amp again. Someone's gotta know. There's gotta be a way

It’s with Cameron for mods. He’s “almost” done, he swears it.

 

[Bram576]

That's great that it sounded "insane" in the room but sadly that insanity isn't reflected on the album. Is there an example of a Greg Fidelman metal tone that isn't junk? It's ok to mix some records with the 'big picture' in mind but this is Metallica, the guitars absolutely must have authority. His tones carry no weight, Slipknot went from brutal nasty tones on Iowa to the polite castrated whimper heard on the Fidelman mixed Vol 3.

It’s interesting how whimpy many guitar tones are nowadays. Bands really opt to play it safe, and not go for anything extreme. Saw even mark Lewis mention that in an interview.

 

[Techdeth]

I don’t know how it works when you get to the level of these bands but don’t metallica, slayer or slipknot have at least some say in what their album sounds like? Dosent the band have the final approval? Someone must hear something in this dude if he keeps getting hired, I’m not sure who though

He’s the perfect yes man . I’ll sit here and say yes and make you get it done

 

[ZEN Amps]

I don’t know how it works when you get to the level of these bands but don’t metallica, slayer or slipknot have at least some say in what their album sounds like? Dosent the band have the final approval? Someone must hear something in this dude if he keeps getting hired, I’m not sure who though

Yes, they generally have most of the say and always final approval. I'm not defending Fidelman - I don't know his work well enough to have an opinion - but the bands hiring him would be doing so because they simply like what he brings to the table.

He must be good to work with, and it's a fair assumption to say any artist that does more than one project with him actually digs what he brings to their sound, and the project overall.

Remember Het and Lars both thought Justice and St Anger were the bomb at the time - can't blame Greg there. And if we're just talking guitar tone, James is very into his sound and gear so what you're hearing is likely exactly what he wants.

 

[angelspade]

Yes, they generally have most of the say and always final approval. I'm not defending Fidelman - I don't know his work well enough to have an opinion - but the bands hiring him would be doing so because they simply like what he brings to the table.

He must be good to work with, and it's a fair assumption to say any artist that does more than one project with him actually digs what he brings to their sound, and the project overall.

Remember Het and Lars both thought Justice and St Anger were the bomb at the time - can't blame Greg there. And if we're just talking guitar tone, James is very into his sound and gear so what you're hearing is likely exactly what he wants.

Totally agree here. That said, I think we all know that artists can be insecure in trusting their ear at times and producers can have a fairly substantive impact on what "works". I've seen plenty of well established artists swayed in this regard. This is why many producers have a certain signature "sound" attached to the names. they mold the artists ear to fit their objectives. Fidelman favors under-gained, upper mid focused guitar sounds. They often lack weight in bass and low-mids and lack attack in the top end. He picked this up from Rubin. It works at times, but not for Hetfield in my opinion.

 

[ZEN Amps]

Totally agree here. That said, I think we all know that artists can be insecure in trusting their ear at times and producers can have a fairly substantive impact on what "works". I've seen plenty of well established artists swayed in this regard. This is why many producers have a certain signature "sound" attached to the names. they mold the artists ear to fit their objectives. Fidelman favors under-gained, upper mid focused guitar sounds. They often lack weight in bass and low-mids and lack attack in the top end. He picked this up from Rubin. It works at times, but not for Hetfield in my opinion.

Yeah for sure, producers massively shape the sound - I think comparing Justice to Black is the best ever example of that!

 

[RaceU4her]

Yes, they generally have most of the say and always final approval. I'm not defending Fidelman - I don't know his work well enough to have an opinion - but the bands hiring him would be doing so because they simply like what he brings to the table.

He must be good to work with, and it's a fair assumption to say any artist that does more than one project with him actually digs what he brings to their sound, and the project overall.

Remember Het and Lars both thought Justice and St Anger were the bomb at the time - can't blame Greg there. And if we're just talking guitar tone, James is very into his sound and gear so what you're hearing is likely exactly what he wants.

i didnt know who fidelman was till this new metallica starting coming out and people were bitching about him. maybe james just cant hear anymore lol

 

[angelspade]

They have a Mesa Mark III C+, Diezel VH4 and a Wizard MC laying around the studio. All the bases are covered, should not have strayed too far outside of that.

 

[Andor006]

This amp was used with the 2c++ on black album too . Goes to show how the producer can change the tone so easily

The black album main guitar sound is definitive Mesa Boogie.

 

[Techdeth]

The black album main guitar sound is definitive Mesa Boogie.

But that José highs are prevalent af . Especially on through the never sand wolf and man

 

[rottingcorpse]

maybe james just cant hear anymore lol

This is what I can only suppose. James may also be at that point in life where he is only still doing this because he has to...to support the machine that is Metallica. I'm sure he still love jamming, but they have mentioned that if they stopped writing and touring a lot of people that have been with them for decades will be out of work. He might be at the point where he would love to opt out, but just cant...so he just says "That riff will do. That tone will do. That song will do. Fuck it, can I go home now?" Honestly, that's where I would be if I was at his level and age. I'd rather stay home, pet the animals and enjoy retired life.

And really...who here would wanna have to deal with Larz if you didn't absolutely have to?

 

[RaceU4her]

This is what I can only suppose. James may also be at that point in life where he is only still doing this because he has to...to support the machine that is Metallica. I'm sure he still love jamming, but they have mentioned that if they stopped writing and touring a lot of people that have been with them for decades will be out of work. He might be at the point where he would love to opt out, but just cant...so he just says "That riff will do. That tone will do. That song will do. Fuck it, can I go home now?" Honestly, that's where I would be if I was at his level and age. I'd rather stay home, pet the animals and enjoy retired life.

And really...who here would wanna have to deal with Larz if you didn't absolutely have to?

that probably is the most likely scenario, metallica must employ hundreds and hundreds if not more worldwide, i would be curious to see a run down of their whole operation. didnt they just buy a factory to make their own records i think i saw?

 

[angelspade]

that probably is the most likely scenario, metallica must employ hundreds and hundreds if not more worldwide, i would be curious to see a run down of their whole operation. didnt they just buy a factory to make their own records i think i saw?

Metallica has transitioned in a vertically integrated, self-contained powerhouse corporation. They control everything from their masters to the actual pressing of vinyl. More bands should study their business model.

 

[Techdeth]

Metallica has transitioned in a vertically integrated, self-contained powerhouse corporation. They control everything from their masters to the actual pressing of vinyl. More bands should study their business model.

Being a big band like Metallica is over . We are seeing rock music go the way of jazz. Jazz was one the music of the everyday man. Thst vwass rock . We are watching then end of an era