What amp does Metallica use for Nothing Else Matters?

The clean tone comes from a Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus — famous for its pristine clean sound and built-in stereo chorus effect. The heavier sections later use the standard Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC++.

What is the Roland JC-120's chorus effect?

The JC-120 has a built-in analog chorus that splits the signal into stereo. It creates a lush, shimmering width that's been used on countless recordings from jazz to metal.

How to get the Nothing Else Matters clean tone?

Use a very clean amp or clean channel. Add chorus for shimmer and width. Moderate reverb. Play with fingers (no pick) for the gentle, round attack Hetfield uses on the intro.

Hard Rock & Metal1991Metallica (The Black Album)

Nothing Else Matters Amp Settings

by Metallica

Nothing Else Matters features Metallica's most delicate tone — a pristine clean from a Roland JC-120 that showcases Hetfield's fingerpicking. It's a complete departure from their usual Mesa crunch, proving that heavy bands can be beautiful.

Adapt to Your AmpFree — no account needed

What Makes This Tone Iconic

The contrast is what makes it powerful. Metallica — the heaviest band in the world — playing a gentle ballad with crystalline clean tone. The Roland JC-120's famous chorus effect adds a shimmering stereo width that gives the arpeggios a lush, almost orchestral quality. Hetfield's fingerpicking is surprisingly gentle and precise, revealing a sensitivity that the heavy riffs usually mask.

Key Tone Elements

Roland JC-120 — legendary clean amp with built-in chorus
JC-120's stereo chorus for shimmering width
Mesa Boogie Mark IIC++ for the heavier sections later in the song
Fingerpicking technique — gentle, precise arpeggios
No distortion on the intro/verses — pure clean tone

Original Recording Settings

VerifiedResearched tone data for "Nothing Else Matters" by Metallica

Original Gear

Guitar: Tom Anderson ProAM (Strat-style, borrowed from Kirk Hammett) for clean sections / ESP Explorer (EMG) for heavy sections / Gretsch White Falcon (Bob Rock's, Bigsby dive) / Gibson EDS-1275 Doubleneck (12-string fills)
Pickups: Tom Anderson single coils (clean) / EMG 81 bridge + EMG 60 neck (heavy) (neck (clean sections) / bridge (heavy sections))
Amplifier: Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus (clean) + direct signal to board through MXR DynaComp / Mesa Boogie Mark IIC++ Simul-Class (heavy)
Channel: Clean (JC-120) / Lead (Mesa IIC++)
Tuning: standard
Pickup Selector: neck (clean) / bridge (heavy)
Strings: 0.010-0.046 (Ernie Ball Regular Slinky) or 0.011-0.048 (Power Slinky)

Hetfield (Guitar Player Sept 1991): 'I got really good clean sounds playing Kirk's Tom Anderson strat through a Roland JC120 amp and plugging straight into the desk through an old MXR Dynacomp compressor.' Dual clean signals blended. Heavy sections use same Mesa IIC++ as Enter Sandman plus Jose Arredondo-modified Marshall Super Lead (Bob Rock's amp). Up to 8 microphones on cabinets. Produced by Bob Rock at One on One Recording Studios, LA.

Amp Settings

Bass

6.0

Mid

6.0

Treble

7.0

Volume

5.0

Clean settings (JC-120): Volume 4-5, Bass 5-6, Mid 5-6, Treble 6-7, Chorus Depth 4-5 Rate 3-4, Reverb 3-4. No published specific settings for NEM. Settings here represent the primary clean tone.

Effects Chain

→

MXR DynaComp

compressor

→

1.MXR DynaComp — Clean signal split: one path through JC-120, one direct to board through DynaComp. Both signals blended for the recorded clean tone.

Playing Technique

Intro is fingerpicked E minor arpeggio—open low E with thumb, open G/B/high E with fingers. No pick for intro. Hetfield plays the guitar solo himself—one of the rare Metallica songs where Kirk Hammett does not play. Gretsch White Falcon section uses Bigsby tremolo for descending pitch effect recorded 'with just the reverb sound, no attack.' Live band recording (first time for Metallica, Bob Rock's insistence).

Sources+

Guitar World October 1991: Hetfield confirming Tom Anderson ProAM, dual clean signal, DynaComp
Guitar Player September 1991: Hetfield confirming JC-120 and DI setup, exact quote
A Year and a Half in the Life of Metallica documentary
Equipboard.com - James Hetfield