James Hetfield’s Marshall JCM 800 Model 2203

After James Hetfield’s Marshall Super Lead Model 1959 was stolen in early 1984, he was left searching for a replacement. Soon after the theft, Metallica headed to Europe to begin work on their second album, Ride the Lightning. While recording at Sweet Silence Studio in Copenhagen, James found his new amp—a Marshall JMP 2203.

But, between the time the original Marshall was stolen in January 1984 and the conclusion of the “Seven Dates of Hell” tour with Venom on February 12, 1984, Metallica had to rely on rented equipment for their performances.

Just before we left for Europe to start the Venom thing, all of our equipment had got stolen in Boston. All drums, all Marshalls — we had them for years. We had to borrow some equipment to finish up some dates in the States, to have enough money to travel to Europe.

Metallica – CKLN 88.1FM Aggressive Rock Radio Interview, Toronto – Jan 15 1985 – Ride The Lightning

Before settling on the 2203, both James and Kirk Hammett tried out various amps borrowed from local bands, including Mercyful Fate, a Danish metal band.

We borrowed every band’s equipment in Copenhagen. We were trying Mercyful Fate’s stuff, and couple of other local bands. I tried every Marshall they had in Denmark practically, and I was about to give up, I was frustrated.

Then there was this little music shop somewhere in a little hole in a wall where I found a French-made Marshall, and said what the hell, plugged it in, and it sounded pretty good.

Metallica – CKLN 88.1FM Aggressive Rock Radio Interview, Toronto – Jan 15 1985 – Ride The Lightning

Studio Albums done on the Amp

For the recording of Ride the Lightning in 1984, Hetfield ended up using this Marshall JCM800 alongside an Ibanez Tube Screamer TS-9 overdrive pedal and Marshall 1960B speaker cabinets.

The amp was later modified by Ken Fischer of Trainwreck Amps to allow for preamp bypass, and James used it on Master of Puppets, with Mesa Boogie Mark IIC+ head slaved into Marshall power section. A similar setup was used on …And Justice For All.

Just before “Ride”, during “Kill ‘em All”, James was really satisfied with his guitar sound, he modified his Marshall amp. Unfortunately, that was stolen then he wasn’t able to get the sound that he wanted. We decided to call up every metal band in Denmark in order to try out every Marshall that was in available at that time. He tried them all out and chose what he liked the most. Then, a few years later, Metallica’s guitar sound shifted gradually from the Marshall to the Mesa boogie amps in the end of the 80s. I personally liked the Marshall more.

Flemming Rasmussen, Danish sound engineer, record producer, October 2011