: Amp setting for which era? Back in the day he used modded Marshall JCM800's but now he uses Mesa Triple and Dual Rectifiers. Usually hes got his bass and treble up and scoops the mids. He also uses EMG81 pickup in the bridge and EMG85 pickup in the neck which helps give him his tone. As far as pedals a Crybaby Wah, and Tubescreamer. If you really want his sound i'd suggest buying a Mesa halfstack, and his custom ESP model guitar (not the LTD version) and then messing around with the settings. Thats the only way to even get close to his tone.

Actually, he also used an ADA mp-1 midi preamp which you can grab off ebay for cheap. Now he uses Rectos, a Mark VI, and triaxis setups.

As far as guitars, his skully special is just a modified ESP M-II. If you don't have the cash, the LTD M-100 has the same specs: Alder body, Maple neck rosewood fretboard, licensed floyd, bolt-on neck, 24 frets. he uses dual emg 81 pickups. He's also used esp and fender strats which can be seen in the ONE video.

Rhythm tone: BASS - 8, MID - 4, HIGH 8, GAIN 7
For the older sound add more gain and remove mids.
Lead tone: step on an EQ pedal with an upside down 'v' shape as so to boost the mids for soloing.
Tube amps will get you closer to his sound, also keep in mind most of their albums have many layers of guitar tracks, panned on both sides. That's the key to the metallica wall o' sound. Oh yeah and don't forget the crutch er i mean wah pedal for soloing. ;)

The best guitar is the one that feels good in your hands!
Cosmetics are O.K. and pickups can be changed.But if your left hand doesn't like it,then keep looking for YOUR axe.
I have a 77'Les Paul thats wonderful and a Carvin that I love!
Good Luck

China ?? are you sure its a custom shop?

http://www.harmony-central.com/Guitar/Data4/Yamaki/Les-Paul-Standard-01.html
there are a couple on their, they get good reviews, sounds like a nice guitar.
Lee

The Jackson's neck will play faster and probably have the harsher tone that you need for metal. I can't recall which EMG p/u's are in it...so you may yet have to change them out. The Les Paul will will have good tone for metal if you get one with a maple top, otherwise straight mahogony (les paul specials) will just be too warm and mellow. Plus you have tremolo options with the Jackson.

check out ebay.co.uk , ive seen a guy on their selling all sorts of waterslide transfer decals for fender, just type 'decal' and he will come up, email him and tell him what you want, they usualy go for about £10-£15, $25??
Lee

Hi
You should check out Stuart Horne, who lives in Eaglesham I believe. He taught me and my son a couple of years ago and he's a genuinely nice bloke with a nice, relaxed manner. He'll basically teach you pretty much anything you want to know, and will go at a pace which suits you. Prices are reasonable too. Well worth getting in touch with him. If you catch him say hi from me - Allan Beattie (from Giffnock, but now live in London). Good luck.

umm do you want a red pickguard> or a black one? or what?

: DOES ANY ONE KNOW WHERE I CAN GET A RED SG STANDARD PICK GUARD? thank you

looks like you'd have to do some measuring on your own SG to make sure its the same fit.

could also try this site
http://stew-mac.com/

they have some, sometimes have more than is on their website, so might want to call them, or they could make one for you.
or you could buy the plastic material there, and make your own pickguard, if ya want to save megabucks.

these prices on the page youve shown me arent much different than the prices ive seen for actual gibson pickguards at guitar center, to be honest.
if you dont have a guitar center near you, try musicians friend or zzoomsound or ams or something like that.
couldnt hurt to even just ask gibson, they sell their stuff. its not usually too much for that kind of thing.

: http://www.guitarpartsresource.com/pickguard_gib.html

: CAN SOME ONE PLEASE TELL ME which pickguard out of all of these would fit on a 99' gibson sg standard?? thanky you very much!!!!