Video summary
The discussion centers on the specific drum kit used by Metallica during the recording of their album *Master of Puppets* and their subsequent early tours, clarifying that the studio recordings were made using a Ludwig Black Beauty snare borrowed from Rick Allen of Def Leppard rather than the chrome hardware seen live. While the conversation acknowledges the vast variety of equipment James Hetfield used in the studio for different albums, the primary focus remains on his touring configurations to avoid confusion caused by multiple kit changes seen in music videos like *Some Kind of Monster*. This distinction is crucial because while the snare and other components like heads and sticks remained consistent during this era, the shell hardware underwent notable variations depending on the location and logistical constraints.
A significant shift occurred during a show in Japan in 1986, where Hetfield switched to a white Artstar kit, likely chosen for shipping reasons when traveling overseas. This particular configuration was unique because it featured full one-piece lugs, marking a departure from his usual preference for split single lugs seen on other kits like the Black Album set. The kit consisted of clear dot controlled sound heads on top and Ambassador Remo clear heads on the bottom, with the snare remaining a chrome King Beat. This specific white Artstar setup was utilized for only that single performance in Japan, highlighting how tour logistics could force temporary deviations from the standard gear lineup.
Following this brief variation, the narrative moves to the hardware specifics that defined the band's sound throughout this period, particularly focusing on the Tama pedals used by Hetfield. Throughout the era spanning from 1985 through the mid-80s, he consistently utilized the Tama King Beat 60 or 6755 models for his foot control. The transcript notes that while there were many different colored kits and brands like Sabian and Gretsch used in studio sessions, the live touring gear maintained a core identity with these specific pedal models. Ultimately, despite the logistical challenges of international travel leading to one-off changes like the Japanese show, the band's equipment evolution was driven by practical necessities rather than frequent stylistic shifts, preserving a consistent sonic foundation for their early masterpieces.
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Chris, where do we go from there, man?
This is going on.
>> right. So, let me let me rewind. I
should bring up something in the studio
on Master of Puppets. There was a Ludwig
Black Beauty. That's what he recorded
with Lightning and Master of Puppets.
That was It was Rick Allen from Yeah,
Rick Allen from Def Leppard. He would He
would borrow that and he never brought
it on the road, but it was always known
that that's what he used in the studio
to record with. So, you know, Tom might
not like this, but I'm going to tell you
that Master of Puppets that was
That's a Ludwig That's a Ludwig Black
Beauty.
>> Well, that's a That's like a holy grail
kind of snare. I mean, that's everyone,
you know, and once you're in the studio,
I feel like all bets are off. Which I I
will mention you said to me before we
started that we're primarily talking
about, minus that bit of info, we're
talking really mainly about the live
kits.
>> talking about the live kits. There's so
much variation in studio. I mean,
Sabian, Gretsch, all kinds of stuff he's
used. Um there's different colors. I
mean, you
watching like if you've seen Some Kind
of Monster, there's just like three or
four different colored drum kits, all
different brands. So, for time's sake,
uh you know, we're we're going
>> Maybe we do that another time down the
road.
>> talk about the tour kits cuz that in
itself is is a lot. So,
>> Yeah. All right. Well, where do we go
from there?
>> So, where are we now? '85, Master of
Puppets. We're talking about the chrome
kit. So, we did the hardware, the heads,
sticks, everything's the same. So,
uh you know, we know you know, we know
Cliff passed
Yeah, after
after the Sweden show. So, now there's
now there's a pause. You know, Jason
came on. So, there's a little lull in
the touring. But,
as far as the gear is concerned, the
next variation is and it's in Japan,
Japan '86.
Now, he's got a white Artstar.
A white Artstar one. Probably it's
always been said for shipping reasons,
you know.
You know, I I don't know what it cost or
what it takes to ship
a kit that size over there, but it's
always been said for shipping overseas
there's been variations. So, now Japan
86 we see a white Artstar.
Um it's got the full one-piece lugs and
that's that's interesting because he's
never really been a one-piece lug kind
of guy, you know, we know that from the
coming up, you know, black album kit
we'll talk about later. He's always been
a split single lug. So, we see the
one-piece, we know it's a white Artstar.
Uh believe it's piano white, I could be
wrong, but this was offered by Tama. So,
you could get this color if you wanted
to. So, um still the same top mounts,
still the same sizes, symbols are the
same.
Um so, it was really used for that one
show.
Uh the heads are the clear dot uh
controlled sound. I could see those on
there.
The bottoms are still we're still using
Ambassador Remo Ambassador clears.
And it looks to be like they're the full
he's got the full head on on the bottom
now. So, things are changing. Uh same
snare.
He's in the chrome King Beat, I believe.
Um and that was only for one show.
There's no real other history on this
kit. I don't see it popping up anywhere
or
>> Yeah. Well, let me just clarify a little
bit. So, you said this was like I mean,
I think Japan I think Tama. So, was this
kit in Japan? Like did he or was it
wasn't shipped there or it was shipped
there?
>> I I
>> I imagine they would probably be like,
"Hey, we got a kit for you in Japan."
>> in Japan. We'll bring it here. Um
but, you know, I have talked before with
his current tech Jimmy.
And everything he has he retains, you
know, I mean, there there's there's
situations he gives it away. I mean, I
think he gave a drum set to the drummer
from Kid Rock, but everything's up there
in headquarters.
So, I imagine he's still got that kit.
>> Okay.
>> Maybe it was returned to Tama. I can't
really give you an answer, but
>> Okay.
>> that that makes sense. You're going to
Japan, Tama is in Japan, will provide
you this kit. So, there's there's a
quick video on it, real quick. They're
doing um
they're doing a sound check.
You could see it's a real quick snippet.
You could see that kit up there. So,
it's definitely it's a white Artstar,
same sizes. I believe uh I want to say
the Artstars were
still birch at this time.
Uh you know, I'm not sure on that. You
know, I've I've never really
dug into Artstars too much, but
or at least the Artstar 1. The Artstar 2
I have more knowledge on. But, the
Artstar 1s, you know, if it's not maple,
it's going to be your 6-7 ply birch
at this time. So, that's Japan 86. Um
>> All right.
>> Pedals, I I haven't really mentioned
pedals. You know, I didn't bring it up
with the uh the Chrome Imperialstars.
And um so, the pedals
throughout this period are going to be
your Tama King Beat
60 uh 6755.
He's using Tama King Beats. These are
the pedals uh pretty much for this
period.