EXTRA: An Inside Look at Robert Trujillo's METALLICA Gear

Bass tech Zach Harmon broke down the racks for us: on the left is a Furman PL-PRO Power conditioner, a Korg DTR-1000 tuner, a Voodoo Lab Ground Control Pro, a spare MESA Rectifier guitar head, and two Ampeg SVT-2PROs, one of which is spare. Flanking them are: another Furman PL-PRO, a Shure U4 wireless system, a drawer full of pedals, the main Rectifier head, and a second pair of SVT-2PROs.
  

 


Zon Sonus, customised with Robert’s trademark hot EMG pickups, which can be seen on all his basses and are favored for their presence. Similarly ubiquitous are his Dunlop Icon Series signature strings which are all taper-wound bar the low B-string which is also nickel rather than steel.

The Voodoo Lab Ground Control Pro through which all of Robert’s pedals are connected. They are powered by a Voodoo Lab Pedal Power, and include an Electro-Harmonix Q-Tron, a SansAmp XXL, a Boss OC-2 Octave, a Morley Power Wah, and a SansAmp Bass Driver.

Robert’s primary amp set-up: two Ampeg SVT-2PROs behind two Ampeg 8x10s, and a MESA Quad Rectifier hooked up to a pair of MESA 4x12s. According to Zach, Robert’s bass tech, the remaining SVT-2 and 8x10 are backups. James’ MESA guitar rig is on the right, also sporting a pair of 4x12s.



5-string custom bass by Mike Tobias. Robert also has a similar bass in blue. The cabs in the background are two MESA 4x12s and two Ampeg 8x10s on the right that are lying horizontal.

Japanese-built 24-fret custom ESP 5-string with a “scorched” relic finish.



This blue Zon Sonus RT5 nicely shows the single control knob that features on all of Robert’s Zon basses. The bass is made from two-piece select maple, with a neck of the same material.



5-string Yamaha in “rust rat rod”, custom built by John Gaudesi of Yamaha Artist Services Hollywood and designed by Robert Trujillo and Zach Harmon, his bass tech.