--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For the 'Load' album, I was experimenting…" description: "\"For the 'Load' album, I was experimenting so much with tone that I had to keep journals on what equipment I was using. For 'Hero of the Day,' I know I ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4be/kirk-hammett-10072_albums_for-the-load-album-i-was-experimenting-s_1523525.jpg" --- # For the 'Load' album, I was experimenting so much with… ![“For the 'Load' album, I was experimenting so much with tone that I had to keep journals on what equipment I was using. For 'Hero of the Day,' I know I used a 1958 Les Paul Standard with a Matchless Chieftain, some Boogie amps and a Vox amp - again, they're all blended.” quote by Kirk Hammett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4be/kirk-hammett-10072_albums_for-the-load-album-i-was-experimenting-s_1523525.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4be/kirk-hammett-10072_albums_for-the-load-album-i-was-experimenting-s_1523525.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4be/kirk-hammett-10072_albums_for-the-load-album-i-was-experimenting-s_1523525.jpg) > “For the 'Load' album, I was experimenting so much with tone that I had to keep journals on what equipment I was using. For 'Hero of the Day,' I know I used a 1958 Les Paul Standard with a Matchless Chieftain, some Boogie amps and a Vox amp - again, they're all blended.” [Kirk Hammett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-hammett/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He meticulously documented tone experiments, noting gear for each track to achieve desired sound. **In simple terms:** He kept detailed notes on equipment to shape his guitar tone. Key Takeaway Document gear choices for consistent results. Themes music production tone gear creativity Mood focused analytical Type instructional reflective When to use this quote - recording sessions - live performance - studio work - gear selection Key Concepts audio engineering musical experimentation Questions to Reflect On - How does detailed documentation affect artistic freedom? - What balance between planning and improvisation works best? A Different Perspective May limit spontaneity and over‑reliance on equipment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Albums](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/albums/) [Amp Blended](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amp-blended-5637309/) [Boogie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boogie/) [Boogie Amps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boogie-amps-5637311/) [Equipment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equipment/) [Experimenting Tone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experimenting-tone-5637310/) [Hero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hero/) [Journal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journal/) [Les Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/les-paul-472701/) [Load](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/load/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Standards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/standards/) [Tone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tone/) [Tone Journals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tone-journals-5637312/) [Used](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/used/) ## Related quotes > [My first guitar was a Les Paul that I bought off a friend for 500 bucks. I worked a long time to save up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-hanneman/my-first-guitar-was-a-les-paul-that-i-bought-off-a-friend-for-500/) [Jeff Hanneman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-hanneman/) > [The Les Paul was more challenging because of the weight of it, but the tone was there that the Fender will never have and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-beck/the-les-paul-was-more-challenging-because-of-the-weight-of-it-but-the/) [Jeff Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-beck/) > [Those original, black, spirited, defiant, rebellious musical masters. Chuck Berry was one of the first masters of Les Paul's new electric guitar; he pretty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nugent/those-original-black-spirited-defiant-rebellious-musical-masters/) [Ted Nugent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nugent/) > [I always use my Les Paul. I have a Hamer as well. I use a Tele and an Esquire - once in a while,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-nielsen/i-always-use-my-les-paul-i-have-a-hamer-as-well-i-use-a-tele-and-an/) [Rick Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-nielsen/) > [I have about 10 or 12 guitars, some of which are in non-standard tunings. Mostly I play a clone of my 59 Les Paul.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-campbell/i-have-about-10-or-12-guitars-some-of-which-are-in-non-standard/) [Mike Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-campbell/) > [My first guitar, a Fender Jazz Master, I traded it in for a Les Paul Deluxe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenny-kravitz/my-first-guitar-a-fender-jazz-master-i-traded-it-in-for-a-les-paul/) [Lenny Kravitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-kravitz/) > [When I play live, I use a Fender Super Reverb and I have Derek's old, well, actually it's Eric Clapton's old Beano Les Paul…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-tedeschi/when-i-play-live-i-use-a-fender-super-reverb-and-i-have-derek-s-old/) [Susan Tedeschi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-tedeschi/) > [My first Gibson was a '91 Les Paul Custom tobacco burst. I still have it - it's still amazing-sounding - but it took me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lzzy-hale/my-first-gibson-was-a-91-les-paul-custom-tobacco-burst-i-still-have/) [Lzzy Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lzzy-hale/) > [I tried a Les Paul when I was a lot younger. I tried the Les Paul, and because of the weight of the thing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angus-young/i-tried-a-les-paul-when-i-was-a-lot-younger-i-tried-the-les-paul-and/) [Angus Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angus-young/) > [The best slide guitar, unless you're playing the Muddy Waters-style, is the old '52 Goldtop Les Paul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-gallagher/the-best-slide-guitar-unless-you-re-playing-the-muddy-waters-style-is/) [Rory Gallagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-gallagher/) > [I still fall back a lot on my Les Paul, and there is just no getting away from a Les Paul and a hot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/art-alexakis/i-still-fall-back-a-lot-on-my-les-paul-and-there-is-just-no-getting/) [Art Alexakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/art-alexakis/) > [I come from a big family of musicians, so I was lucky enough to grow up with guitars all around the house. Even though…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nuno-bettencourt/i-come-from-a-big-family-of-musicians-so-i-was-lucky-enough-to-grow/) [Nuno Bettencourt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nuno-bettencourt/) > [I met Les Paul when I was about 5. I was taken to see him perform and the place was sold out, just packed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-miller/i-met-les-paul-when-i-was-about-5-i-was-taken-to-see-him-perform-and/) [Steve Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-miller/) > [I used a '57 Les Paul on one track, 'These Walls', which features Alam Khan on sarod. I tuned it way down because the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-trucks/i-used-a-57-les-paul-on-one-track-these-walls-which-features-alam/) [Derek Trucks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-trucks/) > [While other guitars may have more twang or an esoteric atmosphere, the Les Paul is like a T-Rex thampling everything in it's path ..…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-zuniga/while-other-guitars-may-have-more-twang-or-an-esoteric-atmosphere-the/) [Miles Zuniga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-zuniga/) ## More by Kirk Hammett > [Much of my playing is rhythmic and choppy; I use a lot of double stops. The wah just accents all those stops and chops…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-hammett/much-of-my-playing-is-rhythmic-and-choppy-i-use-a-lot-of-double-stops/) [Kirk Hammett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-hammett/) > [I feel like I've matured more musically than I have personally. But I totally embrace what becoming older has to offer. I find the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-hammett/i-feel-like-i-ve-matured-more-musically-than-i-have-personally-but-i/) [Kirk Hammett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-hammett/) > [I was really, really wild in my early twenties and a bit self-destructive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-hammett/i-was-really-really-wild-in-my-early-twenties-and-a-bit-self/) [Kirk Hammett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-hammett/) > [I didn't want to fall into the trap of competing with all these other great guitar players. I just want to sidestep the whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-hammett/i-didn-t-want-to-fall-into-the-trap-of-competing-with-all-these-other/) [Kirk Hammett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-hammett/) > [Horror movies started to wane around the onset of World War II, and after World War II, when all the troops came home, people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-hammett/horror-movies-started-to-wane-around-the-onset-of-world-war-ii-and/) [Kirk Hammett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-hammett/) > [For me, one of the most perfect times to watch a horror movie is when it's cold and raining outside and there's pretty much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-hammett/for-me-one-of-the-most-perfect-times-to-watch-a-horror-movie-is-when/) [Kirk Hammett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-hammett/) > [Because of things like iTunes and streaming and social networking, it's destroyed music. It's destroyed the motivation to go out there and really make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-hammett/because-of-things-like-itunes-and-streaming-and-social-networking-it/) [Kirk Hammett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-hammett/) > [I think it's morally wrong to keep someone away from what keeps him happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-hammett/i-think-it-s-morally-wrong-to-keep-someone-away-from-what-keeps-him/) [Kirk Hammett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-hammett/) > [When I see my kids totally into their Legos, it brings me back to the days I was hanging out and playing with my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-hammett/when-i-see-my-kids-totally-into-their-legos-it-brings-me-back-to-the/) [Kirk Hammett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-hammett/) > [For 'Death Magnetic,' I used what I always use, which is my standard touring rack, which is filled with some Boogie stuff and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-hammett/for-death-magnetic-i-used-what-i-always-use-which-is-my-standard/) [Kirk Hammett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-hammett/) > [I feel really fortunate that, in playing guitar and surfing, I've found two things that mean so much to me, and which really complement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-hammett/i-feel-really-fortunate-that-in-playing-guitar-and-surfing-i-ve-found/) [Kirk Hammett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-hammett/) > [I'm not into that whole Satanic thing. It's just something to fall back on if you don't have much imagination. Singing you fiftieth song…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-hammett/i-m-not-into-that-whole-satanic-thing-it-s-just-something-to-fall/) [Kirk Hammett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-hammett/) > [I don't think success has changed us as people at all. We are the same lunatics that we were when this band first got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-hammett/i-don-t-think-success-has-changed-us-as-people-at-all-we-are-the-same/) [Kirk Hammett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-hammett/) > [Basically I just had to say, Screw everyone around me - from now on I'm just gonna play what I think is important to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-hammett/basically-i-just-had-to-say-screw-everyone-around-me-from-now-on-i-m/) [Kirk Hammett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-hammett/) > [When I got my first Marshall amp, it was so empowering. No one ever forgets their first Marshall amp if you're a guitar player…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-hammett/when-i-got-my-first-marshall-amp-it-was-so-empowering-no-one-ever/) [Kirk Hammett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-hammett/) [Explore all 68 Kirk Hammett quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-hammett/) ## More Albums quotes > [Check out the albums, ... Check out the live performances. That's the reality of it all. Music is such an energizing thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mayall/check-out-the-albums-check-out-the-live-performances-that-s-the/) [John Mayall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mayall/) > [It's been really fun to see with each album when I change to see the fans of the show emulate my style and with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avril-lavigne/it-s-been-really-fun-to-see-with-each-album-when-i-change-to-see-the/) [Avril Lavigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avril-lavigne/) > [It's my intention to make something stand outside the realm of album art, but it also feels comfortable to me to be in it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dyer-baizley/it-s-my-intention-to-make-something-stand-outside-the-realm-of-album/) [John Dyer Baizley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dyer-baizley/) > [The weird thing was that Soft Cell was supposed to have come and gone before I started the album.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-almond/the-weird-thing-was-that-soft-cell-was-supposed-to-have-come-and-gone/) [Marc Almond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-almond/) > [I believe in full albums, and whatever comes out of those full albums will come.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roddy-ricch/i-believe-in-full-albums-and-whatever-comes-out-of-those-full-albums/) [Roddy Ricch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roddy-ricch/) > [Doing my own album provided me the opportunity to say whatever I wanted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-marx/doing-my-own-album-provided-me-the-opportunity-to-say-whatever-i/) [Richard Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-marx/) > [The album is a definite departure. I haven't written original material before, except for one song on my first album, but Elvis and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-krall/the-album-is-a-definite-departure-i-haven-t-written-original-material/) [Diana Krall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-krall/) > [I never do any album to beat it. I do it to extend it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-j-blige/i-never-do-any-album-to-beat-it-i-do-it-to-extend-it/) [Mary J. Blige](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-j-blige/) > [I love Katy Perry! She gave me a song for my second album.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/selena-gomez/i-love-katy-perry-she-gave-me-a-song-for-my-second-album/) [Selena Gomez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/selena-gomez/) > [If you're going to reach for it, reach all the way for it. Albums like 'Purple Rain' and 'Thriller' and those kind of records,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-sitek/if-you-re-going-to-reach-for-it-reach-all-the-way-for-it-albums-like/) [Dave Sitek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-sitek/) > [I'll put out an album, and people review it, and some people love it, and some people tear it apart. By nature of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/girl-talk/i-ll-put-out-an-album-and-people-review-it-and-some-people-love-it/) [Girl Talk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/girl-talk/) > [I've been connected to the most culturally important albums of the past four years, the most influential artists of the past ten years. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/i-ve-been-connected-to-the-most-culturally-important-albums-of-the/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) > [George Winston piano albums have been my go-to since junior high.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-sacca/george-winston-piano-albums-have-been-my-go-to-since-junior-high/) [Chris Sacca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-sacca/) > [Someone told me once that Lucinda Williams takes six years between albums, and that's what stuck to me; it's like, you really are a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-ditto/someone-told-me-once-that-lucinda-williams-takes-six-years-between/) [Beth Ditto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-ditto/) > [Now I'm having to live with sales of around 50,000 per album - but I'm pretty content with my place in the general scheme…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-knopfler/now-i-m-having-to-live-with-sales-of-around-50-000-per-album-but-i-m/) [David Knopfler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-knopfler/) [Browse all 2,275 Albums quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/albums/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "For the 'Load' album, I was experimenting so much with tone that I had to keep journals on what equipment I was using. 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