Pedalboard / 044
James Hetfield
Hetfield's technician switched the guitar signal between dedicated clean and high-gain Axe-Fx processors, avoiding preset-change gaps while preserving separate live paths.
Signal path / A
WorldWired dual-processor rig
Tech-guided routing - digitally integrated
Documented equipment · Source-described order · Split output path
Guitar tech Chad Zaemisch traces the WorldWired path from the wireless receivers through an analog switcher to two active Axe-Fx II XL+ units, with a third unit held only as a spare. The clean and distorted processors are alternatives, not serial stages, and are displayed as two split paths. The input mixer, GCX switcher, RJM MIDI controller, tuner and backup processor are omitted because they mix, route, control or duplicate the audio rather than define an additional effect stage. Zaemisch's independent 2023 interview confirms that Hetfield still relied on two processor paths and explains the transition from the former multi-rack analog system.