What instrument did James Hetfield use for the distinctive intro to Metallica’s “Wherever I May Roam”?

James Hetfield used a Coral electric sitar for the distinctive intro to Metallica’s “Wherever I May Roam.”

The instrument is an electric guitar-shaped device designed to create sitar-like tones. Its unusual resonance gives the introduction a bright, buzzing quality that contrasts with the song’s heavy rhythm guitars. The sound reinforces the track’s theme of life on the road and movement across different places.

“Wherever I May Roam” appears on Metallica, the 1991 album commonly called The Black Album. It was issued as the album’s fourth single in 1992 and became a prominent concert song. The recording’s unusual opening is one of the clearest examples of Metallica adding a distinctive texture without abandoning its heavy style.

The instrument is often loosely described as a sitar, but the more precise answer is Coral electric sitar. It was not a standard acoustic sitar, mandolin, or lap-steel guitar.