Master of Puppets
DistortedRiff1980s
Scooped mids, razor-tight palm-muted chug.
Start at Gain 8, Bass 6, Middle 3, Treble 7, Presence 6, Reverb 1, with the bridge pickup.
- Guitar
- Jackson King V
- Amp
- Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ into Marshall heads
Reviewed
Metallica amp settings and guitar tones
6 songs, each with a starting point and the rig from its sources
What amp settings do you need for Metallica?
Tonelify's library has 6 Metallica songs, each with the rig reported in interviews and articles and a reference starting point on a generic five-knob amp. There is no single Metallica setting. Nothing Else Matters starts at Gain 1 and For Whom the Bell Tolls at Gain 8, so set the amp for the song, not for the artist.
The numbers below are the same ones each song page gives. The rig for each song is on its own page with the sources it comes from.
Metallica songs and their starting points
Enter Sandman
DistortedRiff1990s
Wah-cocked intro into massive rhythm crunch.
Start at Gain 7, Bass 5, Middle 4, Treble 7, Presence 6, Reverb 2, with the bridge pickup.
- Guitar
- ESP MX Explorer-style, EMGs
- Amp
- Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC++, modded Marshall
Nothing Else Matters
CleanRiff1990s
Clean open-string arpeggios under a slow, intimate vocal.
Start at Gain 1, Bass 5, Middle 5, Treble 6, Presence 5, Reverb 4, with the neck or middle position.
- Guitar
- Hetfield's guitars, Gretsch White Falcon
- Amp
- Clean amp, model not documented
Seek & Destroy
DistortedRiff1980s
Early-thrash bark, aggressive downpicking.
Start at Gain 8, Bass 6, Middle 3, Treble 7, Presence 6, Reverb 1, with the bridge pickup.
- Guitar
- Electra Flying V copy
- Amp
- Modded 1970s Marshall Super Lead
One
DistortedRiff1980s
Clean arpeggiated intro that builds to scooped machine-gun thrash.
Start at Gain 8, Bass 6, Middle 3, Treble 7, Presence 6, Reverb 1, with the bridge pickup.
- Guitar
- EMG-loaded guitars
- Amp
- Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+
For Whom the Bell Tolls
DistortedRiff1980s
Mid-tempo, chugging riff under a distorted, wah-swept bass lead.
Start at Gain 8, Bass 6, Middle 3, Treble 7, Presence 6, Reverb 1, with the bridge pickup.
- Guitar
- Electra Flying V copy
- Amp
- Marshall JMP 2203, Ibanez Tube Screamer
These are positions on a generic five-knob amp with gain, bass, middle, treble and presence, each running 0 to 10. They are a starting point, not the settings used on the record, and they will not transfer unchanged to an amp with a different gain structure or EQ voicing.
What gear did Metallica use?
| Song | Guitar and amp |
|---|---|
| Master of Puppets | Jackson King VMesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ into Marshall heads |
| Enter Sandman | ESP MX Explorer-style, EMGsMesa/Boogie Mark IIC++, modded Marshall |
| Nothing Else Matters | Hetfield's guitars, Gretsch White FalconClean amp, model not documented |
| Seek & Destroy | Electra Flying V copyModded 1970s Marshall Super Lead |
| One | EMG-loaded guitarsMesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ |
| For Whom the Bell Tolls | Electra Flying V copyMarshall JMP 2203, Ibanez Tube Screamer |
Tonelify reads each of these chains and translates it to the amp and guitar you already own. Adapt one to your gear →
Metallica tone questions
What amp settings do you need for Metallica?
It depends on the song. On a generic five-knob amp, Master of Puppets starts at Gain 8, Bass 6, Middle 3, Treble 7, Presence 6, Reverb 1; Enter Sandman starts at Gain 7, Bass 5, Middle 4, Treble 7, Presence 6, Reverb 2; Nothing Else Matters starts at Gain 1, Bass 5, Middle 5, Treble 6, Presence 5, Reverb 4; Seek & Destroy starts at Gain 8, Bass 6, Middle 3, Treble 7, Presence 6, Reverb 1; One starts at Gain 8, Bass 6, Middle 3, Treble 7, Presence 6, Reverb 1; For Whom the Bell Tolls starts at Gain 8, Bass 6, Middle 3, Treble 7, Presence 6, Reverb 1. These are starting points, not the settings used on the records.
What gear did Metallica use on these songs?
Master of Puppets: Jackson King V; Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ into Marshall heads. Enter Sandman: ESP MX Explorer-style, EMGs; Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC++, modded Marshall. Nothing Else Matters: Hetfield's guitars, Gretsch White Falcon; Clean amp, model not documented. Seek & Destroy: Electra Flying V copy; Modded 1970s Marshall Super Lead. One: EMG-loaded guitars; Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+. For Whom the Bell Tolls: Electra Flying V copy; Marshall JMP 2203, Ibanez Tube Screamer. Each song page lists the sources behind its rig.
Can you get the Metallica tone without the original gear?
Yes. What carries these sounds is the gain structure, the EQ curve, the pickup position and the order of the effects, and all four can be rebuilt on other equipment. Tonelify rewrites each starting point for the amp and guitar you own.