Tone library / Judas priest / Metal meltdown

Metal meltdown amp settings — Boss Katana 50 MkII

The Judas priest guitar tone for “Metal meltdown”, dialed in for a Boss Katana 50 MkII with a Bc rich N.j.series. Studio version, Painkiller (1990)

Original rig

Marshall JCM800 2203 heads boosted with Marshall Guv'nor / overdrive pedals, Hamer custom guitars with EMG 81 active humbuckers

Aggressive, razor-sharp high-gain British thrash/speed metal crunch with tight low end and biting upper mids
Amp settings — Boss Katana 50 MkII
CHANNELBrown amp typeBOOSTon
GAIN 7 BASS 5 MID 7 TREBLE 8 REVERB 1 MASTER 5
KnobSetting (0–10)
Gain7
Bass5
Mid7
Treble8
Reverb1
Master5
Don’t have a Boss Katana 50 MkII? Match your own rig →
Guitar
PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10
Signal chain

01Internal Booster (Blues Driver / Tube Screamer block)

Engage the onboard Katana Booster (BST) button to replicate the Guv'nor/OD push into the JCM800 front end

Drive 0 · Tone 6 · Bottom 5 · Effect Level 8
Why these settings

The Katana 50 MkII lacks a physical presence knob, so upper-end bite is shaped directly with treble at 8 on the Brown amp type. Engaging the Katana's onboard Booster with low drive and high level tightens the flubby low end and delivers the razor-sharp 1990 Chris Tsangarides production punch. Your B.C. Rich N.J. Series humbuckers have ample output, but keeping guitar volume and tone dimed ensures maximum harmonic scream.

PRO TIPPick with aggressive, downward-angled pick attack right next to the bridge saddles to get the surgical attack and screaming pinch harmonics characteristic of Tipton and Downing's Painkiller-era riffs.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Boss Katana 50 MkII. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

Get ToneAdapt on Google Play
More tones for the Boss Katana 50 MkII
You should probably leaveChris StapletonI got betterMorgan WallenMemory sure don't mess aroundJordan DavisGoosePolyphiaStairway to Heaven (Live)Led ZeppelinDead Girl WalkingCarrie Hope Fletcher & Jamie Muscato
Find your amp
Browse
Boss Katana 50 MkII settingsALL SONGS FOR THIS AMP Judas priest tonesALL SONGS Judas priest on the Boss Katana 50 MkIISAME ARTIST, SAME AMP Tone libraryEVERYTHING

Song, artist and gear names are used to identify the tone being matched; ToneAdapt is not affiliated with or endorsed by the artists or manufacturers mentioned. Settings are AI-generated starting points — trust your ears.

Get ToneAdapt — first match free