Seek & destroy amp settings — Fender Blues Junior IV
The Metalica guitar tone for “Seek & destroy”, dialed in for a Fender Blues Junior IV with a Fender American Ultra Stratocaster. Studio version, Kill 'Em All (1983)
Jose Arredondo-modified Marshall JMP 2203 100W head, Gibson/Epiphone Flying V with humbuckers (bridge), ProCo RAT and Ibanez Tube Screamer in chain
| Knob | Setting (0–10) |
|---|---|
| Gain | 3 |
| Bass | 6 |
| Mid | 4 |
| Treble | 5 |
| Reverb | 0 |
| Master | 7 |
01ProCo RAT 2 (RECOMMENDED — not currently owned)
RECOMMENDED — not owned. This is the primary gain source. The RAT's Filter knob works backward (lower = brighter). Set amp to clean platform.
02Ibanez Tube Screamer TS9 (RECOMMENDED — not currently owned)
RECOMMENDED — not owned. Stack after RAT to tighten low end and add midrange focus. Classic Metallica trick.
The Blues Junior is a clean-platform Fender with no high-gain channel — it cannot produce thrash distortion alone. Amp gain set to 3 keeps it as a clean pedal platform; all dirt comes from the RAT. Your Strat's single coils are brighter and lower output than Hetfield's humbuckers, so bass is pushed +2 and treble cut -2 vs the original Marshall settings. Rolling tone knob to 8 warms the ice-pick highs.
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These settings are for a Fender Blues Junior IV. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.
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