All Nightmare Long amp settings — Fender Champion 50XL
The Metallica guitar tone for “All Nightmare Long”, dialed in for a Fender Champion 50XL with a Gibson Les Paul Standard 60s. Studio version, Death Magnetic (2008), Drop D tuning
Mesa Boogie Mark IIC+/Mark IV and Diezel VH4 amps, EMG 81/60 active pickups in ESP Explorer/Eclipse guitars, Klon Centaur and Tube Screamer for mid boost, recorded through Mesa Rectifier cabinets with SM57 mics
| Knob | Setting (0–10) |
|---|---|
| Gain | 8 |
| Bass | 6 |
| Mid | 4 |
| Treble | 7 |
| Reverb | 0 |
| Master | 5 |
01Tube Screamer style overdrive (e.g. Ibanez TS9, Boss SD-1)
RECOMMENDED — not currently owned. Use as a mid-boost into the dirty channel to tighten low-end and add pick definition. Without this pedal, the Champion's overdrive will sound looser and less focused than the original.
The original uses high-gain Mesa heads with active EMG pickups into 4x12 cabs. Your Champion 50XL has a voiced solid-state overdrive that runs warmer and less tight than a Mesa. Your passive Gibson humbuckers are warmer than Hetfield's EMGs, so treble stays high at 7 to compensate. Mid is dropped to 4 to approximate the scooped thrash character. A TS-style pedal in front is critical to achieve the tight, focused palm-mute attack — without it, expect a looser, more classic-rock grind rather than modern thrash precision.
Get this tone on your amp
These settings are for a Fender Champion 50XL. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.
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