Tone library / Metallica / Bell tolls

Bell tolls amp settings — Fender Mustang LT25

The Metallica guitar tone for “Bell tolls”, dialed in for a Fender Mustang LT25 with a ESP LTD EC-256. Studio version, Ride the Lightning (1984)

Original rig

Gibson Flying V → Ibanez Tube Screamer TS-9 → Marshall JCM800 2203

Tight, aggressive palm-muted thrash with mid-forward bark and controlled low-end
Amp settings — Fender Mustang LT25
CHANNELMetal 2000 (closest to boosted JCM800 voicing)
GAIN 7 BASS 3 MID 6 TREBLE 6 REVERB 0 MASTER 5
KnobSetting (0–10)
Gain7
Bass3
Mid6
Treble6
Reverb0
Master5
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Guitar
PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10
Signal chain

01Mooer GE150 — Tube Screamer model (TS9 type)

Use the TS808/TS9 model in the GE150; this is a boost for tightness, not the primary gain source. Place before the amp model in your signal chain.

Drive 2 · Tone 6 · Level 7

02Mooer GE150 — Noise Gate

Essential for tight palm-muted stops; Hetfield used a Boss NS-2 live. Set threshold so notes sustain but muted chugs cut cleanly.

Threshold 4 · Decay 3
Why these settings

The Mustang LT25's Metal 2000 model approximates a hot-rodded Marshall. Original JCM800 settings were Gain 8, Bass 4, Mid 5, Treble 7. Your Fender-voiced modeling amp is inherently scooped with higher treble, so I pushed mids +1 to 6, dropped bass -1 to 3, and pulled treble -1 to 6 to compensate. Your EC-256's humbuckers are hotter than a Flying V's, so gain drops from 8 to 7. The TS model in your GE150 handles the front-end tightening Hetfield used.

PRO TIPLock your picking hand into strict downstrokes just behind the bridge pickup—the gallop on the main riff is ALL downpicks at ~110 BPM. Angle your pick slightly so the attack bites harder on the low E string palm mutes. Tune to E♭ standard.

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These settings are for a Fender Mustang LT25. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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