Blackened amp settings — Boss ME-90

The Metallica guitar tone for “Blackened”, dialed in for a Boss ME-90 with a Palmer Crossbow-LTD-LT. Studio version, ...And Justice for All (1988)

Original rig

Mesa Boogie Mark IIC+ / Quad Preamp into Mesa Strategy 400 power amps, Marshall 1960B 4x12 cabs with Celestion V30s, ESP MX-220 with EMG 81/60 active pickups, Aphex parametric EQ for severe mid-scoop

Ultra-tight, dry, aggressive thrash rhythm with scooped 750Hz mids and biting high-end attack

Amp settings — Boss ME-90

CHANNELAIRD Preamp: LEAD (Mesa Mark Series voicing)BRIGHToffBOOSToff

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	7
Bass	6
Mid	2
Treble	8
Reverb	0
Master	6

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Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01ME-90 OD/DS (T-SCREAM block)

Used as a clean boost into the amp block to tighten palm-muted low end

Drive 0 · Tone 6 · Level 8

02ME-90 NS (Noise Suppressor block)

Essential for clamping fast 16th-note thrash stops

Threshold 7

Why these settings

The ME-90's LEAD preamp model emulates the Mesa Boogie Mark series character. We scoop the preamp mid knob down to 2 while pushing treble to 8 to replicate the studio V-curve graphic EQ and outboard parametric scoop without losing aggressive bite. Setting the onboard T-SCREAM block with zero drive and high level tightens up the humbucker attack for fast downpicking. Clean verse switch: bypass the OD/DS block and switch AIRD preamp to CLEAN TWIN.

PRO TIPAnchor your palm mute firmly across the bridge saddles and execute aggressive, purely downward pick strokes to get the percussive, mechanical chug defining the Justice tone.

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These settings are for a Boss ME-90. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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