Blackened amp settings — Marshall MG30FX
The Metallica guitar tone for “Blackened”, dialed in for a Marshall MG30FX with a Epiphone Ghost Horse Explorer. Studio version, ...And Justice for All (1988), main rhythm riff
Mesa Boogie Mark IIC++ / Quad Preamp slaved into Marshall power amps, Mesa 4x12 cabs, ESP MX-220 / Gibson Explorer with EMG 81 pickups, outboard parametric EQ for severe mid-scoop
| Knob | Setting (0–10) |
|---|---|
| Gain | 7 |
| Bass | 7 |
| Mid | 2 |
| Treble | 8 |
| Reverb | 0 |
| Master | 5 |
01Boss NS-2 Noise Suppressor
Essential for clamping high-gain palm-mute chugs and tight stop-starts
02MXR 6-Band EQ
Replicates the classic Mesa Mark post-gain graphic V-curve EQ scoop
03Boss OS-2 OverDrive/Distortion
Used as a tight front-end boost (mostly OD side) to sharpen pick attack into OD2
The Marshall MG30FX lacks a presence knob and naturally pushes British upper-mids, so the mid control is dropped to 2 while the MXR 6-Band EQ handles the extreme 800Hz post-preamp scoop critical to the Justice sound. The Boss OS-2 is dialed as a clean boost with low drive to tighten the low end and mimic active pickup attack without turning the MG30FX's OD2 channel into mush. Keep onboard reverb off as this studio rhythm track is bone-dry and laser-precise. Clean intro: bypass the OS-2 and switch to Clean channel with the CE-2W engaged.
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These settings are for a Marshall MG30FX. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.
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