Tone library / Metallica / Creeping Death

Creeping Death amp settings — Drive CD-100

The Metallica guitar tone for “Creeping Death”, dialed in for a Drive CD-100 with a Ibanez TRB200-WS. Studio version, Ride the Lightning (1984)

Original rig

Modified Marshall JCM800 2203, Gibson Explorer with humbuckers, Boss distortion pedal (Hammett), TC Electronic EQ

Bright, aggressive thrash rhythm with scooped mids, tight low-end, and cutting high frequencies

Amp settings — Drive CD-100

CHANNELOverdrive/Distortion channel (highest gain channel available)BRIGHTonBOOSTon

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	7
Bass	5
Mid	2
Treble	8
Presence	6
Reverb	0
Master	6

Don’t have a Drive CD-100? See this song on other amps → Match your own rig →

Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01Zoom Bass 506 (used as boost/EQ only)

Use a clean boost or mild overdrive patch to tighten the low end and add pick attack. Bass-voiced pedals will be darker than ideal—compensate by cutting bass and boosting treble on the unit. CRITICAL: This is a bass multi-FX unit; it will color your tone darker and muddier than a guitar-specific pedal. Consider it optional or use only for EQ shaping.

Drive/Gain 2 · Bass 4 · Mid 2 · Treble 7 · Level 7

Why these settings

The Drive CD-100 is an entry-level practice amp with limited gain and EQ response compared to a cranked Marshall JCM800. Push gain to 7 (not max—it will get fizzy), scoop mids hard to 2 for that thrash character, and max treble to compensate for the amp's darker voicing. The Ibanez TRB200-WS is a bass guitar, not a guitar—this will fundamentally change the tone. If you meant a different Ibanez model, the settings still apply, but expect a much thicker, less cutting sound than the original.

PRO TIPPalm mute tightly right at the bridge saddles for the iconic Metallica 'chug'—the attack should be percussive and staccato. If using the bass guitar, play closer to the bridge and use a pick with aggressive downstrokes to approximate guitar articulation, but understand the frequency range will never match the original recording.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Drive CD-100. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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Song, artist and gear names are used to identify the tone being matched; ToneAdapt is not affiliated with or endorsed by the artists or manufacturers mentioned. Settings are AI-generated starting points — trust your ears.