Tone library / Metallica / Creeping Death

Creeping Death amp settings — Fender Champion 20

The Metallica guitar tone for “Creeping Death”, dialed in for a Fender Champion 20 with a Ibanez Grg170dx. Studio version, Ride the Lightning (1984) - Main rhythm riff

Original rig

Modified Marshall JCM800 2203 (Jose Arredondo mod) boosted with Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer, Gibson Flying V with Seymour Duncan Invader humbucker

Aggressive, mid-scooped 80s thrash rhythm with sharp top-end bite and tight low-end chug

Amp settings — Fender Champion 20

CHANNELVoice selector: Metal 2000 (Red LED)

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	7
Bass	6
Treble	8
Reverb	0
Master	4

Don’t have a Fender Champion 20? See this song on other amps → Match your own rig →

Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10

Why these settings

The Champion 20 lacks a dedicated mid knob, so setting treble high and bass moderate on the high-gain Metal 2000 voice provides the tight, scooped-mid thrash response of the modded JCM800. The ceramic humbuckers on your Ibanez push enough output to reach James's tight percussive attack without an external overdrive pedal. Keep the onboard FX off and reverb at zero to maintain a dry, punchy rhythm sound.

PRO TIPUse strict, aggressive downpicking exclusively near the bridge with heavy palm muting to achieve Hetfield's signature percussive chug.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Fender Champion 20. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

Get ToneAdapt on Google Play

More tones for the Fender Champion 20

She's goneStealheart Heart sheaped boxNirvana So Far AwayAvenged Sevenfold Harvester of sorrowMetallica ParanoidBlack sabath Gözlerimin Etrafındaki ÇizgilerŞebnem Ferah

Find your amp

Browse

Fender Champion 20 settingsALL SONGS FOR THIS AMP Creeping Death on other ampsSAME SONG, YOUR AMP Metallica tonesALL SONGS Metallica on the Fender Champion 20SAME ARTIST, SAME AMP Tone libraryEVERYTHING

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.