Tone library / Metallica / Creeping Death

Creeping Death amp settings — Fender Champion 50XL

The Metallica guitar tone for “Creeping Death”, dialed in for a Fender Champion 50XL with a Schecter Hellraiser C-7. Studio version, Ride the Lightning (1984)

Original rig

Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ head (some sources: Marshall JCM800 2203), ESP MX220 with EMG 81 bridge pickup, Marshall 4x12 cab, no pedals

Aggressive scooped thrash rhythm with tight lows, biting highs, and cut mids

Amp settings — Fender Champion 50XL

CHANNELOverdrive (Voice switch: position 2 — tighter voicing)

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	3
Bass	4
Treble	7
Reverb	0
Master	6

Don’t have a Fender Champion 50XL? See this song on other amps → Match your own rig →

Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01Behringer OD100 Overdrive/Distortion

Primary gain source. The Champion's overdrive channel alone won't reach Mark IIC+ saturation — the OD100 pushes it into thrash territory. Tone at 6 keeps it bright without fizz.

Level 7 · Tone 6 · Drive 7

02Boss GE-7 Equalizer

Critical for mid-scoop — the Champion lacks a mid knob, so the GE-7 creates the scooped thrash curve. Cut 800Hz hard, slight cut at 400Hz, boost upper presence at 3.2kHz.

100Hz 5 · 200Hz 4 · 400Hz 3 · 800Hz 2 · 1.6kHz 3 · 3.2kHz 6 · 6.4kHz 5 · Level 6

Why these settings

The Fender Champion 50XL has no mid control and a naturally scooped Fender voicing, which actually helps this tone — but it lacks the raw gain of a Mesa Mark IIC+. The OD100 in front provides the saturation; amp gain is dropped to 3 to prevent muddy stacking. The GE-7 is essential here: it sculpts the 800Hz scoop that defines Hetfield's thrash sound, which the amp cannot do alone. Your Schecter's EMG 81 pickups are period-correct for this tone — hot output, compressed attack.

PRO TIPTune to E♭ Standard (half-step down) to match the recording. Palm-mute tight and close to the bridge — Hetfield's right-hand precision is 50% of this tone. Let the pick attack hit hard; the EMGs will track it cleanly.

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These settings are for a Fender Champion 50XL. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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