Tone library / Metallica / Creeping Death

Creeping Death amp settings — Force CD-100

The Metallica guitar tone for “Creeping Death”, dialed in for a Force CD-100 with a Gibson Explorer. Studio version, Ride the Lightning (1984)

Original rig

Marshall JCM800 2203 (Jose Arredondo modded), Gibson Explorer with Dirty Fingers humbucker (bridge), no pedals

Tight, aggressive thrash rhythm with scooped mids, bright attack, and chunky low-end

Amp settings — Force CD-100

CHANNELDistortion / High Gain channel (select the highest-gain voicing available)BRIGHTonBOOSTon

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

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

Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01Overdrive / Tube Screamer style (any budget TS clone)

RECOMMENDED — not currently owned. Used as a clean boost to tighten low-end and add pick attack. Set drive minimal, level pushing the amp's front end. A Behringer TO800 or Joyo Vintage Overdrive costs under $30 and gets you 80% there.

Drive 1 · Tone 6 · Level 7

Why these settings

The Force CD-100 is a budget solid-state practice amp with limited gain and a darker voicing than a JCM800. Pushed treble to 8 and presence to 7 to compensate for the amp's rolled-off highs. Scooped mids to 2 to match Hetfield's signature thrash voicing. Without a boost pedal, the tone will lack the tight, percussive attack of the original — the CD-100's gain stage is softer and less defined than a modded Marshall.

PRO TIPPalm mute directly over the bridge saddles, not further up the strings — this gives the tight 'chunk' Hetfield is known for. Downpick every note; no alternate picking on the main riff. Your Explorer's humbuckers are correct for this tone, so you're starting from a solid place.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Force 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.