Tone library / Metallica / Creeping Death

Creeping Death amp settings — Kaiser Kag-2001

The Metallica guitar tone for “Creeping Death”, dialed in for a Kaiser Kag-2001 with a Jackson JS22 Dinky. Studio version, Ride the Lightning (1984) — quad-tracked rhythm tone

Original rig

Marshall JCM800 2203 (Jose Arredondo modded) → 4x12 cab, 1984 Gibson Explorer with Dirty Fingers humbucker (bridge)

Tight, aggressive thrash rhythm with scooped mids, razor-sharp treble attack, and controlled low-end thump

Amp settings — Kaiser Kag-2001

CHANNELHigh Gain / Distortion channel (if available) or Lead channelBRIGHTonBOOSToff

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	7
Bass	5
Mid	3
Treble	7
Presence	6
Reverb	0
Master	5

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Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10

Why these settings

The Kaiser Kag-2001 is an entry-level solid-state amp with limited gain saturation compared to a cranked modded JCM800. I dropped gain from 8 to 7 because budget solid-state amps turn fizzy at max—you want tight chunk, not fuzz. Bass dropped to 5 (from 6) because your Jackson's ceramic humbuckers already have strong low-end output; keeping bass lower prevents mud on palm mutes. The scooped mids at 3 are authentic to Hetfield's 80s thrash sound.

PRO TIPPalm mute directly over the bridge saddles, not further up the strings—this is where Hetfield's machine-gun tightness comes from. If your amp sounds thin or fizzy at these settings, roll gain back to 6 and pick harder; attack dynamics matter more than gain level for thrash chunk.

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These settings are for a Kaiser Kag-2001. 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.