Tone library / Metallica / Creeping Death

Creeping Death amp settings — Line 6 Catalyst 50W

The Metallica guitar tone for “Creeping Death”, dialed in for a Line 6 Catalyst 50W with a Schecter Omen 6. Studio version, Ride the Lightning (1984), main rhythm riff

Original rig

1984 Gibson Explorer (Gibson Dirty Fingers bridge humbucker) -> late-70s Jose Arredondo-modified Marshall Super Lead 1959 / JCM800 -> Marshall 4x12 cab

Aggressive, tight thrash rhythm with biting treble, scooped mids, and punchy low-end

Amp settings — Line 6 Catalyst 50W

CHANNELHi Gain voiceBOOSTon

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	7
Bass	7
Mid	3
Treble	8
Presence	7
Reverb	0
Master	5

Don’t have a Line 6 Catalyst 50W? See this song on other amps → Match your own rig →

Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10

Why these settings

The Catalyst's Hi Gain voice delivers modern cascaded saturation, so engaging the onboard boost mimics the aggressive front-end push of James's Jose-modded Marshall without needing an external overdrive. Cutting mids to 3 achieves the signature RTL scoop while bass at 7 and treble at 8 provide the necessary low-end palm-mute chunk and top-end razor cut. Your Schecter Diamond Plus humbuckers are relatively hot, providing plenty of bite into this voice.

PRO TIPAnchor your palm firmly across the bridge saddles and execute heavy, purely downward pick strokes with a stiff, pointed pick (1.0mm+) right against the bridge pickup to replicate Hetfield's percussive machine-gun chug.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Line 6 Catalyst 50W. 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.