Tone library / Metallica / Creeping death

Creeping death amp settings — Line 6 Spider 6 15

The Metallica guitar tone for “Creeping death”, dialed in for a Line 6 Spider 6 15 with a Fender American Professional II Stratocaster. Studio version, Ride the Lightning (1984) - main rhythm track

Original rig

Modified Marshall JCM800 2203 + Ibanez TS9 / ProCo Rat boost + Gibson Flying V (Duncan Invader) / Jackson RR Custom (EMG 81)

Aggressive, scooped, high-gain thrash rhythm with sharp top-end bite and tight palm-muted low end

Amp settings — Line 6 Spider 6 15

CHANNELMetal

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

Don’t have a Line 6 Spider 6 15? See this song on other amps → Match your own rig →

Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE8 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer

RECOMMENDED — not currently owned; tightens bass attack into the high-gain channel

Drive 0 · Tone 6 · Level 9

Why these settings

The Line 6 Spider 15 'Metal' channel delivers the aggressive Marshall-style crunch needed without external pedals. Because your Stratocaster has brighter, lower-output single-coil pickups compared to James's hot humbuckers, tone is rolled down to 8 and bass is pushed to 7 to add body and tame thin high-end fizz. The midrange is scooped to 3 to replicate the classic Ride the Lightning thrash EQ profile.

PRO TIPAnchor the heel of your picking hand firmly across the bridge saddles for strict, aggressive downpicked palm mutes, and strike the strings with a sharp, heavy 1.0mm+ pick to replicate Hetfield's percussive attack.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Line 6 Spider 6 15. 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.