Tone library / Metallica / Creeping death

Creeping death amp settings — Marshall MG15R

The Metallica guitar tone for “Creeping death”, dialed in for a Marshall MG15R with a Jackson JS30RR. Studio version, Ride the Lightning (1984)

Original rig

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

Tight, aggressive thrash rhythm with scooped mids, cutting highs, and controlled low end

Amp settings — Marshall MG15R

CHANNELOD1 (Overdrive 1)

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	0
Bass	4
Mid	2
Treble	7
Presence	0
Reverb	0
Master	6

Don’t have a Marshall MG15R? See this song on other amps → Match your own rig →

Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE8 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01Behringer UM300 Ultra Metal

Run into clean amp channel with amp gain at 0. UM300 provides all distortion—do not stack with amp overdrive.

Distortion 7 · Low 5 · High 7 · Level 6 · Mid Freq 4 · Mid Level 3

Why these settings

The MG15R's OD channel lacks the tight, modded JCM800 saturation needed for this tone—the UM300 is your gain source, so the amp stays clean (gain 0) to avoid mud. The MG series has a slightly darker, less defined mid character than a real JCM800, so treble goes to 7 and mids drop to 2 to approximate the scooped thrash cut. Bass at 4 keeps low end controlled through the 8-inch speaker.

PRO TIPPalm mute hard and close to the bridge—the Creeping Death gallop relies on extremely tight, percussive picking attack. Loose muting will turn this tone into mush regardless of settings.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Marshall MG15R. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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