Tone library / Metallica / Creeping Death

Creeping Death amp settings — MAX Music guitar amplifier MAX Music guitar amplifier

The Metallica guitar tone for “Creeping Death”, dialed in for a MAX Music guitar amplifier MAX Music guitar amplifier with a Schecter C-7 SGR. Studio version, Ride the Lightning (1984)

Original rig

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

Tight, aggressive thrash rhythm with scooped mids, bright attack, and chunky palm-muted low end
Amp settings — MAX Music guitar amplifier MAX Music guitar amplifier
CHANNELDistortion/Drive channel (highest gain channel available)BRIGHTon
GAIN 8 BASS 5 MID 2 TREBLE 8 PRESENCE 6 REVERB 0 MASTER 5
KnobSetting (0–10)
Gain8
Bass5
Mid2
Treble8
Presence6
Reverb0
Master5
Don’t have a MAX Music guitar amplifier MAX Music guitar amplifier? See this song on other amps → Match your own rig →
Guitar
PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10
Why these settings

Your MAX Music amp is a budget solid-state unit with less headroom and midrange complexity than a JCM800. I dropped bass from the original's 6 to 5 because solid-state amps get flubby fast with low-end — your 7-string's extended range will fill it back in. Mids are cut harder (2 vs original's 3) because budget amps often have a boxy mid-peak that needs more scooping to achieve the 80s thrash V-curve. Treble stays high at 8 for that cutting attack. Zero reverb is mandatory — the original was bone dry.

PRO TIPYour Schecter C-7's humbuckers are hotter than Hetfield's 1984 Dirty Fingers pickup — if the tone sounds compressed or fuzzy, back the gain down to 7 and dig in harder with your pick for dynamics instead of relying on preamp saturation.

Get this tone on your amp

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

Get ToneAdapt on Google Play
Find your amp
Browse
Creeping Death on other ampsSAME SONG, YOUR AMP Metallica tonesALL SONGS Tone libraryEVERYTHING

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.

Get ToneAdapt — first match free