Tone library / Metallica / Creeping death

Creeping death amp settings — Mesa Boogie Mark IIC+

The Metallica guitar tone for “Creeping death”, dialed in for a Mesa Boogie Mark IIC+ with a Gibson Explorer. Studio version, Ride the Lightning (1984) - James Hetfield rhythm tone

Original rig

Modified Marshall JCM800 (Jose Arredondo mod), Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer, Gibson Flying V with Seymour Duncan Invader humbucker

Aggressive, mid-scooped 80s thrash rhythm with sharp top-end bite and tight low-end chug

Amp settings — Mesa Boogie Mark IIC+

CHANNELLead Mode (Lead Drive engaged, Deep pulled, Bright pulled)BRIGHTonBOOSTon

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	8
Bass	3
Mid	4
Treble	7
Presence	4
Reverb	0
Master	5

Don’t have a Mesa Boogie Mark IIC+? See this song on other amps → Match your own rig →

Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer

RECOMMENDED — not currently owned (use to tighten front-end bass tracking)

Drive 0 · Tone 6 · Level 9

Why these settings

The Mark IIC+ pre-dates Hetfield's Master of Puppets switch to Mesa, but its cascading Lead channel effortlessly replicates the aggressive, modded Marshall bite of Ride the Lightning without an external drive. Keep the pre-gain Bass low around 3 to prevent low-end flub, and use the onboard 5-band graphic EQ in the classic 'V' shape (80Hz high, 750Hz deeply scooped, 6600Hz slightly boosted) to achieve the signature razor-sharp thrash scoop. Treble is dialed to 7 to feed the preamp gain stages with plenty of high-end cut.

PRO TIPUse aggressive, strict downpicking anchored tightly over the bridge for the palm-muted chugs, striking the strings near the bridge pickup to maximize percussive attack.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Mesa Boogie Mark IIC+. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

Get ToneAdapt on Google Play

More tones for the Mesa Boogie Mark IIC+

Tearful ConfessionMarty Friedman A Dying MachineTremonti OneMetallica 72 SeasonsMetallica PeacefieldGhost Master of puppetsMetallica

Find your amp

Browse

Mesa Boogie Mark IIC+ settingsALL SONGS FOR THIS AMP Creeping death on other ampsSAME SONG, YOUR AMP Metallica tonesALL SONGS Metallica on the Mesa Boogie Mark IIC+SAME ARTIST, SAME AMP Gibson Explorer tonesSAME GUITAR 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.