Tone library / Metallica / Creeping death

Creeping death amp settings — Roland Cube 30X

The Metallica guitar tone for “Creeping death”, dialed in for a Roland Cube 30X with a Jackson Kelly 32. Studio version, Ride the Lightning (1984) — main rhythm riff

Original rig

Modified Marshall JCM800 2203 + Ibanez TS9 / ProCo Rat boost + Gibson Flying V (Seymour 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 — Roland Cube 30X

CHANNELJC CleanBOOSToff

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	2
Bass	6
Mid	4
Treble	7
Reverb	0
Master	5

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Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01Boss Mega Distortion MD-2

Gain source — running directly into the clean amp input

Level 6 · Tone 7 · Bottom 6 · Dist 7 · Gain Boost 4

Why these settings

The Boss MD-2 acts as the primary gain source to capture the tight, saturated crunch of the modified JCM800, so the Cube 30X is kept on the pristine JC Clean channel with amp gain dialed back to prevent mud. The tone knob and treble are pushed up to match the aggressive pick attack and high-end bite of the high-output Jackson humbuckers, while the mids are slightly scooped to reproduce the signature early thrash rhythm EQ. The Cube 30X has a dedicated 3-band EQ with no presence knob, so presence is nulled.

PRO TIPStrict, aggressive downpicking right near the bridge saddles is critical to getting the razor-sharp percussive 'chug' and high-end attack defining Hetfield's rhythm tracks on this album.

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These settings are for a Roland Cube 30X. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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