Tone library / Metallica / Creeping death

Creeping death amp settings — Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus

The Metallica guitar tone for “Creeping death”, dialed in for a Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus with a Harley Benton ST-20HSS. Studio version, Ride the Lightning (1984), main rhythm riff

Original rig

1984 Gibson Explorer (stock Dirty Fingers humbucker) -> late-70s Jose Arredondo-modified Marshall Super Lead 1959 / JCM800 -> Marshall 4x12 cab

Aggressive, tight thrash rhythm with biting treble, scooped mids, and punchy low-end

Amp settings — Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus

CHANNELChannel 2 (Normal input)BRIGHToff

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

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Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01Joyo Extreme Metal

Gain source — provides the modified-Marshall high-gain saturation into the JC-120 clean platform.

Low 7 · Mid 3 · High 6 · Level 6 · Drive 7 · Boost 0

02Behringer NR300 Noise Reducer

Mutes pedal hum and keeps fast palm-muted gallops tight.

Thresh 6 · Decay 2

Why these settings

The JC-120 is an ultra-clean, transparent solid-state platform with no native high-gain drive, so the Joyo Extreme Metal is the dedicated gain source with its mids scooped to replicate the Jose-modded Marshall. Because the JC-120 has naturally sharp, hi-fi highs, keep the amp treble neutral at 5 and the bright switch off to stop the pedal's top end from getting harsh. The bridge humbucker on your ST-20HSS supplies the necessary output and punch for the thrash attack. Clean verse/intro sections are not present in this track, so leave the flanger bypassed.

PRO TIPAnchor your palm firmly against the bridge saddles and execute aggressive, strict downpicking on the E-string chugs to get the signature percussive snap and tight low-end tracking.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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