Tone library / Metallica / Damage inc

Damage inc amp settings — Marshall JCM800 2203

The Metallica guitar tone for “Damage inc”, dialed in for a Marshall JCM800 2203 with a Jackson JS22 Dinky. Studio version, Master of Puppets (1986)

Original rig

Mesa Boogie Mark IIC+ (preamp) slaved into Marshall JCM800 (power amp), Jackson King V with Seymour Duncan Invader humbuckers

Aggressive scooped thrash rhythm with tight low-end, cutting highs, and reduced mids for clarity in dense arrangements
Amp settings — Marshall JCM800 2203
CHANNELHigh InputBRIGHToff
GAIN 7 BASS 6 MID 3 TREBLE 7 PRESENCE 6 REVERB 0 MASTER 6
KnobSetting (0–10)
Gain7
Bass6
Mid3
Treble7
Presence6
Reverb0
Master6
Don’t have a Marshall JCM800 2203? Match your own rig →
Guitar
PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10
Signal chain

01Tube Screamer (TS9 or clone)

RECOMMENDED — not currently owned. Use as a clean boost to tighten low-end and add mid-push, compensating for the JCM800's lack of the Mark IIC+ preamp compression. Run into amp input.

Drive 2 · Tone 6 · Level 7
Why these settings

Your JCM800 2203 is the actual power amp used on the record, but you lack the Mark IIC+ preamp that provided the scooped, compressed gain character. The JCM800 alone is mid-forward, so mids are dropped to 3 (vs a typical 5-6) to approximate the scoop. A TS-style pedal as a clean boost is essential to replicate the tight, gated attack Hetfield achieved—without it, the tone will be looser and less defined. Your Jackson JS22's stock humbuckers are lower output than Invaders, so gain is set to 7 to compensate.

PRO TIPPalm mute directly over the bridge saddles with the meaty part of your palm, not further back—Hetfield's precision comes from extremely tight, consistent muting that prevents low-end flub even with the bass at 6.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Marshall JCM800 2203. 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 Marshall JCM800 2203
Master of PuppetsMetallicaNo ReasonSum 41WalkPanteraNobodyAvenged SevenfoldFarewell BalladBlack Label SocietyBasket caseGreen Day
Find your amp
Browse
Marshall JCM800 2203 settingsALL SONGS FOR THIS AMP Metallica tonesALL SONGS Metallica on the Marshall JCM800 2203SAME ARTIST, SAME AMP Jackson JS22 Dinky 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.

Get ToneAdapt — first match free