Tone library / Metallica / Disposable Heroes

Disposable Heroes amp settings — Marshall MG30CFX

The Metallica guitar tone for “Disposable Heroes”, dialed in for a Marshall MG30CFX with a Squier Bullet Stratocaster. Studio version, Master of Puppets (1986) — main rhythm riff

Original rig

ESP Explorer with EMG 81 (bridge) → Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer → Mesa Boogie Mark IIC+ (Graphic EQ V-curve) into Marshall 4x12

Tight, aggressive thrash with scooped mids, machine-gun palm-muted attack, and cutting high-end bite

Amp settings — Marshall MG30CFX

CHANNELCleanBOOSToff

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	2
Bass	7
Mid	3
Treble	7
Reverb	0
Master	5

Don’t have a Marshall MG30CFX? See this song on other amps → Match your own rig →

Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01Boss MD-2 Mega Distortion

Primary gain source. Run directly into the MG30CFX Clean channel to emulate the saturated Mesa Mark IIC+ preamp.

Level 6 · Tone 6 · Bottom 7 · Dist 6 · Gain Boost 5

Why these settings

The Boss MD-2 acts as the primary gain engine into the MG30CFX Clean channel, avoiding the muddy double-gain of stacking high distortion onto the amp's OD channel. To compensate for the lower-output single-coil bridge pickup on the Squier Strat compared to James Hetfield's active EMG 81, the MD-2's Bottom and Gain Boost are pushed up to add missing low-end punch and tightness. The amp's EQ scoops the mids to recreate the iconic Mesa IIC+ Graphic EQ V-curve while keeping presence/reverb fully dry for clinical thrash articulation.

PRO TIPAnchor the heel of your picking hand firmly across the bridge saddles for strict, percussive downstrokes; single coils need heavy, precise pick attack to replicate the sharp percussive transient of active EMGs.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Marshall MG30CFX. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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