Tone library / Metallica / Enter sandman

Enter sandman amp settings — Axg 3000

The Metallica guitar tone for “Enter sandman”, dialed in for a Axg 3000 with a Gibson Les Paul Modern. Studio version, Metallica (Black Album) (1991)

Original rig

Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC++ head, ESP MX-250 'EET FUK' Explorer with EMG 81 bridge pickup, Mesa 4x12 with Celestion V30s, API 550A outboard EQ for mid-scoop

Massively heavy, tight, percussive rhythm with signature scooped mids and aggressive high-gain saturation

Amp settings — Axg 3000

CHANNELMesa Mark IIC+ or Mark IV model (Lead channel, high-gain mode)BRIGHToffBOOSTon

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	8
Bass	6
Mid	3
Treble	7
Presence	5
Reverb	0
Master	7

Don’t have a Axg 3000? See this song on other amps → Match your own rig →

Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01Noise Gate (internal block)

Essential for tight palm mutes — cuts string noise between riffs

Threshold 5 · Decay 3

02Parametric EQ (internal block)

Post-amp block — recreates the API 550A mid-scoop Bob Rock used in mixing

Low (100Hz) 6 · Mid (750Hz) 2 · High (6kHz) 7

03Cabinet IR

Select Mesa 4x12 V30 IR, SM57 on-axis position

Mic Position 5 · High Cut 7

Why these settings

Your Les Paul Modern has hotter ceramic humbuckers vs Hetfield's EMG 81s — both are high-output, so gain stays at 8. Mid is set to 3 instead of the near-zero scoop on the original because modeling amps don't have the IIC+'s unique mid-frequency voicing; the post-EQ block handles the rest of the scoop. Bass dropped from the original's 5.5 to compensate for the Les Paul's thicker mahogany body resonance.

PRO TIPHetfield's attack comes from strict downpicking with the pick angled slightly toward the bridge — this produces the percussive 'chunk' on palm mutes. Dig in hard and keep your fretting hand muting tight; sloppy left-hand technique destroys this tone faster than any wrong knob setting.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Axg 3000. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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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.