Tone library / Metallica / Enter Sandman

Enter Sandman amp settings — Blackstar HT5R MkII

The Metallica guitar tone for “Enter Sandman”, dialed in for a Blackstar HT5R MkII with a Gibson Les Paul Modern. Studio version, Metallica (The Black Album, 1991) — main riff

Original rig

Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ head, ESP KH-2 with EMG 81 bridge pickup, Mesa 4x12 Rectifier cabinet, minimal effects (Rocktron Intellifex for studio processing)

Tight, scooped-mid high-gain metal with aggressive pick attack and polished studio compression

Amp settings — Blackstar HT5R MkII

CHANNELOD1BOOSToff

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	8
Bass	6
Mid	4
Treble	7
Reverb	0
Master	5

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Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01Boss TU-3 Tuner

Bypass when playing — tuner only

Why these settings

The HT5R MkII's OD1 channel delivers tight British-voiced gain that sits between a JCM800 and a Rectifier — less scooped than the original Mesa Mark IIC+, so mid is dropped to 4 (vs the original's 4.5) to compensate for the Blackstar's inherently mid-forward voicing. Your Les Paul Modern's humbuckers have similar output to Kirk's EMG 81, so gain stays at 8. The HT5R has no presence control on the front panel — that field is null. ISF should be set fully clockwise (British/Marshall side) for the tighter low-end response this tone needs.

PRO TIPPalm-mute directly over the bridge pickup for that percussive 'chunk' on the main riff — the closer to the saddles, the tighter the attack. Roll your picking hand slightly toward the neck only on the open low-E pedal notes to let them breathe.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Blackstar HT5R MkII. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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