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Enter sandman amp settings — Blackstar ID:Core 40 V4

The Metallica guitar tone for “Enter sandman”, dialed in for a Blackstar ID:Core 40 V4 with a Ibanez GRX40-CA. Studio version, Metallica 'Black Album' (1991)

Original rig

Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ (Lead channel), Gibson Explorer/ESP with EMG 81 (bridge), Aphex Parametric EQ in loop for V-curve scoop

Tight, scooped, percussive rhythm with high treble bite and controlled low end

Amp settings — Blackstar ID:Core 40 V4

CHANNELOD2 (Super Crunch voice), ISF at 2 o'clock (British/Mesa voicing)BOOSToff

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

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Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01Tube Screamer style OD (e.g., Ibanez TS9 or Boss SD-1)

RECOMMENDED — not currently owned. Used as a clean boost to tighten low end and add pick attack, essential for Hetfield's percussive palm mutes. Without this, the ID:Core's low end will be looser than the original.

Drive 1 · Tone 6 · Level 7

Why these settings

The ID:Core lacks the Mark IIC+'s aggressive preamp saturation, so OD2/Super Crunch gets closest. ISF turned toward British adds the tight midrange compression Mesa amps have. Mids dropped to 3 to emulate the famous V-curve scoop, but not as extreme as the original (Mesa's graphic EQ allowed deeper cuts) — your Ibanez's ceramic humbuckers are already mid-forward compared to EMG 81s, so cutting harder would thin it out. Treble pushed to 8 compensates for the GRX40's warmer voicing versus active pickups.

PRO TIPHetfield's tone is 90% in the picking hand — use aggressive all-downstroke picking with your palm muting right at the bridge saddles, not floating above. Dig in hard on every note; the percussive attack defines this tone more than any EQ setting.

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These settings are for a Blackstar ID:Core 40 V4. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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