Enter Sandman amp settings — Boss ME-90
The Metallica guitar tone for “Enter Sandman”, dialed in for a Boss ME-90 with a Squier Affinity Stratocaster. Studio version, Metallica (The Black Album, 1991) - Main Rhythm Riff
ESP MX-250 (EMG 81 bridge) into Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC++ head blended with Jose-modded Marshall JCM800 and Mesa 4x12 cab (V30s), graphic EQ scooped at ~750Hz-1.2kHz
| Knob | Setting (0–10) |
|---|---|
| Gain | 7 |
| Bass | 6 |
| Mid | 3 |
| Treble | 6 |
| Presence | 6 |
| Reverb | 1 |
| Master | 5 |
01ME-90 FX/Preamp: T-SCREAM (OD/DS block)
Used strictly as a clean mid-boost to tighten single-coil low end before the high-gain preamp
02ME-90 Noise Suppressor (NS)
Essential for dead-silent palm mutes at high gain
The original tone relies on active EMG 81 humbuckers and a Mesa Mark IIC++ with an aggressive post-EQ mid scoop. To compensate for the Squier Strat's lower-output and thinner single-coil bridge pickup, the ME-90's T-Scream block is engaged as a clean level boost (Drive 0, Level 8) to tighten the bass and add punch into the Recti Stack preamp model, while mid is cut to 3 to achieve the signature Black Album scoop. Treble is dialed to 6 with guitar tone rolled slightly to 9 to prevent harsh single-coil icepick frequencies.
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These settings are for a Boss ME-90. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.
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