Tone library / Metallica / Enter Sandman

Enter Sandman amp settings — JOYO No.:DC-15

The Metallica guitar tone for “Enter Sandman”, dialed in for a JOYO No.:DC-15 with a ARROW TL 11. Studio version, Metallica 'Black Album' (1991)

Original rig

ESP MX-220 with EMG 81 bridge pickup → Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ (or Mark IV) → Marshall 4x12 with Vintage 30s

Tight, percussive high-gain rhythm with scooped mids, punchy low end, and controlled aggression

Amp settings — JOYO No.:DC-15

CHANNELOverdrive channel (if available) or highest gain modeBRIGHToff

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	8
Bass	5
Mid	2
Treble	7
Presence	4
Reverb	0
Master	5

Don’t have a JOYO No.:DC-15? See this song on other amps → Match your own rig →

Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE8 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01Noise Gate (e.g., Boss NS-2 or Donner Noise Killer)

RECOMMENDED — not currently owned. Essential for tight Metallica palm-mutes; eliminates noise between riffs and tightens attack.

Threshold 6 · Decay 3

Why these settings

The JOYO DC-15 is a small practice amp with limited gain and headroom compared to a Mesa Mark IIC+. I pushed gain to 8 to maximize saturation, but you will not achieve the same crushing compression. Mid is dropped to 2 for the signature Metallica scoop, but the DC-15's midrange voicing is already somewhat flat, so avoid going lower. Your ARROW TL 11 likely has passive single-coil or lower-output pickups versus Hetfield's hot EMG 81s — the tone will be thinner and brighter; rolling tone to 8 warms it slightly. A dirt pedal (like a Boss MT-2 or MXR Fullbore Metal) in front would dramatically close the gain gap.

PRO TIPHetfield's palm-mute attack is the secret weapon — mute firmly right at the bridge saddles with the heel of your picking hand, and use aggressive downstrokes with the pick angled slightly. This percussive technique matters more than amp settings for that 'chunk' sound.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a JOYO No.:DC-15. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

Get ToneAdapt on Google Play

Find your amp

Browse

Enter Sandman on other ampsSAME SONG, YOUR AMP Metallica tonesALL SONGS Tone libraryEVERYTHING

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.