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Enter sandman amp settings — Marshall Code 50

The Metallica guitar tone for “Enter sandman”, dialed in for a Marshall Code 50 with a Ibanez GIO GRG170DX. Studio version, Metallica (Black Album), 1991 — James Hetfield's rhythm tone

Original rig

ESP MX-220 with EMG 81 → Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+/Mark IV → Marshall 1960B 4x12 with Celestion G12T-75. Tube Screamer used as a boost in front.

Tight, scooped, aggressive thrash rhythm with controlled low end and cutting high-frequency bite

Amp settings — Marshall Code 50

CHANNELAmerican High Gain (JCM800 model) — closest to Mesa tightness on the CODEBRIGHToffBOOSToff

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

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Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE8 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01CODE Built-in Distortion (ODR Mode)

Use as a clean boost/tightener like Hetfield's Tube Screamer — keeps gain LOW, level pushes the preamp for compression and attack

Drive 3 · Tone 5 · Level 6

Why these settings

Your GRG170DX has passive Infinity humbuckers — hotter than single coils but softer than Hetfield's active EMG 81s. Gain stays at 8 (not 9) to avoid mud. The CODE's American High Gain model is tighter than its British voices and closer to the Mesa's punch. Mids scooped to 2 mirrors the classic 'V-curve' Black Album sound, but the CODE's mid control is centered higher than a Mesa, so 2 here approximates Mesa's 4.

PRO TIPPalm-mute technique is 80% of this tone — mute hard, right at the bridge saddles, and pick aggressively with downstrokes only on the main riff. The tight 'chug' comes from your hands, not the amp.

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These settings are for a Marshall Code 50. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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