Enter sandman amp settings — Marshall Mg30fx
The Metallica guitar tone for “Enter sandman”, dialed in for a Marshall Mg30fx with a Esp ldt M-400. Studio version, Metallica (The Black Album, 1991)
Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ 'Crunch Berries' head with multiple cabinet stacks, ESP MX-220/MX-250 with EMG 81/60 pickups, layered with Marshall heads for highs. Scooped mid-range, high gain, tight low end.
| Knob | Setting (0–10) |
|---|---|
| Gain | 7 |
| Bass | 6 |
| Mid | 3 |
| Treble | 7 |
| Reverb | 0 |
| Master | 6 |
01Boss Metal Zone MT-2
Bypass the MT-2 for this tone — the MG30FX OD1 channel gets closer to the Mesa saturation character than the Metal Zone's more synthetic distortion. Only engage MT-2 if you want extra gain for leads, with Dist at 4 and Level boosted to 8.
The MG30FX OD1 channel is Marshall-voiced with a tighter midrange than Hetfield's Mesa, so we keep mids at 3 to approximate the famous scoop but not as extreme as Justice-era settings. The Marshall lacks the Mesa's low-end heft, so bass stays at 6 to compensate. Gain at 7 reaches the saturation threshold without getting fizzy — the MG solid-state breaks up differently than tubes. Your ESP with EMG pickups matches Hetfield's studio rig almost exactly, which helps nail the tight attack.
Get this tone on your amp
These settings are for a Marshall Mg30fx. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.
Get ToneAdapt on Google PlaySong, 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.