Enter Sandman amp settings — Marshall Plexi 1959
The Metallica guitar tone for “Enter Sandman”, dialed in for a Marshall Plexi 1959 with a Washburn WG Series. Studio version, Metallica (The Black Album, 1991), main riff section
ESP MX-220 with EMG 81 bridge pickup through Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC++ into Marshall 4x12 cabinet. Bob Rock production with tight, compressed studio processing.
| Knob | Setting (0–10) |
|---|---|
| Gain | 10 |
| Bass | 6 |
| Mid | 5 |
| Treble | 6 |
| Presence | 5 |
| Reverb | 0 |
| Master | 7 |
01Tube Screamer style overdrive (TS9 or clone)
RECOMMENDED — not currently owned. Essential for tightening low end and adding gain saturation the Plexi cannot reach alone. Run into a cranked Plexi for the tight metal response.
The Plexi is a mid-forward crunch amp that cannot reach Mark IIC++ saturation levels on its own — even maxed it stays in classic rock territory. A TS-style pedal in front is mandatory: it tightens the bass, adds midrange focus, and pushes the preamp into metal saturation. Mids stay at 5 instead of the Mesa's scooped 4.5 because the Plexi's natural mid-hump already provides cut. Your Washburn's passive humbuckers have less compression than EMG 81s, so keep gain maxed and let the Tube Screamer do the heavy lifting.
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These settings are for a Marshall Plexi 1959. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.
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