Tone library / Metallica / Enter Sandman

Enter Sandman amp settings — Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier

The Metallica guitar tone for “Enter Sandman”, dialed in for a Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier with a Squier Bullet Stratocaster. Studio version, Metallica 'Black Album' (1991) — James Hetfield rhythm tone

Original rig

ESP MX-250 with EMG 81 bridge pickup → Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC++ → Mesa 4x12 with Celestion V30s. Mid-scooped EQ with tight low end.

Tight, punchy, scooped-mid rhythm with percussive attack and controlled low end

Amp settings — Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier

CHANNELOrange Channel (Vintage High Gain) or Red Channel (Modern) — use Vintage for tighter Mark-style responseBRIGHToffBOOSToff

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	7
Bass	4
Mid	3
Treble	7
Presence	5
Reverb	0
Master	4

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Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE8 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01Valeton GP-50 (Noise Gate block)

Essential for tight palm mutes — gate cuts string noise between riffs

Threshold 6 · Decay 3

02Valeton GP-50 (EQ block — use parametric or graphic if available)

FX loop or post-preamp position. Scoop 800Hz hard — this is the Black Album signature. Boost low bass and upper presence.

100Hz 6 · 400Hz 4 · 800Hz 2 · 3.2kHz 6 · 6.4kHz 5

Why these settings

Your Dual Rectifier is a different beast than the Mark IIC++ — Rectos are naturally more scooped and looser in the low end, while the Mark series is tighter and more mid-present. Dropped bass to 4 (vs original 5-6) to prevent flub, kept mids at 3 to maintain the scoop without disappearing, and raised treble to 7 for cut. Your Squier's single coils are significantly lower output and brighter than Hetfield's EMG 81s — the tone knob at 8 tames ice-pick highs while the GP-50's EQ block compensates for the missing low-mid thickness of active humbuckers.

PRO TIPHetfield's attack on this track is 100% downpicked with aggressive palm muting — the tone lives in the right hand. Mute harder than you think, pick closer to the bridge, and use the meaty part of your palm. The Dual Rec will reward precise muting with that percussive 'chunk'; sloppy muting turns to mud instantly.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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