Tone library / Metallica / Enter Sandman

Enter Sandman amp settings — Starforce usa Sga15

The Metallica guitar tone for “Enter Sandman”, dialed in for a Starforce usa Sga15 with a Fender Player Stratocaster. Studio version, Metallica (The Black Album, 1991) - Main iconic rhythm riff

Original rig

ESP MX-250 / KH-2 with EMG 81 active humbuckers into Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC++ blended with Jose-modded Marshall JCM800 and Aphex EQ (1.2kHz mid scoop)

High-gain, tight, aggressively scooped low-mid crunch with punchy palm-muted attack
Amp settings — Starforce usa Sga15
CHANNELCleanBOOSToff
GAIN 2 BASS 6 MID 4 TREBLE 5 REVERB 0 MASTER 4
KnobSetting (0–10)
Gain2
Bass6
Mid4
Treble5
Reverb0
Master4
Don’t have a Starforce usa Sga15? See this song on other amps → Match your own rig →
Guitar
PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10
Signal chain

01Boss MT-2 Metal Zone

RECOMMENDED — not currently owned

Level 5 · High 6 · Low 7 · Middle 3 · Mid Freq 6 · Dist 7
Why these settings

The Starforce SGA-15 is a small entry-level solid-state practice amp with an 8-inch speaker that cannot physically produce the saturated Mesa Mark IIC++ crunch without turning into loose, muddy fizz. To properly capture the iconic Black Album tone, run the amp clean with low gain and use a dedicated high-gain EQ-shaping distortion pedal like a Boss MT-2 Metal Zone. Setting the Stratocaster's bridge single-coil tone wide open pushes high-end bite, while keeping the amp bass moderate prevents the small speaker from farting out.

PRO TIPAggressive, heavy down-picking directly over the bridge pickup combined with a tight palm mute right on the bridge saddles is essential to replicating Hetfield's percussive, mechanical chug.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Starforce usa Sga15. 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 Fender Player Stratocaster tonesSAME GUITAR 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.

Get ToneAdapt — first match free