Tone library / Metallica / Fade to Black

Fade to Black amp settings — FatBoy FGB 15 bass amp

The Metallica guitar tone for “Fade to Black”, dialed in for a FatBoy FGB 15 bass amp with a Donner DST-80. Studio version, Ride the Lightning (1984) — heavy distorted sections, not the clean intro

Original rig

Gibson Flying V → Boss DS-1 → Marshall JCM800 2203

Aggressive mid-scooped thrash with tight low end and biting highs

Amp settings — FatBoy FGB 15 bass amp

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	0
Bass	3
Mid	2
Treble	4
Presence	0
Reverb	0
Master	4

Don’t have a FatBoy FGB 15 bass amp? See this song on other amps → Match your own rig →

Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE8 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01High Gain Distortion (user-owned)

This pedal is your ONLY gain source. The bass amp must stay completely clean. Push the gain hard here to compensate for the amp's lack of guitar voicing.

Gain/Distortion 7 · Tone 6 · Level/Volume 7

Why these settings

A bass amp into a single-humbucker budget guitar is a severe mismatch for JCM800 thrash tone. Bass amps have extended low frequencies and no midrange bite — cut the bass knob aggressively to avoid mud, and keep mids low to approximate the scoop. Your distortion pedal must do ALL the gain work; the amp stays clean as a power platform. Roll the guitar tone knob to 8 to tame the Donner's typically harsh ceramic bridge humbucker. This will get you in the ballpark but will lack the Marshall's mid-frequency aggression and touch dynamics.

PRO TIPTune to E♭ Standard (half-step down) to match the original recording's string tension and note range — this also helps thicken the Donner's thinner tone slightly. Palm-mute hard and pick aggressively near the bridge for the tight 'chug' Hetfield is known for.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a FatBoy FGB 15 bass amp. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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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.