Tone library / Metallica / Fade to Black

Fade to Black amp settings — Fender Champion II 25

The Metallica guitar tone for “Fade to Black”, dialed in for a Fender Champion II 25 with a Gibson Les Paul Special. Studio version, Ride the Lightning (1984) — main heavy rhythm and outro lead tone

Original rig

Modified Marshall JCM800 2203 (José Arredondo mod), Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer boost, Gibson Flying V (Seymour Duncan Invader), Marshall 4x12 cab

Saturated, scooped thrash rhythm with aggressive bite and tight palm-muted low end

Amp settings — Fender Champion II 25

CHANNELMetal voice (Voice selector set to 80s / high-gain British)

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	8
Bass	7
Treble	8
Reverb	2
Master	5

Don’t have a Fender Champion II 25? See this song on other amps → Match your own rig →

Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10

Why these settings

The Champion II 25 lacks a dedicated midrange control, so the classic 1984 thrash scoop must be dialed by pushing Bass to 7 and Treble to 8 to naturally recess the center frequencies. The 80s Metal voice on the amp supplies the Jose-mod Marshall clipping directly without needing an external overdrive. Clean intro: switch Voice selector to Clean/Blackface and back volume to 8.

PRO TIPAnchor your palm flat across the bridge saddles and pick with heavy, locked-wrist downstrokes right above the bridge pickup to reproduce the dry, mechanical percussiveness of Hetfield's rhythm tracks.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Fender Champion II 25. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

Get ToneAdapt on Google Play

More tones for the Fender Champion II 25

FeelsPharrell Williams Drain YouNirvana smels like teen spiritnirvana Smells Like Teen SpiritNirvana EruptionVan Halen EverlongFoo Fighters

Find your amp

Browse

Fender Champion II 25 settingsALL SONGS FOR THIS AMP Fade to Black on other ampsSAME SONG, YOUR AMP Metallica tonesALL SONGS Metallica on the Fender Champion II 25SAME ARTIST, SAME AMP Gibson Les Paul Special 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.