Tone library / Metallica / Fade to Black

Fade to Black amp settings — Marshall Mg15

The Metallica guitar tone for “Fade to Black”, dialed in for a Marshall Mg15 with a 3rd avenue Stratocaster. Studio version, Ride the Lightning (1984) — rhythm tone focus

Original rig

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

Tight, aggressive mid-forward thrash crunch with cutting high-mids

Amp settings — Marshall Mg15

CHANNELOD (Overdrive channel)

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	8
Bass	4
Mid	6
Treble	7
Presence	0
Reverb	0
Master	5

Don’t have a Marshall Mg15? See this song on other amps → Match your own rig →

Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE8 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01Boss DS-1 Distortion

RECOMMENDED — not currently owned. The DS-1 is essential to the Ride the Lightning sound; it adds the tight, aggressive clipping the JCM800 had. Run into amp's clean channel if acquired, then drop amp gain to 3.

Tone 6 · Level 7 · Dist 5

Why these settings

The MG15's OD channel is darker and fizzier than a real JCM800, so mids are pushed +1 (from original's 5 to 6) to recover the cut, and bass dropped -1 to avoid mud. Treble stays at 7 to retain bite. The MG15 lacks the JCM800's tight low-end response and touch sensitivity — without a DS-1, you're getting an approximation, not the real thing. The Strat's single coils are brighter and thinner than Hetfield's Flying V humbuckers, so the tone knob is rolled to 8 to tame ice-pick highs.

PRO TIPTune to E♭ Standard (half-step down) to match the album. Palm-mute hard and pick closer to the bridge for that tight, percussive Hetfield attack — the tone lives in the right hand as much as the amp.

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These settings are for a Marshall Mg15. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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