Tone library / Metallica / Fade to Black

Fade to Black amp settings — Valeton GP-200

The Metallica guitar tone for “Fade to Black”, dialed in for a Valeton GP-200 with a PRS Custom 24. Intro lead and main heavy rhythm, Ride the Lightning (1984)

Original rig

Modified Marshall JCM800 2203, Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer, Gibson Flying V / Fernandes Strat clone with Seymour Duncan humbuckers

Saturated, biting mid-scooped early thrash crunch with singing lead sustain

Amp settings — Valeton GP-200

CHANNELUK 800 (Marshall JCM800 model) + 4x12 UK Greenback Cab IRBOOSToff

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	7
Bass	7
Mid	4
Treble	7
Presence	6
Reverb	3
Master	7

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Guitar

PICKUPneck TONE9 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01Green OD (TS9 Drive Block)

In front of amp model to tighten low-end and add lead sustain

Gain 1 · Tone 6 · Level 8

02Analog Delay Block

Post-amp block for signature intro lead space

Time 4 · Feedback 3 · Mix 3

Why these settings

The GP-200's UK 800 block captures the core JCM800 growl, while the Green OD block is set with near-zero gain and boosted level to recreate the studio TS9 tight front-end push. Midrange is pulled back to 4 to reflect the scooped Flemming Rasmussen mix without getting lost in modern modeler fizz. Clean acoustic intro switch: switch to a clean JC120 block or roll the guitar volume down to 3 with delay active.

PRO TIPFor the iconic intro solo, use the PRS neck pickup with a slightly rolled-off tone knob (8-9) and hit pinch harmonics near the middle pickup zone to emulate Hammett's fluid, vocal-like attack before switching to the bridge pickup for the heavy riffs.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Valeton GP-200. 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.