Tone library / Metallica / Fade to black

Fade to black amp settings — Zoom G3X

The Metallica guitar tone for “Fade to black”, dialed in for a Zoom G3X with a Ibanez RGA42FM. 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, Gibson Flying V with Seymour Duncan Invader/PAF pickups, Marshall 4x12 cab

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

Amp settings — Zoom G3X

CHANNELMS CRUNCH amp model + MARSHALL 1960 4x12 CabBRIGHToffBOOSToff

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	7
Bass	7
Mid	4
Treble	7
Presence	6
Reverb	2
Master	7

Don’t have a Zoom G3X? See this song on other amps → Match your own rig →

Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01TS DRIVE (Zoom onboard block)

Used strictly as a clean boost to tighten the bottom end and push the MS CRUNCH preamp model.

Gain 1 · Tone 6 · Level 8

02AIR / TAPE DELAY (Zoom onboard block)

Subtle room reflection for rhythm; bump mix to 4 for the outro solo.

Time 4 · Feedback 3 · Mix 2

Why these settings

The Zoom G3X's MS CRUNCH block emulates the hot-rodded JCM800; running the onboard TS Drive block with low gain and high level tightens the low-frequency sag before it hits the amp model. Your Ibanez Quantum passive humbuckers are punchy but slightly brighter than an Invader, so mids are pulled back to 4 to capture the scooped thrash crunch while keeping treble controlled at 7. Clean intro: switch to the MS CRUNCH model bypassed or tap the FD COMBO clean preset with neck pickup selected.

PRO TIPAnchor your palm directly over the saddle edge and strike strictly with downstrokes using heavy pick attack; the tight percussive chug of the main riff relies entirely on muting tension right at the bridge.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Zoom G3X. 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.