Tone library / Metallica / For whom the bell tolls

For whom the bell tolls amp settings — Boss Katana 50 MkII

The Metallica guitar tone for “For whom the bell tolls”, dialed in for a Boss Katana 50 MkII with a Epiphone Explorer. Studio version, Ride the Lightning (1984) — main heavy rhythm riff

Original rig

Electra Flying V copy (bridge humbucker) into Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer into Marshall JMP 2203 100W master-volume head

Mid-tempo 1980s thrash crunch with tight palm-muted low-end, scooped midrange, and cutting pick bite

Amp settings — Boss Katana 50 MkII

CHANNELBROWN amp type

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	6
Bass	7
Mid	4
Treble	7
Reverb	2
Master	5

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Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01Onboard Booster (Warm OD / TS-style)

Engage the onboard BOOSTER section set as a clean boost to tighten the low-end and push the amp front end

Drive 0 · Tone 6 · Level 8

Why these settings

The Katana's BROWN amp type provides the high-gain saturation of the original cranked British stack. Dialing the midrange down to 4 achieves the classic Ride the Lightning scooped character without losing clarity, while the onboard Booster with zero drive tightens the bass for fast palm mutes. Your Epiphone Explorer humbuckers match the output profile of Hetfield's Flying V, requiring no extreme gain compensation.

PRO TIPUse strict, aggressive downpicking near the bridge saddles with a stiff pick to reproduce the sharp, percussive attack defining the main rhythm riff.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Boss Katana 50 MkII. 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.