Tone library / Metallica / For Whom the Bell Tolls

For Whom the Bell Tolls amp settings — Boss Katana KTN-50 3

The Metallica guitar tone for “For Whom the Bell Tolls”, dialed in for a Boss Katana KTN-50 3 with a Yamaha Pacifica 112V. Studio version, Ride the Lightning (1984) - Main heavy rhythm riff

Original rig

1984 Gibson Explorer (Dirty Fingers humbuckers) / 1974 Gibson Flying V -> Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer -> Marshall JCM800 2203 100W Head -> Marshall 1960B 4x12 Cab

Aggressive, mid-forward British crunch with tight low-end punch and biting high-mids

Amp settings — Boss Katana KTN-50 3

CHANNELBrown amp typeBOOSToff

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

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Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01Boss SD-1 Super Overdrive

Used as a clean boost to tighten the low-end and add upper-mid bite into the amp

Level 8 · Tone 5 · Drive 1

Why these settings

The Katana 50 Gen 3's Brown amp type nails the modded Marshall JCM800 core voicing used on Ride the Lightning. The SD-1 pushes the front of the amp with low drive and high level, precisely replicating how Metallica used a TS9 to cut flubby bass and add attack before the preamp. Since your Pacifica bridge humbucker has moderate output compared to Hetfield's high-output Dirty Fingers, keeping the amp gain around 6 retains punch without turning muddy.

PRO TIPUse strict downpicking with heavy palm muting near the bridge saddles on the power chords to get that percussive, mechanical Metallica chug.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Boss Katana KTN-50 3. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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For Whom the Bell Tolls on other ampsSAME SONG, YOUR AMP Metallica tonesALL SONGS Yamaha Pacifica 112V 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.