Tone library / Metallica / For Whom the Bell Tolls

For Whom the Bell Tolls amp settings — Marshall Mg 10

The Metallica guitar tone for “For Whom the Bell Tolls”, dialed in for a Marshall Mg 10 with a Jackson X Series Kelly KEXT. Studio version, Ride the Lightning (1984)

Original rig

Gibson Explorer with stock Dirty Fingers pickups → Marshall JCM800 2203 (or JMP 2203) with Ibanez Tube Screamer TS-9 as a boost in front → Marshall 4x12 cab

Tight, aggressive palm-muted thrash crunch with scooped mids, crisp attack, and saturated distortion

Amp settings — Marshall Mg 10

CHANNELOD (Overdrive)

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	8
Bass	6
Master	7

Don’t have a Marshall Mg 10? See this song on other amps → Match your own rig →

Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01Tube Screamer clone (TS-style overdrive)

RECOMMENDED — not currently owned. Run into clean channel if acquired, then drop amp gain to 3-4. The TS tightens the low end and adds midrange cut essential to the Hetfield tone.

Drive 2 · Tone 6 · Level 8

Why these settings

The MG10 has only a Contour knob for EQ (no separate bass/mid/treble/presence) — set Contour to 4-5 (center-left) to avoid excessive scoop since the original tone has more mids than typical scooped metal. The OD channel maxes out well below a JCM800's saturation, so gain 8 gets you as close as the amp allows. A TS-style pedal in front would add the missing tightness and push.

PRO TIPLock your picking hand into a strict down-stroke gallop anchored near the bridge pickup — Hetfield's right-hand consistency is half the tone. Every palm-muted note should sound identical; the slow half-time verse exposes any inconsistency.

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These settings are for a Marshall Mg 10. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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Master of PuppetsMetallica

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Marshall Mg 10 settingsALL SONGS FOR THIS AMP For Whom the Bell Tolls on other ampsSAME SONG, YOUR AMP Metallica tonesALL SONGS Metallica on the Marshall Mg 10SAME ARTIST, SAME AMP Jackson X Series Kelly KEXT 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.