Tone library / Metallica / For Whom the Bell Tolls

For Whom the Bell Tolls amp settings — Peavey MAX 100

The Metallica guitar tone for “For Whom the Bell Tolls”, dialed in for a Peavey MAX 100 with a Epiphone Les Paul Classic. 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 (Celestion G12M-70/V30)

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

Amp settings — Peavey MAX 100

CHANNELOverdrive switch ON (TransTube)BRIGHToffBOOSToff

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	8
Bass	5
Mid	7
Treble	8
Master	5

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Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer

RECOMMENDED — not currently owned; run in front as a clean boost to tighten low-end and add upper-mid bite

Drive 0 · Tone 7 · Level 9

Why these settings

The Peavey MAX 100 is a bass combo with a 3-band EQ, TransTube gain, and contour/mid-shift switches—keep Contour off to avoid scooping the crucial Marshall mid bark. Engage the onboard Overdrive switch with gain pushed to 8 to generate saturation directly from the amp. If you add a TS9 style boost later, set the pedal level high and drive low to tighten the bottom end further.

PRO TIPAnchor your palm firmly against the bridge saddles and execute strict downstrokes on the low E and A strings to capture James Hetfield's percussive attack.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Peavey MAX 100. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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