Frantic amp settings — Boss Katana 50 MkII

The Metallica guitar tone for “Frantic”, dialed in for a Boss Katana 50 MkII with a Ibanez RG421. Studio version, St. Anger (2003)

Original rig

Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier, Gibson Explorer/ESP with EMG 81/60 pickups, minimal effects — intentionally raw production

Aggressive, mid-heavy chunk with tight low-end and raw upper-mid bite — less polished than typical Metallica

Amp settings — Boss Katana 50 MkII

CHANNELBrownBRIGHToffBOOSToff

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

Don’t have a Boss Katana 50 MkII? Match your own rig →

Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE8 VOLUME10

Why these settings

The Katana's Brown channel approximates the Rectifier's saturated midrange aggression. Your RG421's passive Quantum humbuckers are cooler than Hetfield's hot EMG 81s, so gain stays at 7 instead of backing off — the Katana needs that push to match the Rectifier's compressed attack. Mids at 7 replicate the Rectifier's mid-forward voicing that cuts through the mix on St. Anger.

PRO TIPSt. Anger's guitar tone was recorded with minimal post-processing and the amps cranked in the room — dig in hard with your pick right over the bridge pickup pole pieces for that percussive, almost clanky attack that defines this album's raw aesthetic.

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.

Get ToneAdapt on Google Play

More tones for the Boss Katana 50 MkII

You should probably leaveChris Stapleton I got betterMorgan Wallen Memory sure don't mess aroundJordan Davis GoosePolyphia Stairway to Heaven (Live)Led Zeppelin Dead Girl WalkingCarrie Hope Fletcher & Jamie Muscato

Find your amp

Browse

Boss Katana 50 MkII settingsALL SONGS FOR THIS AMP Metallica tonesALL SONGS Metallica on the Boss Katana 50 MkIISAME ARTIST, SAME AMP Ibanez RG421 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.