Kill em all amp settings — Marshall JCM900
The Metallica guitar tone for “Kill em all”, dialed in for a Marshall JCM900 with a Jackson JS32 Dinky. Studio version, Kill 'Em All (1983, Music America Studios)
1976 Marshall Super Lead 1959 (100W Plexi), Pro Co RAT distortion pedal, Electra 2236 Flying V with DiMarzio Super Distortion, Marshall 4x12 with Celestion G12-65s
| Knob | Setting (0–10) |
|---|---|
| Gain | 5 |
| Bass | 4 |
| Mid | 5 |
| Treble | 7 |
| Presence | 6 |
| Reverb | 0 |
| Master | 5 |
01Pro Co RAT (RECOMMENDED — not currently owned)
RECOMMENDED — not owned. Essential to the Kill 'Em All sound. The RAT provides the grit and asymmetric clipping that defines this tone. Without it, use amp gain at 7 instead, but you'll lose the specific RAT character. A RAT 2 or Mooer Black Secret clone will work.
Your JCM900 is hotter and more saturated than the 1959 Plexi used on the album, so gain is dropped from what you'd expect—the original tone relied heavily on the RAT for grit while the Plexi stayed relatively clean. Mids are kept moderate (not scooped) because the actual album has more midrange than the myth suggests. Your Jackson's ceramic humbuckers are brighter than the DiMarzio Super Distortion, so treble is pulled back 1 point from the original Plexi settings.
Get this tone on your amp
These settings are for a Marshall JCM900. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.
Get ToneAdapt on Google PlaySong, 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.