Tone library / Metallica / Master of puppet

Master of puppet amp settings — Marshall MG50FX

The Metallica guitar tone for “Master of puppet”, dialed in for a Marshall MG50FX with a Jackson Pro Series Rhoads. Studio version, Master of Puppets (1987)

Original rig

Mesa Boogie Mark IIC+ (preamp) into Marshall JCM800 2203 (power amp), Jackson King V with EMG 81 bridge pickup, Marshall 4x12 cab

Aggressive thrash metal rhythm tone — tight low end, scooped mids, cutting treble with harmonic saturation

Amp settings — Marshall MG50FX

CHANNELOverdrive (OD2)BRIGHToffBOOSToff

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	9
Bass	8
Mid	2
Treble	8
Reverb	0
Master	6

Don’t have a Marshall MG50FX? See this song on other amps → Match your own rig →

Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01Jim Dunlop Cry Baby GCB95

Use for lead phrasing only — leave bypassed for rhythm; toe-down for vocal wah effect on solo sections

Why these settings

The MG50FX lacks the Mark IIC+ preamp character, so push gain to 9 to compensate for the missing Mesa saturation. Mid scooped to 2 replicates the 'Hetfield scoop' (original was 3-4 on the IIC+). Your passive pickups require higher amp gain than the original's EMG 81s — if the tone feels loose or noisy, consider an overdrive pedal as a tightening boost or upgrade to active pickups.

PRO TIPPalm-mute with the heel of your picking hand directly on the bridge saddles — not behind them — to get the percussive, machine-gun thrash rhythm attack. The tightness comes from muting technique as much as amp settings.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Marshall MG50FX. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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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.