Tone library / Metallica / Master of Puppets

Master of Puppets amp settings — Artust GA 10

The Metallica guitar tone for “Master of Puppets”, dialed in for a Artust GA 10 with a Fender Lite Ash Stratocaster. Studio version, Master of Puppets album (1986)

Original rig

Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ preamp slaved into Marshall JCM800 power amp, Jackson King V with EMG 81/60 pickups, BB/Aphex EQF-1 parametric EQ in effects loop

Aggressive scooped-mid thrash rhythm with tight low-end thump and cutting high-frequency presence

Amp settings — Artust GA 10

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

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

Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01High-Gain Distortion Pedal (e.g. Boss MT-2 Metal Zone or ProCo RAT)

RECOMMENDED — not currently owned. Essential for reaching thrash-level saturation. Set amp gain to 3-4 and use pedal as primary gain source. A used Boss MT-2 or RAT clone gets you 80% of the way there for under $50.

Gain/Dist 7 · Level 7 · Low/Bass 6 · High/Treble 7

Why these settings

The Artust GA 10 is an unrecognized small practice amp — knob names may differ on your faceplate. I have assumed basic gain/bass/treble/master controls with no mid, presence, or reverb knobs. The amp cannot produce Mesa Mark IIC+ high-gain saturation on its own; a distortion pedal is mandatory. Your Strat single-coils are brighter and lower output than Hetfield's EMG 81 humbuckers, so I raised bass +1 and kept treble moderate to compensate for the thinner low-end.

PRO TIPPalm-mute aggressively with your picking hand anchored near the bridge saddles and use all downstrokes on the main riff — the percussive attack and rhythmic consistency define this tone more than any knob setting.

Get this tone on your amp

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

Get ToneAdapt on Google Play

Find your amp

Browse

Master of Puppets on other ampsSAME SONG, YOUR AMP Metallica tonesALL SONGS 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.