Master of puppets amp settings — BCR10 GUITAR AMPLIFIER 10w
The Metallica guitar tone for “Master of puppets”, dialed in for a BCR10 GUITAR AMPLIFIER 10w with a Ashtone Strat. Studio version, Master of Puppets album (1986)
Mesa Boogie Mark IIC+ preamp → Marshall JCM800 100W power amp, Jackson King V 'Kill Bon Jovi' with EMG 81 (bridge), Ibanez TS-808 Tube Screamer for tightening
| Knob | Setting (0–10) |
|---|---|
| Gain | 10 |
| Bass | 7 |
| Mid | 2 |
| Treble | 8 |
| Presence | 0 |
| Reverb | 0 |
| Master | 6 |
01Overdrive/Distortion Pedal (TS-style or DS-1)
RECOMMENDED — not currently owned. A Boss DS-1 ($50 new) or Joyo Vintage Overdrive ($30) is essential. The BCR10 cannot produce tight high-gain on its own. The pedal provides the gain; amp stays relatively clean as the power section.
The BCR10 is a 10W practice amp with limited gain staging and no channel switching — it cannot reproduce Mesa Mark IIC+ saturation alone. Gain is maxed to extract every bit of dirt the amp offers, but the real work must come from a drive pedal in front. Mids are cut hard (2) to approximate the signature V-curve scoop; treble is pushed (8) to compensate for the Strat's single coils being darker than Hetfield's EMG 81. Your Strat's single coils have lower output and thinner voicing than active humbuckers, so the pedal's level knob does the heavy lifting.
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These settings are for a BCR10 GUITAR AMPLIFIER 10w. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.
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