Tone library / Metallica / Master of puppets

Master of puppets amp settings — Blackstar Beam

The Metallica guitar tone for “Master of puppets”, dialed in for a Blackstar Beam with a Yamaha RGX A2. Studio version, Master of Puppets (1986) — Hetfield rhythm tone

Original rig

ESP Explorer (EMG pickups) → Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ preamp → Marshall JCM800 power section. Tuned to E♭ Standard.

Tight, aggressive, scooped-mid thrash rhythm with razor-sharp pick attack and crushing low end

Amp settings — Blackstar Beam

CHANNELOD2 (high-gain channel) with ISF set fully clockwise (British/Marshall voicing)

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	7
Bass	6
Mid	3
Treble	7
Presence	6
Reverb	0
Master	5

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Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10

Why these settings

The Blackstar Beam's ISF control is critical here — crank it fully clockwise to access the tighter, more aggressive British voicing that approximates the Marshall power section Hetfield used. Your Yamaha RGX A2 has passive humbuckers vs Hetfield's hot EMGs, so gain stays at 7 rather than dropping lower. Mid at 3 replicates the signature thrash scoop but the Beam won't go as extreme as a Mark IIC+ graphic EQ.

PRO TIPHetfield's tone lives in his picking hand — strict downstrokes with the pick angled slightly and attacking the strings right above the bridge pickup. No alternate picking on the palm-muted riffs; that relentless downstroke attack is 50% of the sound.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Blackstar Beam. 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.