Tone library / Metallica / Master of Puppets

Master of Puppets amp settings — Boss Katana 50 MkII

The Metallica guitar tone for “Master of Puppets”, dialed in for a Boss Katana 50 MkII with a Gibson Explorer. Studio version, Master of Puppets (1986) — main rhythm riff

Original rig

Jackson Custom Shop King V (Seymour Duncan Invader) -> Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ (preamp slaved into Marshall JCM800 power section) with classic 5-band graphic EQ V-curve

Aggressive, tight, scooped thrash rhythm with crushing low-end chunk and sharp attack

Amp settings — Boss Katana 50 MkII

CHANNELBrown amp typeBOOSTon

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

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Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10

Why these settings

The Katana 50 MkII's Brown amp type with the onboard green clean boost emulates the tight, cascaded gain structure of the Mark IIC+. Mids are scooped to 3 to replicate the iconic Mesa 750Hz graphic EQ slider cut, while Bass and Treble are pushed to 7 for the V-curve punch. Clean interlude: switch to Clean amp type with boost off.

PRO TIPLock your picking hand into strict, relentless downpicking and keep your palm-mute anchored tight against the bridge saddles for maximum percussive chunk.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Boss Katana 50 MkII. 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.