Tone library / Metallica / Master of Puppets

Master of Puppets amp settings — Career CA-25

The Metallica guitar tone for “Master of Puppets”, dialed in for a Career CA-25 with a Xeort X-1. Studio version, Master of Puppets album (1986)

Original rig

Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ (preamp) slaved into modified Marshall JCM800 100W (power amp), Jackson King V Custom with EMG 81 bridge pickup, V-shaped graphic EQ curve

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

Amp settings — Career CA-25

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	8
Bass	7
Mid	2
Treble	7
Reverb	0
Master	5

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Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10

Why these settings

The Career CA-25 is a basic solid-state practice amp without the high-gain saturation or graphic EQ of the Mark IIC+. Gain is maxed to compensate for lower output; mid is scooped hard to approximate the V-curve EQ; bass and treble pushed to recreate the tight low-end and cutting highs. Without a presence knob, treble does double duty. This amp cannot produce true Mark IIC+ saturation — you will get an approximation, not the real thing. A high-gain distortion pedal (Boss MT-2, MXR Fullbore Metal, or TC Dark Matter) would get you significantly closer.

PRO TIPHetfield's tone is 50% technique: aggressive palm muting and relentless all-downstroke picking at the bridge. Angle your pick slightly and attack the strings hard right above the bridge pickup — this creates the percussive 'chug' that defines the Master of Puppets rhythm sound. The amp can only do so much; your right hand does the rest.

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These settings are for a Career CA-25. 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.