Tone library / Metallica / Master of puppets

Master of puppets amp settings — Cort CM15-R

The Metallica guitar tone for “Master of puppets”, dialed in for a Cort CM15-R with a Cort G250SE. Studio version, Master of Puppets album (1986)

Original rig

Mesa Boogie Mark IIC+ 'Crunchberries' → Marshall JCM800 power amp → Marshall 4x12 with Celestion G12T-75 speakers; Jackson King V with Seymour Duncan Invaders (later EMG 81/60)

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

Amp settings — Cort CM15-R

CHANNELOverdrive

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	8
Bass	7
Mid	3
Treble	7
Presence	0
Reverb	0
Master	5

Don’t have a Cort CM15-R? See this song on other amps → Match your own rig →

Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE8 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01Metal Zone (Boss MT-2) or similar high-gain distortion

RECOMMENDED — not currently owned. The CM15-R's overdrive channel lacks the gain saturation and tight low-end compression of the Mark IIC+. A high-gain pedal is essential to approach this tone. If using a pedal, set amp gain to 3 and use the clean channel.

Level 7 · Low 6 · High 7 · Mid Freq 3 · Mid 2 · Dist 8

Why these settings

The Cort CM15-R is a basic solid-state practice amp that cannot replicate the Mark IIC+'s high-gain saturation and tight low-end response. I've maxed the amp's usable gain and scooped the mids to mimic the classic 'V-curve' thrash EQ. Without a high-gain pedal, you will get a fuzzy, loose approximation rather than the tight, defined chunk of the original. The G250SE's passive humbuckers have less output and compression than EMG actives, so I've pushed treble and bass slightly higher to compensate for the thinner attack.

PRO TIPHetfield's tone is 50% technique — aggressive, consistent downpicking with the pick angled slightly and hitting the strings hard near the bridge. Practice palm-muting with your hand positioned closer to the bridge saddles for maximum tightness; sloppy muting will make any rig sound muddy regardless of settings.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Cort CM15-R. 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.