Tone library / Metallica / Master of Puppets

Master of Puppets amp settings — Cort CM15R

The Metallica guitar tone for “Master of Puppets”, dialed in for a Cort CM15R with a Squier Stratocaster HSS. Studio version, Master of Puppets (1986) - Main rhythm riff

Original rig

Mesa Boogie Mark IIC+ ('Crunchberries' preamp) slaved into Marshall JCM800 power amp into Marshall 1960B 4x12 cab, Jackson King V with Seymour Duncan Invader/EMG pickups, Aphex EQF-1 / onboard 5-band graphic V-scoop

Aggressive, tight high-gain thrash crunch with punchy lows, scooped lower mids, and biting top end

Amp settings — Cort CM15R

CHANNELDistortion channel (Channel switch engaged)

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

Don’t have a Cort CM15R? See this song on other amps → Match your own rig →

Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01ProCo Rat 2 or Boss MT-2 Metal Zone

RECOMMENDED — not currently owned

Distortion 7 · Filter / Tone 5 · Volume / Level 6

Why these settings

The Cort CM15R is an analog practice amp with only Bass and Treble controls (no Mid knob, no Presence), so mid is omitted and the thrash 'V-curve' scoop is approximated by pushing Bass to 7 and Treble to 7. Keep the amp gain at 7 on the Distortion channel to get the required crunch without overloading the 8-inch speaker into muddy fuzz. Clean interlude: switch the amp back to the Clean channel and roll guitar volume back to 7.

PRO TIPHetfield's rhythm punch relies entirely on strict, aggressive downpicking with heavy palm-muting right against the bridge saddles; keep the pick angled slightly forward for maximum percussive bite.

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These settings are for a Cort CM15R. 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.