Tone library / Metallica / Master of Puppets

Master of Puppets amp settings — Digitech Death Metal

The Metallica guitar tone for “Master of Puppets”, dialed in for a Digitech Death Metal with a Juarez Stratocaster. Studio cut, Master of Puppets (1986) - Kirk Hammett main lead guitar solo

Original rig

Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC++ head (Lead A) slaved into Marshall JCM800 100W power section + Marshall 4x12 cabs (G12T-75), Jackson Randy Rhoads V with EMG 81, Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer, Dunlop Cry Baby wah

High-gain, searing Mesa lead with aggressive bite, tight low end, and smooth singing sustain

Amp settings — Digitech Death Metal

CHANNELDirect into DigiTech RP90 (Death Metal pedal as standalone preamp/dirt unit)BOOSToff

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	8
Bass	5
Mid	4
Treble	7
Reverb	0
Master	6

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Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01DigiTech Death Metal

Used as primary high-gain distortion generator; fixed extreme gain circuit provides necessary Mark IIC++ saturation

Level 6 · Low 5 · Mid 4 · High 7

02DigiTech RP90

Set Amp model to Direct/Bypass or clean flat response, engage Cry Wah / 100ms slap delay on solo passages

Wah / Mod 8 · Delay Level 3 · Reverb 2

Why these settings

The DigiTech Death Metal has a fixed ultra-high gain architecture with active 3-band EQ, mirroring the aggressive Mesa Mark IIC++ preamp circuit. To counteract the bright single-coil bridge pickup of the Juarez Strat, treble/high is set to 7 while keeping mid at 4 to provide tight cut without harshness. Run the Death Metal into the RP90 with amp modeling bypassed to add the essential wah sweep and subtle delay.

PRO TIPUse an aggressive, wide vibrato on held notes and pick close to the bridge with heavy attack to emulate Kirk Hammett's active EMG articulation on passive single coils.

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These settings are for a Digitech Death Metal. 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.