Tone library / Metallica / Master of puppets

Master of puppets amp settings — DONNER DA-10B

The Metallica guitar tone for “Master of puppets”, dialed in for a DONNER DA-10B with a DONNER DST-152B. Studio album cut, Master of Puppets (1986) — main rhythm riff

Original rig

Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ (V-curve graphic EQ) into Marshall JCM800 power section, Jackson King V / Gibson Explorer with high-output pickups, Marshall 4x12 cabs

Aggressive, tight, scooped-mid thrash crunch with sharp pick attack and punchy low-end

Amp settings — DONNER DA-10B

CHANNELDistortion / Drive channel switch ON

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	8
Bass	7
Mid	3
Treble	8
Master	6

Don’t have a DONNER DA-10B? See this song on other amps → Match your own rig →

Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10

Why these settings

The Donner DA-10B uses a 3-band EQ with no presence or reverb knobs, so we emulate the Mark IIC+'s famous V-curve EQ by scooping the mid knob to 3 while pushing bass to 7 and treble to 8. Because the DST-152B has a bridge humbucker, keep volume and tone fully open to maximize the input signal into the DA-10B's drive channel at gain 8. Clean interlude: switch the amp channel to Clean and roll guitar volume to 7.

PRO TIPExecute all rhythm riffs strictly with aggressive downpicking close to the bridge saddles to get the tight, percussive chug defining the album's sound.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a DONNER DA-10B. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

Get ToneAdapt on Google Play

More tones for the DONNER DA-10B

Smells like teen spiritNirvana Free BirdLynyrd Skynyrd Almost easyAvenged seven fold One Of The GirlsThe Weeknd, JENNIE & Lily Rose Depp Basket CaseGreen Day

Find your amp

Browse

DONNER DA-10B settingsALL SONGS FOR THIS AMP Master of puppets on other ampsSAME SONG, YOUR AMP Metallica tonesALL SONGS Tone libraryEVERYTHING

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.