Tone library / Metallica / Master of Puppets

Master of Puppets amp settings — Fame MA-15

The Metallica guitar tone for “Master of Puppets”, dialed in for a Fame MA-15 with a Jackson JS22 Dinky. Studio version, Master of Puppets album (1986), Eb Standard tuning

Original rig

Mesa Boogie Mark IIC+ (preamp) → Marshall JCM800 (power amp), Jackson King V with Seymour Duncan Invaders, no pedals for rhythm tone

Scooped thrash rhythm with tight low-end, aggressive highs, and cut mids for maximum palm-mute chunk

Amp settings — Fame MA-15

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	8
Bass	7
Mid	2
Treble	7
Presence	6
Reverb	0
Master	5

Don’t have a Fame MA-15? See this song on other amps → Match your own rig →

Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE8 VOLUME10

Why these settings

The Fame MA-15 is a basic practice amp without the high-gain saturation of a Mark IIC+. Gain is maxed at 8 to extract every bit of distortion available; mids scooped to 2 to replicate Hetfield's signature V-shaped EQ. Bass pushed to 7 and treble to 7 for that aggressive thrash scoop. This amp will not achieve the crushing saturation of the original—an overdrive pedal (Boss DS-1, MT-2, or TS9 into high gain) would get you significantly closer.

PRO TIPHetfield's tone lives in the picking hand—use strict downstrokes with your palm resting firmly on the bridge saddles for every riff. The attack consistency is 80% of the 'Master of Puppets' sound; no amount of gain compensates for loose alternate picking on these riffs.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Fame MA-15. 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.