Tone library / Metallica / Master of puppets

Master of puppets amp settings — Fender mustang Mustang 3

The Metallica guitar tone for “Master of puppets”, dialed in for a Fender mustang Mustang 3 with a Fender Player Stratocaster. Studio version, Master of Puppets (1986)

Original rig

ESP Explorer w/ EMG 81 (bridge) → Ibanez TS-808 (boost) → Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ preamp → Marshall JCM800 power section, 5-band graphic EQ in V-shape

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

Amp settings — Fender mustang Mustang 3

CHANNELMetal 2000 amp modelBRIGHToff

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

Don’t have a Fender mustang Mustang 3? See this song on other amps → Match your own rig →

Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01Tube Screamer (Mustang built-in effect or TS9 clone)

CRITICAL — use the Mustang's built-in Overdrive/Tube Screamer effect. Drive at minimum, Level cranked. This tightens the low end and adds pick definition. If you buy one pedal for this tone, make it a TS9 or Maxon OD808 clone.

Drive 1 · Tone 6 · Level 8

02Noise Gate (Mustang built-in)

High-gain Strat single coils will hum without a gate. Essential for tight palm mutes.

Threshold 5 · Decay 3

Why these settings

Your Strat's single coils output roughly 40% less than Hetfield's EMG 81, so gain is pushed to 8 (vs original ~7) to compensate. The Mustang's Metal 2000 model is voiced closer to a Rectifier than a Mark IIC+, so mids are dropped to 2 (original was ~3-4 with graphic EQ scoop) to approximate the V-curve. Bass raised to 7 because the Fender platform is naturally thinner than Mesa architecture.

PRO TIPHetfield's tone lives in his right hand: strict downpicking with the pick angled slightly, striking the strings directly over the bridge pickup. Practice palm muting with your hand barely touching the strings — too heavy kills the note; too light loses the chunk. The Mustang will never fully replicate a $3,000 tube head, but disciplined picking technique closes the gap more than any knob will.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Fender mustang Mustang 3. 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.