Tone library / Metallica / Master of Puppets

Master of Puppets amp settings — Focusrite Scarlett Solo 4th gen

The Metallica guitar tone for “Master of Puppets”, dialed in for a Focusrite Scarlett Solo 4th gen with a Ibanez GIO GRG170DX. Studio version, Master of Puppets (1986) - Main iconic rhythm track

Original rig

Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ (preamp with classic V-curve 5-band graphic EQ) slaved into Marshall JCM800 2203 power amp + Marshall 4x12 cab, Jackson King V / Gibson Explorer with high-output humbuckers

Aggressive, tight, high-gain thrash rhythm with deeply scooped mids and punchy low-end

Amp settings — Focusrite Scarlett Solo 4th gen

CHANNELMesa Mark IIC+ Amp Sim Block + Marshall 4x12 V30 IR (or Lead channel in DAW plugin)BRIGHToff

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

Don’t have a Focusrite Scarlett Solo 4th gen? See this song on other amps → Match your own rig →

Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01Tube Screamer (TS9) / Clean Boost Block

RECOMMENDED — use as a pre-amp plugin/block to tighten low-end

Drive 0 · Tone 6 · Level 9

Why these settings

Since you are plugging directly into a Focusrite Scarlett audio interface, load an amp simulator plugin modeled after a Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ or high-gain Lead head paired with a 4x12 Celestion V30 cab IR. Set the amp EQ with high gain, punchy bass, and deeply scooped mids (around 750Hz–800Hz) to replicate the iconic V-curve graphic EQ. Your Ibanez Infinity R bridge humbucker has sufficient output, so keep interface input gain low enough to avoid digital clipping.

PRO TIPAll rhythm tracks on this album were strictly recorded using aggressive, tight downpicking; pick hard right next to the bridge saddles and use heavy palm muting to lock in the percussive chug.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Focusrite Scarlett Solo 4th gen. 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.