Tone library / Metallica / Master of Puppets

Master of Puppets amp settings — Harley benton Hb40-mfx

The Metallica guitar tone for “Master of Puppets”, dialed in for a Harley benton Hb40-mfx with a Jackson JS32 Dinky. Studio version, Master of Puppets album (1986)

Original rig

Mesa Boogie Mark IIC+ (as preamp) → Marshall JCM800 (power amp), Jackson King V with Seymour Duncan Invader pickups, no pedals on rhythm tracks

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

Amp settings — Harley benton Hb40-mfx

CHANNELHigh Gain / Lead channel (select the highest gain amp model available)BRIGHToffBOOSTon

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	7
Bass	6
Mid	3
Treble	7
Presence	6
Reverb	0
Master	5

Don’t have a Harley benton Hb40-mfx? See this song on other amps → Match your own rig →

Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01Metal Pedal (owned)

BYPASS THIS PEDAL — the original tone came entirely from the amp's preamp section, not a distortion pedal. Your amp's high-gain channel should provide all the saturation needed. Using the metal pedal will create muddy, undefined gain stacking.

Gain/Distortion 0 · Tone/EQ 5 · Level/Volume 0

Why these settings

Your HB40-MFX is a budget modeling amp with digital gain staging rather than the tube compression of a Mark IIC+. The original had mids at 4 with a graphic EQ scoop; your amp lacks that graphic EQ, so I've dropped mid to 3 to approximate the scoop. Gain is set at 7 rather than the original's higher preamp drive because digital amps get fizzy past 7-8. Your Jackson JS32 with its high-output humbuckers is actually close to the original rig — no compensation needed there.

PRO TIPHetfield's tone is 50% technique: strict downpicking with the pick angled slightly, palm muting right at the bridge saddles (not further back), and hitting the strings hard with conviction. Practice the main riff at half speed with a metronome, focusing on making every downstroke identical in attack before speeding up.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Harley benton Hb40-mfx. 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.