Master of Puppets amp settings — Ibanez IBZ10G
The Metallica guitar tone for “Master of Puppets”, dialed in for a Ibanez IBZ10G with a Doner Standard serious. Studio version, Master of Puppets album (1986), Sweet Silence Studios Copenhagen
Mesa Boogie Mark IIC+ 'Crunchberries' head into Marshall JCM 800 1960B cab with Celestion G12T-75 speakers; Jackson King V with Seymour Duncan Invader humbuckers (bridge)
| Knob | Setting (0–10) |
|---|---|
| Gain | 10 |
| Bass | 7 |
| Mid | 3 |
| Treble | 8 |
| Reverb | 0 |
| Master | 5 |
01Metal/High-Gain Distortion Pedal (Boss MT-2 or TC Electronic Dark Matter)
RECOMMENDED — not currently owned. The IBZ10G cannot produce high-gain thrash tones on its own; a metal distortion pedal is essential. The MT-2's mid-scoop switch mimics the Mark IIC+ voicing. If using a pedal, set amp gain to 3-4 instead of 10.
The IBZ10G is a 10-watt solid-state practice amp with limited gain and no presence control—it cannot replicate Mesa high-gain saturation alone. I maxed the amp's gain and scooped mids to 3 (vs the Mark IIC+'s already mid-scooped voice at 4), raised bass and treble to compensate for the amp's thinner voicing. Without a distortion pedal, you will only achieve a crunchy approximation, not true thrash saturation.
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These settings are for a Ibanez IBZ10G. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.
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