Master of Puppets amp settings — Laney Cub 12R
The Metallica guitar tone for “Master of Puppets”, dialed in for a Laney Cub 12R with a Jackson Pro Series King V. Studio version, Master of Puppets album (1986), Hetfield rhythm tone
Jackson King V 'Kill Bon Jovi' with Seymour Duncan Invaders → Mesa Boogie Mark IIC+ (as preamp) slaved into Marshall JCM800 → Marshall 4x12. Graphic EQ in V-shape: boosted 80Hz/240Hz, cut 750Hz/2.2kHz/6.6kHz. Clean parts used Roland JC-120.
| Knob | Setting (0–10) |
|---|---|
| Gain | 3 |
| Bass | 7 |
| Mid | 3 |
| Treble | 6 |
| Reverb | 0 |
| Master | 7 |
01Zoom G1X Four — Amp Sim Block
Use the Zoom's MS JCM800 or RCTFIER model as your primary gain source. Run the Laney CLEAN — the Zoom provides all the distortion.
02Zoom G1X Four — Graphic EQ Block
Critical for the V-curve scoop. Boost lows, cut mids. This is the defining EQ shape of the album.
03Zoom G1X Four — Noise Gate
Tight gate keeps palm mutes defined and controls noise from high-gain settings.
The Laney Cub 12R is a low-wattage Class A tube amp voiced for British crunch — it lacks the tight, high-gain American voicing of a Mesa Rectifier. Set the Laney to its cleanest possible setting (gain at 3) and use the Zoom G1X Four's amp modeling as your primary distortion source. The Zoom's RCTFIER or MS JCM800 models get closer to the Mesa/Marshall hybrid. The 5-band EQ block replicates Hetfield's signature V-curve scoop that defined this album.
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These settings are for a Laney Cub 12R. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.
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