Tone library / Metallica / Master of puppets

Master of puppets amp settings — Laney Lx20r

The Metallica guitar tone for “Master of puppets”, dialed in for a Laney Lx20r with a Cort X3. Studio version, Master of Puppets album (1986)

Original rig

ESP Explorer with EMG 81/60 humbuckers → Mesa Boogie Mark IIC+ (lead channel, gain 8) → Marshall JCM800 2203 power amp → Marshall 4x12 with Celestion G12T-75 speakers

Scooped, aggressive thrash rhythm — tight palm-muted downstrokes with razor-sharp pick attack

Amp settings — Laney Lx20r

CHANNELOverdriveBRIGHToff

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

Don’t have a Laney Lx20r? See this song on other amps → Match your own rig →

Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10

Why these settings

Laney LX20R's voicing is warmer and less scooped than the Mark IIC+. Pushed bass +1 to compensate for the Cort's passive humbuckers vs EMG 81's hot output, and scooped mids hard to 2 (Mark IIC+ ran mids at 3-4). No presence knob on the LX20R, so treble at 7 handles upper-mid bite. The Laney's Overdrive channel provides the gain stage.

PRO TIPDownpick EVERYTHING with a tight wrist motion and keep your palm firmly anchored on the bridge for those percussive palm-mutes — Hetfield's attack is 50% of this tone's aggression.

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