Tone library / Metallica / Master of Puppets

Master of Puppets amp settings — Line 6 POD Go Wireless

The Metallica guitar tone for “Master of Puppets”, dialed in for a Line 6 POD Go Wireless with a Fender American Professional II Stratocaster. Studio version, Master of Puppets (1986) — Hetfield's rhythm tone

Original rig

Jackson King V 'Kill Bon Jovi' with Seymour Duncan Invaders → Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ (preamp) slaved into modified Marshall JCM800 2203 → Marshall 4x12 cabs

Tight scooped thrash rhythm with aggressive pick attack, deep low end, cutting high presence, classic V-curve EQ

Amp settings — Line 6 POD Go Wireless

CHANNELTreadplate (Line 6 model of Mesa Rectifier — closest to Mark IIC+ voicing available) with Cali IV Rhythm as alternativeBRIGHToffBOOSToff

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

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Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01Scream 808 (Tube Screamer model)

Used as a boost to tighten low end and push amp — not for distortion. Place before amp block.

Drive 2 · Tone 7 · Level 8

02Noise Gate

Fast decay essential for tight palm-muted chugs. Place after Screamer, before amp.

Threshold 5 · Decay 0

03Parametric EQ (post-amp block)

Recreates the Mark IIC+ 5-band graphic EQ V-curve: boost 80Hz, cut 750Hz hard, boost 2.2kHz and above. Place in signal chain after amp/cab block.

Low Freq 8 · Low Gain 4 · Mid Freq 3 · Mid Gain 2 · High Freq 7 · High Gain 6

Why these settings

Your Strat's single coils are significantly lower output and brighter than Hetfield's hot humbuckers. The Scream 808 block compensates by adding compression and midrange push. Gain is set 1 point lower than a humbucker rig would need because the Screamer adds grit. The post-amp EQ block is critical — without it you cannot achieve the signature scooped V-curve that defines this tone.

PRO TIPHetfield's attack is all downstrokes with the pick angled slightly, palm resting just behind the bridge for tight mutes. The tone lives in the right hand — loose palm muting will turn this into mud regardless of settings. Tune to Eb standard to match the album.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Line 6 POD Go Wireless. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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Line 6 POD Go Wireless settingsALL SONGS FOR THIS AMP Master of Puppets on other ampsSAME SONG, YOUR AMP Metallica tonesALL SONGS Fender American Professional II Stratocaster tonesSAME GUITAR Tone libraryEVERYTHING

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.