Tone library / Metallica / Master Of Puppets

Master Of Puppets amp settings — Line 6 Spider 2

The Metallica guitar tone for “Master Of Puppets”, dialed in for a Line 6 Spider 2 with a MCI Intertek EX 3000. Studio version, Master of Puppets album (1986), Sweet Silence Studios Copenhagen

Original rig

Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ (preamp) → Marshall JCM800 (power amp) → Marshall 4x12 cab; Jackson King V 'Kill Bon Jovi' with EMG 81/60 pickups; Ibanez TS-808 Tube Screamer as a boost

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

Amp settings — Line 6 Spider 2

CHANNELInsane channel (Metal amp model)

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	7
Bass	4
Mid	3
Treble	7
Presence	5
Reverb	0
Master	6

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Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01RVONE KTN Noise Gate

First in chain, before drive — tightens palm mutes and kills hum between riffs

Threshold 5 · Decay 3

02Boss SD-1 Super OverDrive

Used as a clean boost exactly like Hetfield's TS-808 — drive near zero, level cranked to tighten the amp's low end and push mids forward

Level 8 · Tone 6 · Drive 1

Why these settings

The Spider 2's Insane channel is your closest match to the Mark IIC+ high-gain voice. Your MCI Intertek likely has passive humbuckers with lower output than Hetfield's EMGs, so gain stays at 7 rather than dropping further. Mids scooped to 3 replicates the Mark IIC+ 'V' curve; bass cut to 4 prevents mud since the Spider's low end is looser than a real tube amp. The SD-1 is critical — it functions identically to the TS-808 Hetfield used, tightening flub and adding midrange focus.

PRO TIPHetfield's tone lives in his picking hand — aggressive, consistent downstrokes with the pick angled slightly and striking hard near the bridge. Palm mute pressure should be firm but not choked; aim for a tight 'chunk' that still has note definition. No amount of gain compensates for weak picking attack.

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These settings are for a Line 6 Spider 2. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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