Tone library / Metallica / Master of puppets

Master of puppets amp settings — Line 6 Spider II

The Metallica guitar tone for “Master of puppets”, dialed in for a Line 6 Spider II with a Jackson Pro Series Rhoads. Studio version, Master of Puppets (1986) — rhythm guitar tracks

Original rig

Jackson King V 'Kill Bon Jovi' with Seymour Duncan Invaders → Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ (preamp only) → Marshall JCM800 (power amp) → Marshall 4x12

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

Amp settings — Line 6 Spider II

CHANNELInsane

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

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Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE8 VOLUME10

Why these settings

The Spider II's 'Insane' channel is the closest match to the Mark IIC+ high-gain voicing. The Spider has a darker, less defined character than the original Mesa, so bass is pushed to 7 (vs the original's ~6) to compensate for the Spider's looser low end, while mids stay scooped at 3 to match Hetfield's signature scoop. Treble is pulled back to 6 because the Spider's Insane channel gets fizzy and harsh above that. Your Jackson Rhoads with stock humbuckers is a near-perfect match to Hetfield's King V.

PRO TIPHetfield's tone lives in his picking hand — strict downpicking with the pick angled slightly and attacking the strings close to the bridge. No alternate picking on the main riff. This technique creates the percussive, machine-gun attack that defines the tone more than any amp setting.

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

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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.