Tone library / Metallica / Master of Puppets

Master of Puppets amp settings — M-Vave Tank G

The Metallica guitar tone for “Master of Puppets”, dialed in for a M-Vave Tank G with a Gibson Explorer. Studio version, Master of Puppets (1986) — signature rhythm riff

Original rig

Gibson Explorer/Jackson King V with high-output humbuckers into Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ slaved into Marshall JCM800 power section, Marshall 4x12 cab, Aphex parametric EQ

Tight, aggressive, mid-scooped thrash rhythm with sharp pick attack and tight low-end thump

Amp settings — M-Vave Tank G

CHANNELAmp Model 8 (Mesa-style High Gain) + 4x12 V30 IRBOOSToff

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

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Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01Tank G Noise Gate

Essential for cutting hiss and keeping the fast staccato palm mutes completely silent between hits

Threshold 6

02Tank G Boost/Overdrive (TS style)

Used strictly as a clean mid-focus boost in front of the high-gain model to tighten the low-end flub

Gain 0 · Tone 6 · Level 8

Why these settings

The Tank G's Mesa-style model emulates the classic Mark series preamp distortion, which gets muddy if you push preamp bass; keep the clean boost block engaged with zero drive to tighten the tracking. The signature 'V-curve' requires scooping the middle knob down to 2 while keeping treble and bass pushed around 7 to replicate the studio outboard parametric EQ. Clean interlude: switch to Amp Model 1 (Clean) with middle at 6 and kick on the onboard chorus block.

PRO TIPAnchor your palm directly on the bridge saddle and execute strict downpicking with a heavy, sharp pick (1.0mm+) angled slightly toward the headstock to maximize percussive attack.

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These settings are for a M-Vave Tank G. 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.