Tone library / Metallica / Master of Puppets

Master of Puppets amp settings — Marshall MG15R

The Metallica guitar tone for “Master of Puppets”, dialed in for a Marshall MG15R with a Stratocaster Bistiune vintage series. Studio version, Master of Puppets (1986) - Main Rhythm Track

Original rig

Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ preamp slaved into Marshall JCM800 2203 power amp, Jackson King V with Seymour Duncan Invader humbuckers, Marshall 4x12 cab

Aggressive, tight high-gain thrash crunch with a deep V-scooped midrange and biting attack

Amp settings — Marshall MG15R

CHANNELOverdrive (OD)

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	8
Bass	8
Mid	2
Treble	7
Reverb	0
Master	4

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Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10

Why these settings

The MG15R solid-state preamp needs gain pushed to 8 on the Overdrive channel to replicate the saturated Mesa Mark IIC+ preamp compression. To compensate for single-coil Strat pickups versus Hetfield's high-output Seymour Duncan Invader humbuckers, bass is boosted to 8 while mids are cut hard to 2 to reproduce the classic Mesa 5-band V-curve graphic EQ scoop on the Marshall's tone stack. Note that the MG15R faceplate features a standard 3-band EQ and spring reverb but lacks a presence knob, so presence is null.

PRO TIPStrictly downpick all eighth-note rhythm sections and palm-mute right against the bridge saddles to get the razor-sharp, percussive chug defining Hetfield's right-hand attack.

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These settings are for a Marshall MG15R. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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