Tone library / Metallica / Master of puppets

Master of puppets amp settings — Marshall MG30CFX

The Metallica guitar tone for “Master of puppets”, dialed in for a Marshall MG30CFX with a Harley Benton WL-20BK ROCK SERIES. Studio version, Master of Puppets (1986) - Main iconic rhythm track

Original rig

Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ slaved into Marshall JCM800 2203 power amp, Jackson King V / Gibson Explorer with humbuckers

Aggressive, tight, high-gain thrash rhythm with deeply scooped mids and punchy low-end

Amp settings — Marshall MG30CFX

CHANNELOD2BOOSToff

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	7
Bass	8
Mid	2
Treble	7
Reverb	0
Master	5

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Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01Behringer OD300 Overdrive/Distortion

Used as a clean boost (Mode all the way to Overdrive) into the front input to tighten low-end tracking

Level 9 · Tone 6 · Drive 1 · Mode 0

Why these settings

The Marshall MG30CFX lacks a physical presence control, so presence is nulled and top-end bite is compensated using treble at 7. Because Hetfield's signature tone relies on the Mark IIC+ graphic EQ V-curve, mids are heavily scooped to 2 on the MG's OD2 channel while keeping bass punchy at 8. The OD300 acts as a clean boost with Drive nearly off and Mode set to Overdrive to tighten the Harley Benton's ceramic humbucker attack without turning the amp to mud.

PRO TIPAnchor your palm firmly against the bridge saddles and execute strict downpicking for all fast eighth-note riffs to replicate Hetfield's percussive, mechanical chug.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Marshall MG30CFX. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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