Tone library / Metallica / Master of Puppets

Master of Puppets amp settings — Mercury PG15

The Metallica guitar tone for “Master of Puppets”, dialed in for a Mercury PG15 with a İbanez Gio. Studio version, Master of Puppets album (1986), Flemming Rasmussen production

Original rig

Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ preamp → Marshall JCM800 power section, Jackson King V with EMG 81 bridge pickup, quad-tracked rhythms

Aggressive scooped thrash rhythm with tight low end, cut mids, and biting high-frequency attack

Amp settings — Mercury PG15

CHANNELOverdrive/Distortion channel (highest gain voicing available)BRIGHTonBOOSTon

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	8
Bass	7
Mid	2
Treble	7
Presence	6
Reverb	0
Master	5

Don’t have a Mercury PG15? See this song on other amps → Match your own rig →

Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01Boss GE-7 or similar 7-band EQ

RECOMMENDED — not currently owned. Place in FX loop if available, otherwise run before amp input. This V-curve EQ is essential to the Mark IIC+ scoop; without it you will not nail the tone.

100Hz 8 · 200Hz 3 · 400Hz 2 · 800Hz 2 · 1.6kHz 4 · 3.2kHz 7 · 6.4kHz 8 · Level 6

Why these settings

The Mercury PG15 is a budget practice amp with limited EQ range and a darker, less defined gain structure than a Mesa Mark IIC+. I pushed mids down to 2 (original was 3-4 on a mid-forward Mesa) because the PG15 lacks the IIC+'s inherent mid cut. Bass raised to 7 to compensate for the smaller speaker's lack of low-end authority. Without an EQ pedal, you will get a generic high-gain tone but not the signature scooped thrash sound — the GE-7 is the minimum viable addition.

PRO TIPHetfield's right-hand attack is 90% of this tone — strict downpicking with the pick angled slightly, palm muting directly over the bridge saddles, not floating above. Practice the main riff at 60% speed with zero upstrokes until the muting is airtight.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Mercury PG15. 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.