Tone library / Metallica / Master of puppets

Master of puppets amp settings — Mooer SD 30

The Metallica guitar tone for “Master of puppets”, dialed in for a Mooer SD 30 with a Yamaha Revstar RSS20. Studio version, Master of Puppets (1986)

Original rig

Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ preamp → Marshall JCM800 power amp, Jackson King V with EMG 81 (bridge), V-curve graphic EQ in loop

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

Amp settings — Mooer SD 30

CHANNELOD (Overdrive channel)

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

Don’t have a Mooer SD 30? See this song on other amps → Match your own rig →

Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01Boss GE-7 Equalizer

RECOMMENDED — not currently owned. Place in front of amp input. This V-curve EQ is the defining element of the MOP tone; without it you lose the signature scooped thrash character.

100Hz 7 · 200Hz 3 · 400Hz 2 · 800Hz 1 · 1.6kHz 4 · 3.2kHz 7 · 6.4kHz 7 · Level 5

Why these settings

The Mooer SD 30 is a Vox-style Class D amp with moderate gain—it lacks the Mark IIC+'s tight low end and high-gain saturation. I dropped mid to 2 (vs original's 3-4) to approximate the V-curve scoop since you have no EQ pedal, and pushed treble and presence +1 each to compensate for the SD 30's warmer voicing. Your Revstar's Alnico V humbuckers are lower output and warmer than EMG 81s, so gain stays at 7 to maintain definition without mud.

PRO TIPThe MOP tone is 50% downpicking technique—every single note is a downstroke at ~200bpm with extremely tight palm muting. The pick attack should feel like a punch; if you're alternate picking, you're not getting this tone regardless of settings.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Mooer SD 30. 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.