Tone library / Metallica / Master of puppets

Master of puppets amp settings — Mustang GTX50

The Metallica guitar tone for “Master of puppets”, dialed in for a Mustang GTX50 with a Jackson Js11. Studio version, Master of Puppets album (1986)

Original rig

Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ (preamp) slaved into modified Marshall JCM800 (power amp), Jackson Custom Shop King V 'Kill Bon Jovi' guitar with EMG 81/60 pickups

Aggressive scooped thrash rhythm — tight low end, carved-out mids, cutting high presence, palm-muted precision

Amp settings — Mustang GTX50

CHANNELUS High Gain (Mesa Mark series model)BRIGHToffBOOSToff

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	7
Bass	7
Mid	3
Treble	7
Presence	6
Reverb	0
Master	5

Don’t have a Mustang GTX50? See this song on other amps → Match your own rig →

Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE8 VOLUME10

Why these settings

Your Jackson JS11 has passive humbuckers vs Hetfield's hot EMG actives — gain raised +1 to compensate for lower output. The GTX50's US High Gain model voices the Mesa Mark series; mids dropped to 3 to replicate the signature scoop. Treble and bass both at 7 recreate the V-curve without a graphic EQ pedal.

PRO TIPHetfield's attack is all aggressive downstrokes with the pick angled slightly — dig in hard right above the bridge pickup for that tight, percussive chunk on palm-muted sections.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Mustang GTX50. 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.