Tone library / Metallica / Master of Puppets

Master of Puppets amp settings — Roland cube 15Xl

The Metallica guitar tone for “Master of Puppets”, dialed in for a Roland cube 15Xl with a Squier Bullet Stratocaster. Studio version, Master of Puppets (1986) - Main iconic rhythm track

Original rig

Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ slaved into Marshall JCM800 2203 power section, Marshall 4x12 cab, Jackson King V / Gibson Explorer with high-output humbuckers

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

Amp settings — Roland cube 15Xl

CHANNELLead (Extreme type)BOOSToff

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

Don’t have a Roland cube 15Xl? See this song on other amps → Match your own rig →

Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10

Why these settings

The Roland Cube 15XL's Extreme lead model provides the modern, compressed Mesa/Boogie saturation needed for 80s thrash. To replicate the iconic Mark IIC+ 5-band graphic EQ V-curve on your 3-band faceplate, drop the Mid control to 2 while pushing Bass and Treble. To compensate for the Squier Bullet Stratocaster's lower-output, thinner bridge single-coil, keep Bass at 8 to add low-end weight.

PRO TIPAnchor your palm flat against the bridge saddles and execute aggressive, all-downstroke picking right near the bridge to maximize percussive bite and high-speed palm-mute clarity.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Roland cube 15Xl. 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.