Tone library / Metallica / Master Of Puppets

Master Of Puppets amp settings — Tagima FOX-50

The Metallica guitar tone for “Master Of Puppets”, dialed in for a Tagima FOX-50 with a Thomaz Stratocaster. Studio version, Master of Puppets album (1986)

Original rig

ESP Explorer with EMG pickups → Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ (preamp) → Marshall JCM800 (power amp). V-shaped graphic EQ with scooped mids.

Tight, aggressive thrash rhythm with scooped mids, razor-sharp pick attack, crushing palm-muted low end

Amp settings — Tagima FOX-50

CHANNELOverdrive/Distortion channel (highest gain channel available)BRIGHTon

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

Don’t have a Tagima FOX-50? See this song on other amps → Match your own rig →

Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01Boss GE-7 Equalizer (or similar 7-band EQ)

RECOMMENDED — not currently owned. This V-shaped EQ curve is essential to the Master of Puppets scoop. Place before amp input. Without this pedal, you'll get close but miss the defining mid-cut character.

100Hz 7 · 200Hz 6 · 400Hz 3 · 800Hz 2 · 1.6kHz 3 · 3.2kHz 6 · 6.4kHz 7 · Level 5

Why these settings

Your Tagima FOX-50 is a budget solid-state practice amp — it lacks the tube compression and tight low-end response of the Mark IIC+. The Strat's single coils are far brighter and lower-output than Hetfield's active EMGs, so I've pushed bass +1 and dropped mids harder than the original to compensate for the Strat's inherent mid-spike. Without a graphic EQ pedal, this tone will sound fuller in the mids than the original — that V-shaped scoop is non-negotiable for authentic thrash.

PRO TIPHetfield's tone lives in his picking hand: strict downstrokes only, palm muting anchored right at the bridge saddles, and a stiff pick (1.0mm+) held close to the tip for maximum attack. The technique matters more than the gear — practice the relentless downpicking before chasing EQ curves.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Tagima FOX-50. 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.