Tone library / Metallica / Master of puppets

Master of puppets amp settings — Vox Pathfinder 10

The Metallica guitar tone for “Master of puppets”, dialed in for a Vox Pathfinder 10 with a Jackson Pro Series Rhoads. Studio version, Master of Puppets (1986) — main rhythm riff

Original rig

Jackson Custom Shop King V (Seymour Duncan Invaders) into Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ preamp (V-curve EQ) slaved into Marshall JCM800 2203 power amp and 4x12 Marshall cab

Aggressive, tight high-gain thrash crunch with deeply scooped 750Hz midrange and razor-sharp bite

Amp settings — Vox Pathfinder 10

CHANNELOverdrive switch ONBOOSTon

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

Don’t have a Vox Pathfinder 10? See this song on other amps → Match your own rig →

Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01ProCo Rat 2 or Boss DS-1 Distortion

RECOMMENDED — not currently owned

Distortion 7 · Filter / Tone 6 · Volume / Level 7

Why these settings

The Pathfinder 10 is an analog practice amp with only Gain, Bass, and Treble controls (no mid, presence, or reverb controls physically exist on its faceplate). Engage the built-in Overdrive switch with Gain pushed to 8 and Treble at 7 to emulate the aggressive Mark IIC+ crunch with your bridge humbucker. Clean interlude: disengage the amp overdrive switch and roll guitar volume back to 7.

PRO TIPLock your picking wrist and execute all rhythm riffs with strict, heavy downstrokes right next to the bridge saddles for the razor-sharp attack characteristic of James Hetfield's 1986 tracks.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Vox Pathfinder 10. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

Get ToneAdapt on Google Play

More tones for the Vox Pathfinder 10

As You PleaseCitizen ParanoidBlack sabatt DisturbiaRihanna Going to PasalacquaGreen Day Tear You ApartShe Wants Revenge I Only Wanna Be With YouVolbeat

Find your amp

Browse

Vox Pathfinder 10 settingsALL SONGS FOR THIS AMP Master of puppets on other ampsSAME SONG, YOUR AMP Metallica tonesALL SONGS Metallica on the Vox Pathfinder 10SAME ARTIST, SAME AMP Jackson Pro Series Rhoads tonesSAME GUITAR Tone libraryEVERYTHING

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.