Tone library / Metallica / Master of Puppets

Master of Puppets amp settings — Zoom G1 Four

The Metallica guitar tone for “Master of Puppets”, dialed in for a Zoom G1 Four with a Squier Bullet Stratocaster. Studio version, Master of Puppets (1986) — main rhythm riff

Original rig

Jackson Custom Shop King V (Seymour Duncan Invader humbuckers) -> Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ (slaved into Marshall JCM800 power section) with classic 5-band graphic EQ V-curve

Aggressive, tight, scooped thrash rhythm with crushing low-end chunk and sharp attack

Amp settings — Zoom G1 Four

CHANNELMK2 BG (Mesa Mark IIc+ model) + MK2BG4x12 cabBRIGHToffBOOSToff

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

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Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE9 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01Z-NR (Noise Gate)

Placed first to silence single-coil hum and clamp tight palm-mute chugs

Threshold 6 · Detect 5 · Level 10

02TS Drive (Tube Screamer boost)

Clean boost into the amp model to tighten low-end flub from Squier single-coils

Drive 0 · Tone 6 · Level 8

03Graphic EQ (ParaEQ / GraphicEQ block)

Classic Mark IIC+ post-gain V-curve shape to carve out the 800Hz mud

160Hz 7 · 400Hz 4 · 800Hz 2 · 3.2kHz 7 · 6.4kHz 6

Why these settings

To compensate for the Squier Strat's low-output single-coil pickups compared to James's high-output Duncan Invaders, the TS Drive boost tightens the bass before hitting the Mark IIc+ model. The Zoom's EQ block applies the signature Mesa post-gain 'V-curve' scoop by cutting 800Hz while keeping high-end bite. Clean interlude: switch to the FD TWN (Fender Twin) clean patch with the CE-Chorus block engaged.

PRO TIPAnchor the side of your picking hand firmly across the bridge saddles and execute every rhythm note with aggressive, strict downpicking to get the percussive attack of the main riff.

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These settings are for a Zoom G1 Four. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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