Tone library / Metallica / Nothing else matters

Nothing else matters amp settings — Boss Katana 100 MkII

The Metallica guitar tone for “Nothing else matters”, dialed in for a Boss Katana 100 MkII with a Jackson RRX24. Studio version, Metallica (Black Album), 1991 — produced by Bob Rock at One on One Recording Studios, LA

Original rig

Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus (clean) + MXR DynaComp (dual signal blend) — Guitar: Tom Anderson ProAM Strat (single coils, neck pickup) borrowed from Kirk Hammett

Pristine, shimmering clean with stereo chorus width — warm, glassy fingerpicked arpeggios with subtle compression
Amp settings — Boss Katana 100 MkII
CHANNELClean amp typeBRIGHToffBOOSToff
GAIN 2 BASS 5 MID 5 TREBLE 6 PRESENCE 4 REVERB 3 MASTER 7
KnobSetting (0–10)
Gain2
Bass5
Mid5
Treble6
Presence4
Reverb3
Master7
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Guitar
PICKUPneck TONE7 VOLUME10
Signal chain

01Compressor (Pod Go — Deluxe Comp or LA Studio Comp)

Emulates the MXR DynaComp — adds sustain and evenness to fingerpicked arpeggios without squashing dynamics

Level 6 · Threshold 4 · Attack 3 · Ratio 5

02Chorus (Pod Go — 70s Chorus or Dimension)

JC-120's built-in stereo chorus is THE defining effect — slow rate, moderate depth for shimmering width without seasick wobble

Rate 3 · Depth 5 · Mix 5 · Tone 6
Why these settings

Your Jackson RRX24 has hot humbuckers vs the original's low-output single coils—gain dropped to 2 (from JC-120's 4-5) to prevent breakup and preserve the glassy clean. Treble raised +1 because humbuckers are darker than Strat singles. The Katana's Clean amp type is Fender-voiced (scooped mids, bright top), which is closer to the JC-120's solid-state clarity than the Brown or Crunch types would be. Run the Pod Go's compressor and chorus in front of the Katana's input, not in the effects loop.

PRO TIPFingerpick this—Hetfield used thumb for the low E and index/middle fingers for the G/B/high E strings. No pick. Let the open strings ring together; the sustain overlap is the magic. Roll your guitar's tone knob to 7 to tame the Jackson's brightness and get closer to that Tom Anderson Strat warmth.

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These settings are for a Boss Katana 100 MkII. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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