Tone library / Metallica / Nothing Else Matters

Nothing Else Matters amp settings — Fender Champion 20

The Metallica guitar tone for “Nothing Else Matters”, dialed in for a Fender Champion 20 with a Squier Classic Vibe 60s Stratocaster. Studio version, Metallica 'Black Album' (1991) — clean fingerpicked sections

Original rig

Tom Anderson ProAM Strat (single coils) → Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus + MXR DynaComp (direct signal blended)

Crystalline, shimmering clean with subtle compression and stereo chorus shimmer

Amp settings — Fender Champion 20

CHANNELClean (Voice selector set to Clean/Blackface position)

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	3
Bass	5
Mid	6
Treble	6
Presence	0
Reverb	3
Master	5

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Guitar

PICKUPneck TONE7 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01Compressor (e.g., MXR Dyna Comp, Boss CS-3)

RECOMMENDED — not currently owned. Critical for the sustained, even fingerpicked tone. Without it, dynamics will be spikier than the original.

Output/Level 6 · Sensitivity/Sustain 4

Why these settings

The Champion 20 is voiced brighter and thinner than the JC-120's warm, full-range solid-state cleans. Pushed mids to 6 (original JC was 5-6) to compensate for the Champion's inherent mid-scoop. Rolled treble back to 6 instead of 7 because the Champion's smaller speaker exaggerates high frequencies. Added reverb at 3 to approximate the ambient studio blend—the JC-120 had built-in chorus, which you cannot replicate without a pedal.

PRO TIPUse hybrid picking (pick + middle/ring fingers) on the arpeggios to get Hetfield's even note-to-note volume. The original recording had heavy compression doing this work—without a compressor, your technique must compensate.

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These settings are for a Fender Champion 20. 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.