Tone library / Metallica / NOTHING Else matters

NOTHING Else matters amp settings — Marshall MG30CFX

The Metallica guitar tone for “NOTHING Else matters”, dialed in for a Marshall MG30CFX with a Ibanez GIO GRG170DX. Studio version, Metallica (The Black Album, 1991) — iconic clean fingerpicked intro

Original rig

Roland JC-120 / Mesa Boogie Mark IIC+ clean channel, ESP Explorer with EMG 60 neck pickup, studio rack reverb

Pristine, warm, round clean tone with gentle presence and studio hall space

Amp settings — Marshall MG30CFX

CHANNELCleanBOOSToff

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

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Guitar

PICKUPneck TONE8 VOLUME10

Why these settings

The Marshall MG30CFX lacks a presence control and naturally leans slightly mid-forward compared to the ultra-clean Roland JC-120 original. Running on the dedicated Clean channel with gain kept low at 2 prevents early solid-state breakup and retains headroom. Rolling your guitar's tone knob down to 8 softens the passive neck humbucker attack to emulate the smooth response of an active EMG 60.

PRO TIPPluck the open strings and arpeggios using the pads of your bare fingers rather than a pick to replicate James Hetfield's warm, rounded attack on the intro.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Marshall MG30CFX. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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