Tone library / Metallica / Nothing Else Matters

Nothing Else Matters amp settings — Marshall Vs15

The Metallica guitar tone for “Nothing Else Matters”, dialed in for a Marshall Vs15 with a Rockwood LX90. Studio version, Metallica (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 Vs15

CHANNELNormal (Clean)

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Bass	6
Mid	5
Treble	5
Master	4

Don’t have a Marshall Vs15? See this song on other amps → Match your own rig →

Guitar

PICKUPneck TONE8 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01Digital Reverb (e.g. TC Hall of Fame or Boss RV-6)

RECOMMENDED — not currently owned (run direct into amp input)

Decay 5 · Tone 4 · Level 4

Why these settings

The Marshall Valvestate VS15 Normal channel has independent Volume, Bass, Treble, and Middle knobs, while gain, presence, and built-in reverb are physically absent on this model. Single coils on a Strat-style guitar like the LX90 are naturally brighter and thinner than Hetfield's active humbuckers, so tone is rolled back slightly to 8 with treble kept moderate at 5 to prevent harsh pick clack. Because the VS15 has no onboard reverb, an external hall/plate reverb pedal is recommended to provide the spacious studio ambiance essential to the intro.

PRO TIPPluck the open strings cleanly with the flesh of your fingers or the side of your thumb rather than a hard plectrum attack to replicate the soft, warm bloom of the studio intro.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Marshall Vs15. 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.