One amp settings — Blackstar ID:Core 20 V3

The Metallica guitar tone for “One”, dialed in for a Blackstar ID:Core 20 V3 with a Fender Player Stratocaster. Studio version, ...And Justice for All (1988) — main distorted riff sections

Original rig

Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ amp, ESP MX-220 with humbuckers (bridge position), noise gate

Tight, aggressive, mid-scooped thrash rhythm with sharp pick attack and controlled low end

Amp settings — Blackstar ID:Core 20 V3

CHANNELOD2 (high gain channel) with ISF set fully counter-clockwise (American voicing)BOOSToff

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	8
Bass	6
Mid	2
Treble	8
Reverb	0
Master	5

Don’t have a Blackstar ID:Core 20 V3? See this song on other amps → Match your own rig →

Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10

Why these settings

The original Mark IIC+ is tighter and more articulate than the ID:Core's digital gain structure. Your Strat's single coils are significantly brighter and lower output than Hetfield's humbuckers, so I pushed treble to 8 to maintain aggression but the mid-scoop to 2 compensates for the Strat's inherent mid-presence. ISF fully CCW gives the tightest, most American-voiced response to approximate the Mesa's punch. Gain at 8 on OD2 reaches the saturation level needed; the original ran gain around 8.5.

PRO TIPPalm mute tightly right at the bridge saddles and use aggressive downpicking with the pick angled slightly — this is 90% of Hetfield's machine-gun rhythm attack. The Strat's thinner voice will never fully replicate humbucker chunk, but precise muting and attack will get you closer than any EQ tweak.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Blackstar ID:Core 20 V3. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

Get ToneAdapt on Google Play

More tones for the Blackstar ID:Core 20 V3

DespacitoLuis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee YürekDuman Mouth for WarPantera The Dark Eternal NightDream Theater November RainGuns n' Roses CreepRadiohead

Find your amp

Browse

Blackstar ID:Core 20 V3 settingsALL SONGS FOR THIS AMP One on other ampsSAME SONG, YOUR AMP Metallica tonesALL SONGS Metallica on the Blackstar ID:Core 20 V3SAME ARTIST, SAME AMP Fender Player Stratocaster tonesSAME GUITAR Tone libraryEVERYTHING

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.