One amp settings — Crate GX-15

The Metallica guitar tone for “One”, dialed in for a Crate GX-15 with a Epiphone Les Paul Standard 60s. Studio version, ...And Justice for All (1988)

Original rig

ESP Explorer with EMG 81 bridge pickup → Mesa Boogie Mark IIC+ → Marshall 4x12 cab. Cry Baby wah on lead sections.

Scooped, aggressive thrash rhythm with tight palm-muted chunk and cutting treble

Amp settings — Crate GX-15

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	9
Bass	8
Mid	2
Treble	8
Reverb	1
Master	6

Don’t have a Crate GX-15? See this song on other amps → Match your own rig →

Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10

Why these settings

Crate GX-15 is a solid-state practice amp with no mid control on the faceplate — the Mesa's signature mid-scoop is baked into its preamp EQ. Your Les Paul's passive humbuckers have less output and more low-mid warmth than Hetfield's active EMG 81, so gain is pushed to 9 (vs Mesa's 8.5) and bass is raised to 8 (vs 5.5) to compensate for the Crate's thinner low-end response and lack of Mesa compression. Treble stays at 8 to retain the cutting Justice-era attack without the Crate getting ice-picky.

PRO TIPPalm-mute tightness is half the tone — anchor your picking hand's heel just behind the bridge and apply firm downward pressure on the strings during the verse gallop; let off completely for the open-string accents. The active EMG's compressed attack hides sloppy muting, but passives expose it.

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These settings are for a Crate GX-15. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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