One amp settings — Harley benton 20mfx
The Metallica guitar tone for “One”, dialed in for a Harley benton 20mfx with a Harley Benton R-466. Studio version, ...And Justice for All (1988) — heavy/distorted riff sections
Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ amp, ESP MX-220 with EMG 81 bridge pickup, Marshall 4x12 cabinet, noise gate
| Knob | Setting (0–10) |
|---|---|
| Gain | 7 |
| Bass | 4 |
| Mid | 3 |
| Treble | 6 |
| Reverb | 0 |
| Master | 5 |
01Metal Zone (MT-2) or similar high-gain distortion
RECOMMENDED — not currently owned. The Harley Benton 20MFX cannot produce Mark IIC+ saturation levels from its preamp alone. A high-gain distortion pedal is essential to reach this tone. Budget options: Harley Benton MT-20 Metal, Behringer HM300, Boss DS-1 pushed hard.
The original uses a high-gain tube amp (Mark IIC+) with active EMG pickups — your Harley Benton 20MFX solid-state amp and passive R-466 humbuckers cannot match that saturation from amp gain alone. I dropped bass from 5.5 to 4 because small practice amp speakers get flubby with too much low-end. Mid stays scooped at 3 to preserve the signature Justice tone. Treble reduced from 7 to 6 because solid-state amps can get harsh where tubes stay smooth. Without a high-gain pedal, this tone is not achievable — the recommended distortion pedal becomes your primary gain source while the amp stays relatively clean to avoid mud.
Get this tone on your amp
These settings are for a Harley benton 20mfx. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.
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