One amp settings — Harley Benton HB-20R

The Metallica guitar tone for “One”, dialed in for a Harley Benton HB-20R with a Donner DST-550. Studio version, ...And Justice for All (1988) — signature heavy machine-gun rhythm riff & solo section

Original rig

Mesa Boogie Mark IIC+ (slaved into Marshall power section with 5-band graphic EQ V-curve), ESP Explorer / Jackson King V with active EMG 81, Roland JC-120 for clean passages

Aggressive, razor-sharp scooped-mid thrash metal rhythm with tight low-end and biting top-end attack

Amp settings — Harley Benton HB-20R

CHANNELLead (Overdrive Select switch ON)

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	8
Bass	6
Mid	2
Treble	8
Reverb	0
Master	4

Don’t have a Harley Benton HB-20R? See this song on other amps → Match your own rig →

Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01Boss MT-2 Metal Zone

RECOMMENDED — not currently owned; with this pedal, switch HB-20R to Clean channel and set amp gain to 2

Level 5 · Dist 7 · Low 7 · High 6 · Middle 2 · Mid Freq 4

Why these settings

The Harley Benton HB-20R lacks the cascading preamp tube saturation and tight 5-band post-distortion graphic EQ of a Mesa Mark IIC+, so engage its onboard Overdrive channel with gain pushed to 8 and mids aggressively cut to 2 to mimic the classic 'Justice' V-curve scoop. Keep bass at 6 to prevent the small 8-inch practice speaker from farting out during palm-muted machine-gun bursts. Clean intro: switch amp Overdrive off to the Clean channel, select neck/middle pickup, and add a touch of amp spring reverb.

PRO TIPAnchor your palm firmly against the bridge saddles and execute aggressive, synchronized downstrokes close to the bridge to emulate James Hetfield's percussive, high-attack pick articulation.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Harley Benton HB-20R. 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 Harley Benton HB-20R

Ride the lightingMetallica Everytime I DieChildren of Bodom Still Loving YouScorpion Kilby girlBackseat lovers Shepherd of fireAvenged sevenfold Wish You Were HerePink Floyd

Find your amp

Browse

Harley Benton HB-20R settingsALL SONGS FOR THIS AMP One on other ampsSAME SONG, YOUR AMP Metallica tonesALL SONGS Metallica on the Harley Benton HB-20RSAME ARTIST, SAME AMP Donner DST-550 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.