One amp settings — Marshall Code 50

The Metallica guitar tone for “One”, dialed in for a Marshall Code 50 with a Ibanez GIO GRG170DX. 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 amp with graphic EQ V-scoop), ESP / Jackson with EMG 81 bridge pickup, Roland JC-120 (clean intro)

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

Amp settings — Marshall Code 50

CHANNELAmerican OD amp model (Mesa style) + 1960V 4x12 CabBOOSToff

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	8
Bass	7
Mid	2
Treble	8
Reverb	1
Master	6

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Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01Onboard Noise Gate (Marshall Code FX block)

Enable the onboard Noise Gate block to keep the machine-gun staccato riffs completely tight and quiet between chugs

Threshold 7

Why these settings

The Marshall Code 50 is a digital modeling amp, so we select the onboard 'American OD' model paired with the 1960V cab to simulate the iconic Mark IIC+ preamp into Marshall power amp setup. The mid control is dropped to 2 with bass and treble boosted to replicate the legendary Mesa 5-band graphic EQ 'V-curve' from the ...And Justice for All sessions. Clean intro/verse: switch preset to the 'Clean American' model with subtle onboard chorus.

PRO TIPAnchor your picking hand firmly across the bridge saddles for strict, aggressive palm-muting, striking the strings with the edge of a stiff heavy pick to replicate James Hetfield's percussive downpicked attack.

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These settings are for a Marshall Code 50. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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