One amp settings — Marshall MG30CFX

The Metallica guitar tone for “One”, dialed in for a Marshall MG30CFX with a Jackson Pro Series King V. Studio version, ...And Justice for All (1988) — signature heavy machine-gun rhythm riff & solo section

Original rig

Mesa Boogie Mark IIC+ (preamp slaved into Marshall power section with 5-band graphic EQ V-curve), ESP Explorer / Jackson King V 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 MG30CFX

CHANNELOD-2

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	8
Bass	7
Mid	2
Treble	8
Reverb	0
Master	5

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Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10

Why these settings

The Marshall MG30CFX faceplate lacks a presence knob, so highs are pushed via the treble control to simulate the razor-sharp Mark IIC+ bite. Because Marshall solid-state circuits naturally have strong forward mids compared to Mesa's graphic EQ 'V-curve', the mid knob is cut drastically to 2 while OD-2 provides the necessary thrash saturation. Clean intro: switch amp to Clean channel with bass at 5, mid at 6, and add built-in chorus.

PRO TIPAnchor your palm firmly against the bridge saddles and execute aggressive, synchronized downpicking to nail the percussive, mechanical stop-start attack of the machine-gun riff.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Marshall MG30CFX. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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