Tone library / Metallica / Ride the Lightning

Ride the Lightning amp settings — Blackstar Silverline stereo deluxe

The Metallica guitar tone for “Ride the Lightning”, dialed in for a Blackstar Silverline stereo deluxe with a Epiphone Explorer 80s. Studio version, Ride the Lightning album (1984)

Original rig

Marshall JCM800 2203 (Jose Arredondo mod), 1984 Gibson Explorer (bridge humbucker), no pedals - straight into amp

Bright, aggressive thrash rhythm with scooped mids, tight chunky lows, and cutting high-end bite

Amp settings — Blackstar Silverline stereo deluxe

CHANNELOD2 (high-gain channel)BOOSTon

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	7
Bass	6
Mid	2
Treble	7
Presence	6
Reverb	0
Master	5

Don’t have a Blackstar Silverline stereo deluxe? See this song on other amps → Match your own rig →

Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10

Why these settings

The Blackstar Silverline's OD2 channel with ISF set fully clockwise (British/Marshall voicing) gets you closest to the JCM800 character. Mids dropped to 2 to replicate Hetfield's signature scoop—the original was around 3 on a Marshall, but Blackstar's mid control is more prominent, so we cut harder. Treble pulled back one notch from original (8→7) because the Silverline's digital modeling can get harsh in the upper frequencies where the JCM800's analog saturation stayed musical.

PRO TIPDial ISF fully clockwise for British voicing, then palm-mute directly over the bridge pickup—Hetfield's picking hand position was almost touching the saddles for that percussive, gate-like chunk on the E and A strings.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Blackstar Silverline stereo deluxe. 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 Blackstar Silverline stereo deluxe

Nothing Else MattersMetallica BatteryMetallica Livin' It UpLimp Bizkit FaithGhost Run To YouBryan Adams Play GodSam Fender

Find your amp

Browse

Blackstar Silverline stereo deluxe settingsALL SONGS FOR THIS AMP Ride the Lightning on other ampsSAME SONG, YOUR AMP Metallica tonesALL SONGS Metallica on the Blackstar Silverline stereo deluxeSAME ARTIST, SAME AMP Epiphone Explorer 80s 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.