Tone library / Metallica / Ride the lightning

Ride the lightning amp settings — Marshall JCM900

The Metallica guitar tone for “Ride the lightning”, dialed in for a Marshall JCM900 with a Gibson Les Paul Modern. Studio version, Ride the Lightning (1984) - main rhythm tone

Original rig

Modified Marshall JCM800 2203, Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer, Gibson Flying V / Explorer with high-output humbuckers, studio parametric EQ mid-scoop

Aggressive, bright British thrash crunch with tight low-end and scooped 750Hz midrange
Amp settings — Marshall JCM900
CHANNELLead / Channel B
GAIN 8 BASS 7 MID 3 TREBLE 7 PRESENCE 8 REVERB 0 MASTER 5
KnobSetting (0–10)
Gain8
Bass7
Mid3
Treble7
Presence8
Reverb0
Master5
Don’t have a Marshall JCM900? See this song on other amps → Match your own rig →
Guitar
PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10
Signal chain

01Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer

RECOMMENDED — not currently owned; place in front of the amp to tighten the low end and add attack

Drive 0 · Tone 7 · Level 10
Why these settings

The JCM900 on Channel B provides ample onboard diode clipping to replicate the modified JCM800's thrash gain without an external boost. Pull the midrange down to 3 and push presence to 8 to mimic the Flemming Rasmussen parametric EQ mid-scoop and aggressive top-end bite. Keep bass at 7 for bottom-end punch without overloading the power section.

PRO TIPAggressive, strictly down-picked palm-muting right against the bridge saddles is essential to achieve the tight, percussive chug heard on the record.

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These settings are for a Marshall JCM900. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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Marshall JCM900 settingsALL SONGS FOR THIS AMP Ride the lightning on other ampsSAME SONG, YOUR AMP Metallica tonesALL SONGS Metallica on the Marshall JCM900SAME ARTIST, SAME AMP Gibson Les Paul Modern tonesSAME GUITAR Tone libraryEVERYTHING

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