Tone library / Metallica / Ride the Lightning

Ride the Lightning amp settings — Zoom G1X Four

The Metallica guitar tone for “Ride the Lightning”, dialed in for a Zoom G1X Four with a Epiphone Les Paul Classic. Studio version, Ride the Lightning (1984) - rhythm tone

Original rig

Modified Marshall JCM800 2203, Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer, Gibson Flying V / Explorer with dirty fingers/Seymour Duncan humbuckers, Aphex/console parametric EQ mid-scoop

Aggressive, bright British thrash crunch with tight low-end and scooped 750Hz midrange

Amp settings — Zoom G1X Four

CHANNELMS 800 Amp Model + MS4x12 CabBOOSToff

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	6
Bass	6
Mid	3
Treble	8
Presence	6
Reverb	0
Master	7

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Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01TS Drive (Zoom TS9 model)

In front of amp model as a clean boost/tightener

Drive 1 · Tone 6 · Gain 8

02GraphicEQ (Zoom 6-band EQ block)

Post-amp/cab block to recreate the studio console V-curve scoop

160Hz 6 · 400Hz 4 · 800Hz 2 · 3.2kHz 7 · 6.4kHz 6 · Level 5

03Z-NR (Noise Gate)

Placed after EQ to clamp tight palm-muted stops

Threshold 6 · Detect 5 · Level 7

Why these settings

The MS 800 model replicates Hetfield's JCM800, boosted up front with the TS Drive to cut low-end flub before distortion. Because the Les Paul humbuckers have naturally heavy low-mids, the GraphicEQ block scoops out 800Hz while pushing 3.2kHz for the iconic Ride the Lightning top-end bite. Amp gain is kept moderate at 6 so the TS Drive and tight EQ shape the crunch rather than letting the amp turn to mush.

PRO TIPUse strict downpicking with your picking hand firmly resting over the bridge saddles to get that precise, percussive chug on the low E and A strings.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Zoom G1X Four. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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