Sad But True amp settings — EVH 5150 Iconic 80W

The Metallica guitar tone for “Sad But True”, dialed in for a EVH 5150 Iconic 80W with a ESP LTD EC-1000. Studio version, Metallica (Black Album, 1991) — iconic main riff

Original rig

ESP MX-220 (EMG 81 pickups) into Mesa Boogie Mark IIC++ layered with Jose-modded Marshall, Marshall 1960 4x12 cab, Aphex EQF-2 cutting 1.2kHz, tuned to D standard

Massive, tight, down-tuned metal chug — heavy low-end thump with scooped mids and controlled high-gain saturation

Amp settings — EVH 5150 Iconic 80W

CHANNELRed (Burn) ChannelBOOSToff

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	6
Bass	6
Mid	4
Treble	6
Presence	6
Reverb	0
Master	4

Don’t have a EVH 5150 Iconic 80W? See this song on other amps → Match your own rig →

Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01Ibanez Tube Screamer TS808

BOOST — run in front of the amp to tighten the down-tuned low end and sharpen pick attack

Overdrive 0 · Tone 6 · Level 9

Why these settings

The 5150 Iconic Red channel provides authentic cascading high-gain, so keep amp gain around 6 to prevent mush with the active EMG pickups in D standard. Your TS808 acts as a clean boost to tighten the flubby sub-bass before the preamp, allowing the classic 'V-curve' scoop without losing attack. Keep Resonance around 6-7 on the amp's rear/global panel to replicate the massive Black Album 4x12 low-end thump without loosening the palm mutes. Bypass the Gamma Hades pedal since the 5150 and TS808 nail the studio high-gain core.

PRO TIPTune down a full step to D Standard (D-G-C-F-A-D) and strike your palm-muted chugs right over the bridge pickup with a heavy, sharp pick angle to recreate Hetfield's percussive attack.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a EVH 5150 Iconic 80W. 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 EVH 5150 Iconic 80W

Keep awayGodsmack Slaughterer Chainsaw (Revamped)Extermination Dismemberment Surrounded by painGuilttrip I Don't Believe In LoveQueensrÿche IsolationAlter Bridge Beat itEvh

Find your amp

Browse

EVH 5150 Iconic 80W settingsALL SONGS FOR THIS AMP Sad But True on other ampsSAME SONG, YOUR AMP Metallica tonesALL SONGS ESP LTD EC-1000 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.