Sad but true amp settings — Fender Mustang LT25
The Metallica guitar tone for “Sad but true”, dialed in for a Fender Mustang LT25 with a Jackson JS22 Dinky. Studio version, Metallica (The Black Album, 1991) - Main Riff
ESP MX-220 with EMG active pickups into Mesa Boogie Mark IIC++ layered with Jose-modded Marshall Plexi, Marshall 1960 4x12 cab with Celestion V30s, Aphex EQF-2 (cutting 1.2kHz) and Aphex CX-1 compressor
| Knob | Setting (0–10) |
|---|---|
| Gain | 7 |
| Bass | 8 |
| Mid | 3 |
| Treble | 7 |
| Reverb | 0 |
| Master | 6 |
01Onboard Noise Gate (Mustang LT25 Utility FX)
Engage the onboard Gate block in the signal chain to tighten the heavy palm-muted stops.
The Mustang LT25's 'Metal 2000' model accurately emulates the cascading high-gain character of a Mesa Boogie preamp. We scoop the mids down to 3 to recreate the classic 'V-curve' EQ of the Mark IIC+ while bumping bass to 8 to support the low-end punch of D-standard tuning. Passive Jackson ceramic humbuckers have plenty of cut, so keeping treble around 7 matches James Hetfield's active EMG attack without harshness.
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These settings are for a Fender Mustang LT25. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.
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