Sad But True amp settings — Nux Mighty 40mk2

The Metallica guitar tone for “Sad But True”, dialed in for a Nux Mighty 40mk2 with a Be joe 277 Ge. Studio version, Metallica (Black Album, 1991)

Original rig

ESP Explorer with EMG 81/85 pickups → Mesa Boogie Mark IIC+ (Gain 8, Bass 6, Mid 5, Treble 6, Presence 6)

Massive, sludgy high-gain rhythm with pronounced midrange punch, tight low end, and aggressive palm-muted chunk

Amp settings — Nux Mighty 40mk2

CHANNELOptimus (Mesa Mark-style model)BRIGHToffBOOSToff

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

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Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE7 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01Tube Screamer (TS808 model in Nux)

RECOMMENDED — use the built-in TS808 effect in the Nux as a clean boost to tighten low end and add pick attack. Drive at 0, level maxed to push the preamp.

Drive 0 · Tone 5 · Level 8

02Noise Gate (built-in)

Essential for high-gain palm muting — keeps rests silent and riff stops tight

Threshold 4

Why these settings

Your Be Joe 277 GE has passive humbuckers vs Hetfield's hot EMG actives — gain +1 from original to compensate for lower output. The Nux Optimus model approximates the Mark IIC+ mid-forward voice; mid pushed to 6 (vs original 5) because the Nux digital voicing is slightly scooped compared to a real Mesa. Treble dropped to 5 (vs 6) to avoid digital fizz at high gain. Reverb at 0 — the original is bone dry.

PRO TIPTune to E♭ standard. The riff lives or dies on palm-mute tightness — mute hard with the heel of your picking hand directly over the bridge saddles, not further up the strings. Downpick every note; no alternate picking. The chunk comes from consistent attack angle and muting pressure, not just amp settings.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Nux Mighty 40mk2. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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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.