Seek & Destroy amp settings — Fender champion 40 Champion 40
The Metallica guitar tone for “Seek & Destroy”, dialed in for a Fender champion 40 Champion 40 with a Ibanez GIO GRG170DX. Studio version, Kill 'Em All (1983)
Modified/hot-rodded Marshall JMP 2203 100W head + 1981 Gibson Flying V with stock humbuckers
| Knob | Setting (0–10) |
|---|---|
| Gain | 10 |
| Bass | 5 |
| Mid | 3 |
| Treble | 6 |
| Reverb | 0 |
| Master | 6 |
01Boss DS-1 Distortion (RECOMMENDED — not currently owned)
RECOMMENDED — not currently owned. The Champion 40's overdrive channel cannot reach hot-rodded Marshall saturation levels. A DS-1 or similar distortion pedal is essential for this tone. If using the DS-1, switch amp to CLEAN channel, gain 0, and let the pedal provide all dirt.
The Champion 40 is a solid-state Fender with limited gain on tap and a naturally scooped, bright voicing — the opposite of a cranked Marshall's mid-forward bark. I maxed the gain and dropped mids to 3 (Marshall original was around 2.5), but cut treble from the original's 8 down to 6 because the Champion's treble circuit is harsher than a tube Marshall. Without a distortion pedal, you'll get maybe 60% of the aggression; with a DS-1 into the clean channel, you'll get much closer.
Get this tone on your amp
These settings are for a Fender champion 40 Champion 40. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.
Get ToneAdapt on Google PlaySong, 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.