Tone library / Metallica / Seek & Destroy

Seek & Destroy amp settings — Hughes & Kettner Blue edition

The Metallica guitar tone for “Seek & Destroy”, dialed in for a Hughes & Kettner Blue edition with a harley benton sc 200. Studio version, Kill 'Em All (1983) — main rhythm tone

Original rig

Jose Arredondo-modded Marshall JCM800/1959 Super Lead, Ibanez TS9 / ProCo Rat boost, Gibson Flying V (Seymour Duncan Invader humbucker)

Aggressive, raw early thrash bite with tight low end and sharp upper-mid punch

Amp settings — Hughes & Kettner Blue edition

CHANNELLead

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	8
Bass	6
Mid	7
Treble	8
Reverb	0
Master	5

Don’t have a Hughes & Kettner Blue edition? See this song on other amps → Match your own rig →

Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer

RECOMMENDED — not currently owned; tightens bass and adds authentic Kill 'Em All front-end bite

Drive 0 · Tone 7 · Level 9

Why these settings

The Hughes & Kettner Edition Blue solid-state Lead channel provides ample gain for early Metallica, but lacks the raw upper-mid spike of a modded Marshall. Keep the mid control pushed to 7 rather than scooped to emulate the punchy British midrange on Kill 'Em All, with treble pushed to 8 for pick attack bite. If you add a TS9 in front, keep its drive at 0 and level high to tighten the low end without adding mud.

PRO TIPAnchor your palm directly on the bridge saddles and execute aggressive, all-downstroke palm-muted chugs using a stiff, heavy pick to get the precise percussive attack of Hetfield's rhythm playing.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Hughes & Kettner Blue edition. 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.