Tone library / Metallica / Seek and destroy

Seek and destroy amp settings — Line 6 Spider 3 15w

The Metallica guitar tone for “Seek and destroy”, dialed in for a Line 6 Spider 3 15w with a Jackson Js11. Studio version, Kill 'Em All (1983)

Original rig

Modified Marshall JMP 2203 100W head (hot-rodded for cascading gain), Gibson Flying V with stock humbuckers, no pedals on main rhythm tone

Aggressive scooped thrash rhythm with tight low-end, cutting highs, and snarling attack

Amp settings — Line 6 Spider 3 15w

CHANNELInsane

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	7
Bass	6
Mid	3
Treble	7
Presence	0
Reverb	0
Master	5

Don’t have a Line 6 Spider 3 15w? See this song on other amps → Match your own rig →

Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10

Why these settings

The Spider 3's Insane channel is your closest match to a hot-rodded Marshall — it has similar scooped voicing and high gain saturation. Gain pulled back from 8 to 7 because the Insane channel runs hotter than a real JMP and your Jackson's humbuckers are already aggressive. Mids at 3 keeps the classic thrash scoop without disappearing in the mix. No presence knob on Spider 3 15W, so treble at 7 handles the cut.

PRO TIPPalm-mute hard and pick aggressively right over the bridge pickup pole pieces — Hetfield's tone on this track comes as much from his relentless downpicking attack as the amp settings.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Line 6 Spider 3 15w. 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.