Tone library / Metallica / Seek and destroy

Seek and destroy amp settings — Marshall MG30CFX

The Metallica guitar tone for “Seek and destroy”, dialed in for a Marshall MG30CFX with a Squier Affinity Telecaster. Studio version, Kill 'Em All (1983) — Main riff and rhythm tone

Original rig

Jose Arredondo modded Marshall 1959 Super Lead + ProCo Rat + Electra Flying V with Seymour Duncan Invader humbucker

Aggressive, raw early-thrash bite with tight low-end crunch and prominent upper-mid rasp

Amp settings — Marshall MG30CFX

CHANNELCleanBOOSToff

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	2
Bass	6
Mid	5
Treble	5
Reverb	0
Master	4

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Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE8 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01Jim Dunlop Cry Baby GCB95

Bypassed for rhythm riff; engage for Kirk's wah solos

02Behringer HD300

Primary gain source replicating the high-gain modded Marshall and Rat attack into the clean amp

Dist 7 · Tone 5 · Bottom 6 · Level 7

Why these settings

The Behringer HD300 acts as your dedicated high-gain engine, so the MG30CFX is set to its Clean channel with gain at 2 to avoid muddy double-gain staging. Your single-coil Telecaster bridge pickup is naturally brighter and thinner than an Invader humbucker, so roll the guitar tone back to 8 and keep the amp treble neutral at 5 to avoid harshness while using HD300 Bottom at 6 to fill out the low-end palm-mute chug.

PRO TIPStrict, aggressive downpicking with the side of your picking hand resting directly on the bridge saddles is essential to get the razor-sharp percussive bite of the iconic opening riff.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Marshall MG30CFX. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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