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 Jackson JS22 Dinky. Studio version, Kill 'Em All (1983) - Main Riff

Original rig

Jose Arredondo-modded 100W Marshall Super Lead (1959), ProCo Rat, Epiphone Flying V with Seymour Duncan Invader pickup

Aggressive early thrash crunch with prominent bite, tight low-end, and boosted upper-mids

Amp settings — Marshall MG30CFX

CHANNELOD1BOOSToff

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

Don’t have a Marshall MG30CFX? See this song on other amps → Match your own rig →

Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01ProCo Rat 2

RECOMMENDED — not currently owned

Distortion 3 · Filter 6 · Volume 8

Why these settings

The MG30CFX uses OD1 to recreate the early British crunch of James's modded Super Lead without getting excessively saturated. Mids are kept at 5 rather than heavily scooped, matching Kill 'Em All's raw, mid-forward attack before Metallica adopted the classic scooped Mesa sound. Note that the MG30CFX lacks a physical presence knob, so upper bite is dialed via the treble control at 7.

PRO TIPPick aggressively using strict downpicking right next to the bridge saddles, keeping palm-mutes firm to deliver the percussive chug of the 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.

Get ToneAdapt on Google Play

More tones for the Marshall MG30CFX

Lonely DaySystem Of A Down Iron manBlacl Sabbat Cigarettes & Alcohol (Remastered)Oasis Not the american averegeAsking alexandria DetachedErr0rzone La Vereda de la Puerta de AtrasExtremoduro

Find your amp

Browse

Marshall MG30CFX settingsALL SONGS FOR THIS AMP Seek and destroy on other ampsSAME SONG, YOUR AMP Metallica tonesALL SONGS Metallica on the Marshall MG30CFXSAME ARTIST, SAME AMP Jackson JS22 Dinky tonesSAME GUITAR Tone libraryEVERYTHING

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.