Tone library / Metallica / Seek and destroy

Seek and destroy amp settings — Vox VT30

The Metallica guitar tone for “Seek and destroy”, dialed in for a Vox VT30 with a Fazley Fing Metal. Studio version, Kill 'Em All (1983)

Original rig

Gibson Flying V (PAF humbuckers) → Boss DS-1 → Marshall JCM800 2203 (modified 100W head)

Raw high-gain thrash with present mids, tight palm-mute chug, aggressive treble bite

Amp settings — Vox VT30

CHANNELUK80s (Marshall JCM800 model)BRIGHToffBOOSToff

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

Don’t have a Vox VT30? See this song on other amps → Match your own rig →

Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10

Why these settings

Vox VT30's UK80s amp model emulates the JCM800 voicing. Kept mids at 5 (vs the extreme midscoop of later Metallica) since Kill 'Em All era retained more mid presence. Bass reduced to 6 from original 7-8 because the Vox voicing has warmer low-end character than a real Marshall. Treble at 8 delivers the pick attack without the fizz Vox amps can produce above 9.

PRO TIPStrict downstroke-only picking on the gallop riff is non-negotiable — alternate picking loses the percussive, machine-gun attack that defines this tone.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Vox VT30. 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.