Tone library / Metallica / The Shortest Straw

The Shortest Straw amp settings — Positive Grid Spark 2

The Metallica guitar tone for “The Shortest Straw”, dialed in for a Positive Grid Spark 2 with a ESP LTD KH-202 Kirk Hammett. Studio version, ...And Justice for All (1988), main rhythm riff

Original rig

Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ (slaved into Marshall power/cabs), Aphex Parametric EQ, ESP superstrats with EMG 81 pickups

Aggressive, razor-sharp high-gain thrash crunch with deeply scooped midrange and biting top end

Amp settings — Positive Grid Spark 2

CHANNELTreadplate (Dual Rectifier model)BOOSToff

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	7
Bass	7
Mid	2
Treble	8
Reverb	0
Master	6

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Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01Onboard Noise Gate (Spark internal block)

Essential for tight stop-start staccato rhythm chugs

Threshold 7 · Decay 2

02Onboard Graphic EQ / Clone Drive Boost (Spark internal block)

Used purely to tighten the low end and add high-mid pick attack into the high-gain amp model

Drive 0 · Tone 7 · Level 8

Why these settings

The Spark 2 Treadplate model captures the modern Mesa high-gain saturation used for Metallica rhythm tracks; scoop the midrange down to 2 and raise treble to 8 to replicate the studio V-curve EQ. Because the LTD KH-202 has passive ESP LH-301 humbuckers rather than active EMG 81s, keeping amp gain at 7 with an onboard clean boost preserves the searing attack and compression of the album. The Spark 2 physical panel lacks an independent presence knob, so upper-register sizzle is dialed via the amp treble control.

PRO TIPAnchor your palm firmly against the bridge saddles and execute strict downstrokes with a heavy pick (1.0mm+) right next to the bridge pickup to reproduce the dry, mechanical percussiveness of the riff.

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These settings are for a Positive Grid Spark 2. 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.