The Unforgiven II amp settings — Blackstar ID:Core 20 V3
The Metallica guitar tone for “The Unforgiven II”, dialed in for a Blackstar ID:Core 20 V3 with a Fender Player Stratocaster. Studio cut, ReLoad (1997) — heavy chorus/crunch rhythm track
Mesa/Boogie TriAxis preamp + Strategy 400 power amp, Marshall JCM800, ESP Explorer (EMG 81/60), Fender Telecaster with Gene Parsons B-Bender
| Knob | Setting (0–10) |
|---|---|
| Gain | 6 |
| Bass | 7 |
| Treble | 5 |
| Reverb | 2 |
| Master | 6 |
01Ibanez Tube Screamer TS9
Used as a clean boost to tighten low-end attack and add mid-push into the OD1 voice
The ID:Core V3 lacks a dedicated physical mid knob or presence control, relying instead on its ISF filter. Because your Stratocaster single coils are naturally brighter and thinner than James Hetfield's active EMG humbuckers, set ISF clockwise around 7, bump amp bass to 7, and roll the guitar bridge tone back to 8 to tame high-end spike. The TS9 is set with zero drive and high level strictly to tighten the front end and add the missing humbucker body.
Get this tone on your amp
These settings are for a Blackstar ID:Core 20 V3. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.
Get ToneAdapt on Google PlaySong, 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.