Tone library / Metallica / The Unforgiven

The Unforgiven amp settings — Fender Deluxe Reverb

The Metallica guitar tone for “The Unforgiven”, dialed in for a Fender Deluxe Reverb with a Fender American Professional II Stratocaster. Studio version, Metallica (The Black Album, 1991) — signature heavy chorus rhythm riff

Original rig

Mesa Boogie Mark IIC++ (Crunch Berries) blended with Jose-modded Marshall SLP, ESP MX-220 / Explorer with EMG 81/60, Aphex parametric EQ, Marshall 1960B 4x12 with Celestion V30s

Thick, aggressive scooped high-gain metal crunch with tight low-end and razor-sharp bite

Amp settings — Fender Deluxe Reverb

CHANNELVibrato channel (Input 2 for lower gain pad)BRIGHToff

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

Don’t have a Fender Deluxe Reverb? Match your own rig →

Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01Line 6 Helix LT (Cali IV Lead Amp Block)

Set as preamp/amp block feeding clean Deluxe Reverb

Drive 7 · Bass 6 · Mid 2 · Treble 7 · Presence 7 · Master 6

02Line 6 Helix LT (Parametric EQ Block)

Recreates the classic Mesa V-curve (cuts boxy 750-800Hz mids)

Low Cut 2 · Mid Freq 6 · Mid Gain 2 · High Cut 8

Why these settings

Because the Deluxe Reverb is an ultra-clean Fender platform with no onboard mid knob and insufficient gain, the Helix LT running the Mesa Boogie Mark IV (Cali IV) amp model acts as the sole high-gain preamp into the Deluxe's flat, clean input. On your single-coil Strat bridge pickup, the treble is tamed slightly and gain pushed to compensate for the lower output relative to Hetfield's active EMGs. Clean verse / acoustic-style parts: switch the Helix LT to a clean Roland JC-120 (Jazz Rivet) block with mild chorus and select the neck+middle pickup.

PRO TIPDig in with strict, heavy downpicking near the bridge saddle to emulate Hetfield's percussive attack, and keep palm mutes tight against the bridge to prevent low-end flub on the Strat.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Fender Deluxe Reverb. 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 Fender Deluxe Reverb

ParanoidBlack Sabbath Night terrorDream theater MASTER OF PUPPETSMASTER OF PUPPETS Tunnel of LoveDire Straits No More TearsOzzy Osbourne MagbalikCallalily

Find your amp

Browse

Fender Deluxe Reverb settingsALL SONGS FOR THIS AMP Metallica tonesALL SONGS Metallica on the Fender Deluxe ReverbSAME ARTIST, SAME AMP Fender American Professional II Stratocaster 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.