Tone library / Metallica / To live is to die

To live is to die amp settings — Boss Katana 50 MkII

The Metallica guitar tone for “To live is to die”, dialed in for a Boss Katana 50 MkII with a Ibanez Grg 320. Studio version, ...And Justice for All (1988)

Original rig

Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier, Gibson Explorer/ESP with EMG 81/60 pickups, no pedals for core rhythm tone

Tight, scooped, aggressive high-gain with pronounced pick attack and dry, in-your-face presence

Amp settings — Boss Katana 50 MkII

CHANNELBrownBOOSToff

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	7
Bass	5
Mid	4
Treble	7
Presence	6
Reverb	0
Master	7

Don’t have a Boss Katana 50 MkII? See this song on other amps → Match your own rig →

Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10

Why these settings

The Katana's Brown channel emulates the Marshall-style saturation but I've scooped the mids slightly (4 vs neutral 5) to approximate the Rectifier's characteristic V-shaped EQ. Your Ibanez's passive humbuckers have lower output than EMG actives, so gain stays at 7 rather than dropping lower—this compensates for the output difference while maintaining tight palm-mute definition. Treble at 7 recovers the pick attack that EMGs deliver naturally.

PRO TIPThe ...And Justice for All tone is notoriously dry and tight—palm mute directly over the bridge saddles rather than further up the strings, and pick with the attack coming from your wrist, not your arm, to get that precise, clicky chunk on the low E riffs.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Boss Katana 50 MkII. 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 Boss Katana 50 MkII

You should probably leaveChris Stapleton I got betterMorgan Wallen Memory sure don't mess aroundJordan Davis GoosePolyphia Stairway to Heaven (Live)Led Zeppelin Dead Girl WalkingCarrie Hope Fletcher & Jamie Muscato

Find your amp

Browse

Boss Katana 50 MkII settingsALL SONGS FOR THIS AMP To live is to die on other ampsSAME SONG, YOUR AMP Metallica tonesALL SONGS Metallica on the Boss Katana 50 MkIISAME ARTIST, SAME AMP 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.