Tone library / Metallica / To Live Is to Die

To Live Is to Die amp settings — Fender Frontman 65R

The Metallica guitar tone for “To Live Is to Die”, dialed in for a Fender Frontman 65R with a Cort Elv z2. Studio version, ...And Justice for All (1988) — iconic heavy rhythm riff

Original rig

Mesa Boogie Mark IIC+ & Mark III heads (V-curve graphic EQ), Marshall 4x12 cabs (Celestion V30), ESP MX-220 / Gibson Explorer with EMG 81/60 pickups

Ultra-tight, dry, aggressive scooped-mid thrash metal crunch with razor-sharp attack

Amp settings — Fender Frontman 65R

CHANNELNormal (Clean)BRIGHToff

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	2
Bass	6
Mid	5
Treble	5
Reverb	0
Master	4

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Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01Electro-Harmonix Metal Muff with Top Boost

Set as primary high-gain preamp to mimic the Mesa Mark IIC+ scooped EQ; keep Top Boost switch OFF

Volume 5 · Distortion 7 · Bass 7 · Mid 2 · Treble 6 · Top Boost 0

Why these settings

Per double-gain rules, the Frontman 65R is set strictly to its Normal clean channel with gain low (2) so the Metal Muff acts as your Mesa Mark IIC+ preamp. The Frontman 65R lacks a presence control on its faceplate, so presence is nulled and top-end edge is shaped via the pedal's Treble knob. Scooping the pedal's Mid control to 2 captures the famous '...And Justice for All' V-curve EQ profile without getting brittle.

PRO TIPAnchor your palm directly over the bridge saddles for heavy, percussive downpicked palm mutes—Hetfield's attack is strictly downpicked with zero pick flex.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Fender Frontman 65R. 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.