Whiplash amp settings — Peavey Rage 158

The Metallica guitar tone for “Whiplash”, dialed in for a Peavey Rage 158 with a Ibanez RG550. Studio version, Kill 'Em All (1983) — main rhythm riff

Original rig

Electra Flying V copy (Seymour Duncan Invader) -> ProCo Rat / Ibanez TS9 -> Jose Arredondo-modded Marshall JCM800 / 1959 Plexi

Aggressive, raw early-thrash bite with tight low-end chug and prominent upper-mid attack

Amp settings — Peavey Rage 158

CHANNELLead (Modern voicing switch)

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

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Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01ProCo Rat 2

RECOMMENDED — not currently owned; with pedal, switch amp to Clean channel and keep amp gain at 2

Distortion 6 · Filter 4 · Volume 7

Why these settings

The Peavey Rage 158's Lead channel with the voicing set to Modern provides the hard-clipping solid-state saturation needed to emulate Hetfield's Jose-modded Marshall. Mid is pulled back to 4 to capture the early thrash scoop without collapsing the punch of the 8-inch speaker, while treble is pushed to 7 to replicate the piercing high-end bite of the Duncan Invader pickup. The recording is completely dry, so keep reverb at zero.

PRO TIPAnchor your palm firmly against the bridge saddles and execute aggressive, relentless downstrokes with a thick pick to match the razor-sharp percussive attack of the track's main chug.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Peavey Rage 158. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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