Wiplash amp settings — Laney Rb1

The Metallica guitar tone for “Wiplash”, dialed in for a Laney Rb1 with a Harly benton Mb 20 bk rock seris. Studio version, Kill 'Em All (1983)

Original rig

Rickenbacker 4001CS / Aria Pro II SB-1000 into Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi, Morley Tel-Ray Power Wah Fuzz, and Sunn Coliseum / Acoustic 360 bass amps

Aggressive, high-speed thrash bass with abrasive fuzz grind and punchy midrange cut

Amp settings — Laney Rb1

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	3
Bass	6
Mid	7
Treble	6
Reverb	0
Master	5

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Guitar

PICKUPneck TONE9 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01Behringer HM300 Heavy Metal

Gain source — provides the aggressive chainsaw-like thrash fuzz grit

Level 7 · Low 5 · High 6 · Dist 6

02Behringer BEQ700 Bass Graphic Equalizer

Placed after HM300 to shape the critical 400Hz–800Hz growl and maintain low-end punch

50Hz 4 · 120Hz 5 · 400Hz 7 · 500Hz 8 · 800Hz 7 · 4.5kHz 6 · 10kHz 5 · Level 5

Why these settings

Because the Harley Benton MB-20 BK is a P-bass style instrument running into the Laney RB1 solid-state bass combo, the Behringer HM300 acts as your dedicated fuzz/distortion unit in place of Cliff's vintage Big Muff. Amp gain is kept low at 3 to prevent muddy preamp clipping, while the BEQ700 pushes 400Hz–800Hz to replicate the tight, punchy mid growl necessary for fast 16th-note thrash runs. The RB1 faceplate provides Gain, Bass, Mid, Treble, and Volume with no presence or reverb control, so those parameters are null.

PRO TIPPlay aggressively near the bridge with your fingers or a heavy pick, striking hard to get that bright metallic string clack against the frets essential to Cliff Burton's early thrash attack.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Laney Rb1. 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.