Tone library / Mettalica / For whom the bell tolls

For whom the bell tolls amp settings — Fender Champion 20

The Mettalica guitar tone for “For whom the bell tolls”, dialed in for a Fender Champion 20 with a Max Stratocaster. Studio version, Ride the Lightning (1984)

Original rig

Marshall amps (JMP-era stacks), Gibson Explorer with humbuckers, no pedals — straight into amp

Aggressive thrash rhythm with tight palm-muted chug, punchy mids, controlled low-end

Amp settings — Fender Champion 20

CHANNELVoice switch on 'Drive' position (OD icon)

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

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Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE7 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01Distortion pedal (Boss DS-1 or similar)

RECOMMENDED — not currently owned. The Champion 20's drive channel cannot reach Metallica's high-gain saturation; a distortion pedal is essential. Run amp on CLEAN channel with gain at 2-3 when using this pedal.

Tone 6 · Level 7 · Dist 7

Why these settings

The Champion 20 has only bass/treble (no mid or presence knobs) and its drive channel tops out at blues-rock gain — it cannot reach 80s thrash saturation alone. Bass is cut to 3 (vs original's 4-5) because single-coil Strat output is thinner and the small speaker muddies fast with palm mutes. A DS-1 or Metal Zone is necessary to reach the gain level; when using the pedal, switch the amp to Clean voice and drop amp gain to 2-3.

PRO TIPHetfield's tone on this track is all about relentless downpicking with tight, consistent palm muting right at the bridge saddles — the attack precision matters more than gain. Roll your Strat's tone knob to 7 to cut the single-coil ice-pick and get closer to the Explorer's humbucker warmth.

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These settings are for a Fender Champion 20. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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