Amp settings
Master of Puppets settings for Amp
Metallica · adapted 17 times on ToneAdapt
To get the Metallica "Master of Puppets" distorted tone on a Amp, set Gain 9.5, Drive 3, Bass 4, Mid 7, Treble 8, Presence 6. Use the bridge pickup favored (70% bridge / 30% neck, growl) pickup.
Distorted settings
Adapted for a Fender Jazz Bass · updated 2026-10-26
- Pickup
- Bridge pickup favored (70% bridge / 30% neck, growl)
Amp knobs
- Gain
- 9.5
- Drive
- 3
- Bass
- 4
- Mid
- 7
- Treble
- 8
- Presence
- 6
- Ultra low
- 0
- Ultra high
- 0
Playing tips
- Use a pick to achieve a clanky attack and enhance the aggressive tone.
- Experiment with the drive control to find the right level of saturation without losing clarity.
- Adjust the presence to enhance the grit without making the tone too harsh.
The original rig
What Metallica used on the recording, for reference. ToneAdapt translates this to the controls your Amp actually has.
- Bass
- ESP MX220 (custom, aka 'Eet Fuk')
- Amp
- Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ (preamp) into Marshall JCM800 (power amp section), Mesa 4x12 cabinet
- Gain
- 9
- Bass
- 6
- Mid
- 3
- Treble
- 7.5
- Presence
- 6.5
- Reverb
- 1
Different bass or pedals? Get Master of Puppets adapted to your exact rig
These settings were generated for the gear named above. ToneAdapt adapts Metallica's tone to your own bass, pickups, amp and pedals in seconds.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best Amp settings for Master of Puppets?
Set Gain 9.5, Drive 3, Bass 4, Mid 7, Treble 8, Presence 6.
Which pickup should I use for Master of Puppets?
Bridge pickup favored (70% bridge / 30% neck, growl).
What gear did Metallica use on Master of Puppets?
Bass: ESP MX220 (custom, aka 'Eet Fuk'). Amp: Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ (preamp) into Marshall JCM800 (power amp section), Mesa 4x12 cabinet.
Will these settings work with my bass?
These settings were adapted for a Fender Jazz Bass. Different pickups change how much gain and treble you need. ToneAdapt adapts the tone to your exact bass, pickups, amp and pedals.
Master of Puppets on other amps
- Master of Puppets on Fender Mustang LT25 · 1,425
- Master of Puppets on Boss Katana · 926
- Master of Puppets on Fender Frontman 10G · 434
- Master of Puppets on Line 6 Helix Floor / LT / Rack · 280
- Master of Puppets on Fender Champion 20 · 218
- Master of Puppets on Fender Frontman 15G · 207
- Master of Puppets on Neural DSP Quad Cortex · 193
- Master of Puppets on Boss Katana 50 Gen 3 · 182
Popular songs on the Amp
- Hysteria · Muse
- Schism · TOOL
- Feel Good Inc. (feat. David Jolicoeur, Kelvin Mercer & Vincent Mason) · Gorillaz & De La Soul
- Come Together · The Beatles
- Chop Suey! · System Of A Down
- Paranoid · Black Sabbath
- My Name Is Mud · Primus
- Dean Town · Vulfpeck
- Message In a Bottle · The Police
- Give it Away · Red Hot Chile Peppers
- Another One Bites the Dust · Queen
- Symphony of Destruction · Megadeth
Settings are generated by ToneAdapt's tone adaptation for the gear named on this page and are a starting point — every amp, guitar and room is a little different.