Boss Katana settings
Sad But True settings for Boss Katana
Metallica · adapted 3 times on ToneAdapt
To get the Metallica "Sad But True" solo tone on a Boss Katana, set Gain 8.5, Bass 5, Mid 2, Treble 6, Presence 6, Solo 6. Use the bridge pickup with your guitar's tone on 8-9 and volume on 8-9.
Solo settings
Adapted for a Ibanez GRG121DX · updated 2026-09-25
- Pickup
- Bridge pickup
- Guitar knobs
- Tone 8-9 · Volume 8-9
Boss Katana knobs
- Gain
- 8.5
- Bass
- 5
- Mid
- 2
- Treble
- 6
- Presence
- 6
- Solo
- 6
- Contour
- 2
- Power control
- 3
- Cabinet resonance
- 1
Playing tips
- Use aggressive palm muting for tight rhythms.
- Focus on smooth legato techniques for the solo.
- Incorporate bends and vibrato for expressive notes.
Riff settings
Adapted for a Jackson JS32T Rhoads · updated 2026-04-20
- Pickup
- Bridge pickup
- Guitar knobs
- Tone 10 · Volume 10
Boss Katana knobs
- Gain
- 8.5
- Bass
- 5
- Mid
- 1
- Treble
- 6
- Presence
- 6
- Reverb
- 0
- Solo
- 0
- Contour
- 2
- Power control
- 3
- Cabinet resonance
- 2
Playing tips
- Focus on tight palm muting for chugging riffs.
- Use aggressive picking for a percussive attack.
- Layer multiple guitar tracks for a fuller sound.
The original rig
What Metallica used on the recording, for reference. ToneAdapt translates this to the controls your Boss Katana actually has.
- Guitar
- ESP MX-220 (black finish)
- Amp
- Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC++
- Gain
- 8.5
- Bass
- 4
- Mid
- 1.5
- Treble
- 6
- Presence
- 4.5
- Reverb
- 0
Different guitar or pedals? Get Sad But True adapted to your exact rig
These settings were generated for the gear named above. ToneAdapt adapts Metallica's tone to your own guitar, pickups, amp and pedals in seconds.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best Boss Katana settings for Sad But True?
Set Gain 8.5, Bass 5, Mid 2, Treble 6, Presence 6, Solo 6.
Which pickup should I use for Sad But True?
Bridge pickup, with the guitar's tone at 8-9 and volume at 8-9.
What gear did Metallica use on Sad But True?
Guitar: ESP MX-220 (black finish). Amp: Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC++.
Will these settings work with my guitar?
These settings were adapted for a Ibanez GRG121DX. Different pickups change how much gain and treble you need. ToneAdapt adapts the tone to your exact guitar, pickups, amp and pedals.
Sad But True on other amps
More Metallica on the Boss Katana
All Metallica tones →Popular songs on the Boss Katana
- Sweet Child O' Mine · Guns N' Roses
- Walk · Pantera
- Hotel California · Eagles
- Holy Wars · Megadeth
- Back in Black · AC/DC
- Whole Lotta Love · Led Zeppelin
- Raining Blood · Slayer
- Crazy Train · Ozzy Osbourne
- Welcome to the Jungle · Guns N' Roses
- Smells Like Teen Spirit · Nirvana
- Stairway to Heaven · Led Zeppelin
- Highway to Hell · AC/DC
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.