Boss Katana settings
The Four Horsemen settings for Boss Katana
Metallica · adapted 5 times on ToneAdapt
To get the Metallica "The Four Horsemen" riff tone on a Boss Katana, set Gain 8, Bass 6, Mid 1.5, Treble 8, Presence 6, Reverb 0. Use the bridge pickup with your guitar's tone on 7-8 and volume on 10.
Riff settings
Adapted for a Jackson Dinky · updated 2026-08-18
- Pickup
- Bridge pickup
- Guitar knobs
- Tone 7-8 · Volume 10
Boss Katana knobs
- Gain
- 8
- Bass
- 6
- Mid
- 1.5
- Treble
- 8
- 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 to enhance attack.
- Maintain a steady rhythm for percussive clarity.
Solo settings
Adapted for a Ibanez GIO GRG121DX · updated 2026-05-30
- Pickup
- Neck pickup
- Guitar knobs
- Tone 7-8 · Volume 8-9
Boss Katana knobs
- Gain
- 8
- Bass
- 5
- Mid
- 5
- Treble
- 5
- Presence
- 6
- Reverb
- 0
- Solo
- 7
- Contour
- 1
- Power control
- 3
- Cabinet resonance
- 2
Playing tips
- Use a strong picking attack for clarity and sustain.
- Incorporate vibrato on sustained notes to add expressiveness.
- Utilize legato techniques for smoother transitions between notes.
The original rig
What Metallica used on the recording, for reference. ToneAdapt translates this to the controls your Boss Katana actually has.
- Guitar
- 1980 Gibson Flying V (white, used by James Hetfield)
- Amp
- Marshall JMP 2203 (modded, 100W head, used in studio for Kill 'Em All)
- Gain
- 8
- Bass
- 7
- Mid
- 2.5
- Treble
- 8.5
- Presence
- 6.5
- Reverb
- 0
Different guitar or pedals? Get The Four Horsemen 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 The Four Horsemen?
Set Gain 8, Bass 6, Mid 1.5, Treble 8, Presence 6, Reverb 0.
Which pickup should I use for The Four Horsemen?
Bridge pickup, with the guitar's tone at 7-8 and volume at 10.
What gear did Metallica use on The Four Horsemen?
Guitar: 1980 Gibson Flying V (white, used by James Hetfield). Amp: Marshall JMP 2203 (modded, 100W head, used in studio for Kill 'Em All).
Will these settings work with my guitar?
These settings were adapted for a Jackson Dinky. Different pickups change how much gain and treble you need. ToneAdapt adapts the tone to your exact guitar, pickups, amp and pedals.
The Four Horsemen 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.