Boss Katana settings
The Unforgiven settings for Boss Katana
Metallica · adapted 2 times on ToneAdapt
To get the Metallica "The Unforgiven" riff tone on a Boss Katana, set Gain 6.5, Bass 5, Mid 4, Treble 6, Reverb 0.5, Fx 0. Use the bridge pickup with your guitar's tone on 10 and volume on 10.
Riff settings
Adapted for a Epiphone Slash Les Paul Standard · updated 2026-10-08
- Pickup
- Bridge pickup
- Guitar knobs
- Tone 10 · Volume 10
Boss Katana knobs
- Gain
- 6.5
- Bass
- 5
- Mid
- 4
- Treble
- 6
- Reverb
- 0.5
- Fx
- 0
- Bst
- 0
- Power control
- 2
Built-in effects
- Reverb on (spring) · 2
Playing tips
- Use aggressive palm muting for tight, percussive rhythms.
- Focus on picking dynamics to enhance the chunkiness of the riff.
- Maintain a steady tempo to keep the riff tight and driving.
The original rig
What Metallica used on the recording, for reference. ToneAdapt translates this to the controls your Boss Katana actually has.
- Guitar
- ESP MX220 'Eet Fuk' (James Hetfield's main rhythm guitar on The Black Album)
- Amp
- Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ (primary rhythm amp for The Black Album sessions)
- Gain
- 7.5
- Bass
- 6
- Mid
- 4
- Treble
- 7
- Presence
- 6
- Reverb
- 1
Different guitar or pedals? Get The Unforgiven 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 Unforgiven?
Set Gain 6.5, Bass 5, Mid 4, Treble 6, Reverb 0.5, Fx 0.
Which pickup should I use for The Unforgiven?
Bridge pickup, with the guitar's tone at 10 and volume at 10.
What gear did Metallica use on The Unforgiven?
Guitar: ESP MX220 'Eet Fuk' (James Hetfield's main rhythm guitar on The Black Album). Amp: Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ (primary rhythm amp for The Black Album sessions).
Will these settings work with my guitar?
These settings were adapted for a Epiphone Slash Les Paul Standard. Different pickups change how much gain and treble you need. ToneAdapt adapts the tone to your exact guitar, pickups, amp and pedals.
The Unforgiven 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.