Fender Champion 40 settings
Fade to Black settings for Fender Champion 40
Metallica · adapted 2 times on ToneAdapt
To get the Metallica "Fade to Black" solo tone on a Fender Champion 40, set Gain 8, Bass 5.5, Treble 7, Tap 0, Fx level 5, Volume 1 0. Use the neck pickup with your guitar's tone on 7-8 and volume on 8-9.
Solo settings
Adapted for a Jackson X Series Soloist SLX DX · updated 2026-06-13
- Pickup
- Neck pickup
- Guitar knobs
- Tone 7-8 · Volume 8-9
Fender Champion 40 knobs
- Gain
- 8
- Bass
- 5.5
- Treble
- 7
- Tap
- 0
- Fx level
- 5
- Volume 1
- 0
- Volume 2
- 7
- Fx select
- 1
Built-in effects
- Reverb on (spring) · 3
Playing tips
- Use your amp's built-in reverb set to a moderate level to recreate the spacious feel of the original tone.
- Engage the amp's FX Level to add some depth to your lead lines.
- Consider using the neck pickup for a warmer, more sustained tone during the solo.
The original rig
What Metallica used on the recording, for reference. ToneAdapt translates this to the controls your Fender Champion 40 actually has.
- Guitar
- Gibson Flying V (black, 1979 model, stock pickups)
- Amp
- Marshall JCM800 (likely 2203 or 2204 head, 1980s, with 4x12 cab)
- Gain
- 8
- Bass
- 6.5
- Mid
- 5
- Treble
- 7.5
- Presence
- 6
- Reverb
- 1.5
Different guitar or pedals? Get Fade to Black 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 Fender Champion 40 settings for Fade to Black?
Set Gain 8, Bass 5.5, Treble 7, Tap 0, Fx level 5, Volume 1 0.
Which pickup should I use for Fade to Black?
Neck pickup, with the guitar's tone at 7-8 and volume at 8-9.
What gear did Metallica use on Fade to Black?
Guitar: Gibson Flying V (black, 1979 model, stock pickups). Amp: Marshall JCM800 (likely 2203 or 2204 head, 1980s, with 4x12 cab).
Will these settings work with my guitar?
These settings were adapted for a Jackson X Series Soloist SLX DX. Different pickups change how much gain and treble you need. ToneAdapt adapts the tone to your exact guitar, pickups, amp and pedals.
Fade to Black on other amps
- Fade to Black on Fender Mustang LT25 · 24
- Fade to Black on Boss Katana · 22
- Fade to Black on Boss Katana 50 Gen 3 · 7
- Fade to Black on Marshall DSL40CR · 5
- Fade to Black on Fender Frontman 10G · 4
- Fade to Black on Fender Champion II 25 · 4
- Fade to Black on Fender Mustang LT50 · 4
- Fade to Black on Marshall MG30FX · 4
More Metallica on the Fender Champion 40
All Metallica tones →Popular songs on the Fender Champion 40
- Hotel California · Eagles
- Sweet Child O' Mine · Guns N' Roses
- Stairway to Heaven · Led Zeppelin
- Highway to Hell · AC/DC
- Smells Like Teen Spirit · Nirvana
- Walk · Pantera
- Holy Wars · Megadeth
- Whole Lotta Love · Led Zeppelin
- Pride and Joy · Stevie Ray Vaughan
- Back in Black · AC/DC
- Alive · Pearl Jam
- Sultans of Swing · Dire Straits
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.