Fender Frontman 20G settings
Fade to Black settings for Fender Frontman 20G
Metallica · adapted 3 times on ToneAdapt
To get the Metallica "Fade to Black" solo tone on a Fender Frontman 20G, set Gain 8, Bass 5, Mid 6, Treble 7, Drive select 1, Drive volume 6. Use the neck pickup with your guitar's tone on 7-8 and volume on 8-9.
Solo settings
Adapted for a Yamaha Pacifica 112V · updated 2026-09-02
- Pickup
- Neck pickup
- Guitar knobs
- Tone 7-8 · Volume 8-9
Fender Frontman 20G knobs
- Gain
- 8
- Bass
- 5
- Mid
- 6
- Treble
- 7
- Drive select
- 1
- Drive volume
- 6
- Normal volume
- 0
Playing tips
- Use a light touch for expressive bends and vibrato.
- Incorporate slides between notes for a smooth legato feel.
- Experiment with fingerstyle for added warmth and dynamics.
Riff settings
Adapted for a Fender Stratocaster · updated 2026-10-06
- Pickup
- Bridge pickup
- Guitar knobs
- Tone 7-8 · Volume 8-9
Fender Frontman 20G knobs
- Gain
- 7.5
- Bass
- 5
- Mid
- 6
- Treble
- 6
- Drive select
- 1
- Drive volume
- 7
- Normal volume
- 0
Built-in effects
- Reverb off
Playing tips
- Use aggressive palm muting to emphasize the tightness of the riff.
- Focus on clear note separation to maintain articulation in the crunch tone.
- Experiment with picking dynamics to achieve a percussive attack.
The original rig
What Metallica used on the recording, for reference. ToneAdapt translates this to the controls your Fender Frontman 20G 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 Frontman 20G settings for Fade to Black?
Set Gain 8, Bass 5, Mid 6, Treble 7, Drive select 1, Drive volume 6.
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 Yamaha Pacifica 112V. 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 Frontman 20G
All Metallica tones →Popular songs on the Fender Frontman 20G
- Sweet Child O' Mine · Guns N' Roses
- Hotel California · Eagles
- Walk · Pantera
- Smells Like Teen Spirit · Nirvana
- Stairway to Heaven · Led Zeppelin
- Back in Black · AC/DC
- Iron Man · Black Sabbath
- Creep · Radiohead
- Whole Lotta Love · Led Zeppelin
- Crazy Train · Ozzy Osbourne
- Mr. Brightside · The Killers
- Holy Wars · 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.