Fender Mustang GT40 settings
Holy Wars... The Punishment Due settings for Fender Mustang GT40
Megadeth · adapted 2 times on ToneAdapt
To get the Megadeth "Holy Wars... The Punishment Due" riff tone on a Fender Mustang GT40, select the Basic British '80s preset, then set Gain 8, Bass 5, Mid 6, Treble 7, Reverb 0. Use the bridge pickup with your guitar's tone on 10 and volume on 10.
Riff settings
Adapted for a Jackson JS32 Kelly · updated 2026-06-28
- Preset / mode
- Basic British '80s
- Pickup
- Bridge pickup
- Guitar knobs
- Tone 10 · Volume 10
Fender Mustang GT40 knobs
- Gain
- 8
- Bass
- 5
- Mid
- 6
- Treble
- 7
- Reverb
- 0
Playing tips
- Focus on palm muting for tightness and aggression.
- Use alternate picking for clarity in fast passages.
- Experiment with dynamics to emphasize certain notes in the riff.
The original rig
What Megadeth used on the recording, for reference. ToneAdapt translates this to the controls your Fender Mustang GT40 actually has.
- Guitar
- Jackson KV1 Dave Mustaine Signature (likely with Bill Lawrence L-500XL bridge pickup)
- Amp
- Marshall JCM800 2203 head into DeCuir 4x12 cabinet with Celestion speakers
- Gain
- 8
- Bass
- 6
- Mid
- 4
- Treble
- 7.5
- Presence
- 6
- Reverb
- 0
Different guitar or pedals? Get Holy Wars... The Punishment Due adapted to your exact rig
These settings were generated for the gear named above. ToneAdapt adapts Megadeth's tone to your own guitar, pickups, amp and pedals in seconds.
Frequently asked questions
What preset should I use on the Fender Mustang GT40 for Holy Wars... The Punishment Due?
Start from the Basic British '80s preset, then set Gain 8, Bass 5, Mid 6, Treble 7, Reverb 0.
Which pickup should I use for Holy Wars... The Punishment Due?
Bridge pickup, with the guitar's tone at 10 and volume at 10.
What gear did Megadeth use on Holy Wars... The Punishment Due?
Guitar: Jackson KV1 Dave Mustaine Signature (likely with Bill Lawrence L-500XL bridge pickup). Amp: Marshall JCM800 2203 head into DeCuir 4x12 cabinet with Celestion speakers.
Will these settings work with my guitar?
These settings were adapted for a Jackson JS32 Kelly. Different pickups change how much gain and treble you need. ToneAdapt adapts the tone to your exact guitar, pickups, amp and pedals.
Holy Wars... The Punishment Due on other amps
Popular songs on the Fender Mustang GT40
- Master of Puppets · Metallica
- Hotel California · Eagles
- Enter Sandman · Metallica
- Walk · Pantera
- Sweet Child O' Mine · Guns N' Roses
- Whole Lotta Love · Led Zeppelin
- Back in Black · AC/DC
- Smells Like Teen Spirit · Nirvana
- Highway to Hell · AC/DC
- Pride and Joy · Stevie Ray Vaughan
- Creep · Radiohead
- Iris · Goo Goo Dolls
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.