Fender Mustang GT40 settings
Master of Puppets settings for Fender Mustang GT40
Metallica · adapted 25 times on ToneAdapt
To get the Metallica "Master of Puppets" riff tone on a Fender Mustang GT40, select the Basic Metal 2000 preset, then set Gain 9, Bass 6, Mid 3, Treble 7, Reverb 0.5. Use the bridge pickup with your guitar's tone on 10 and volume on 10.
Riff settings
Adapted for a Fender Standard Stratocaster HH · updated 2026-10-28
- Preset / mode
- Basic Metal 2000
- Pickup
- Bridge pickup
- Guitar knobs
- Tone 10 · Volume 10
Fender Mustang GT40 knobs
- Gain
- 9
- Bass
- 6
- Mid
- 3
- Treble
- 7
- Reverb
- 0.5
Built-in effects
- Reverb on (Spring) · 0.5
Playing tips
- Use tight palm muting for chugging riffs to enhance articulation.
- Focus on aggressive alternate picking to achieve a percussive rhythm.
- Keep your attack sharp to maintain clarity in the high-gain setting.
The original rig
What Metallica used on the recording, for reference. ToneAdapt translates this to the controls your Fender Mustang GT40 actually has.
- Guitar
- ESP MX220 (custom, aka 'Eet Fuk')
- Amp
- Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ (preamp) into Marshall JCM800 (power amp section), Mesa 4x12 cabinet
- Gain
- 9
- Bass
- 6
- Mid
- 3
- Treble
- 7.5
- Presence
- 6.5
- Reverb
- 1
Different guitar or pedals? Get Master of Puppets 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 preset should I use on the Fender Mustang GT40 for Master of Puppets?
Start from the Basic Metal 2000 preset, then set Gain 9, Bass 6, Mid 3, Treble 7, Reverb 0.5.
Which pickup should I use for Master of Puppets?
Bridge pickup, with the guitar's tone at 10 and volume at 10.
What gear did Metallica use on Master of Puppets?
Guitar: ESP MX220 (custom, aka 'Eet Fuk'). Amp: Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ (preamp) into Marshall JCM800 (power amp section), Mesa 4x12 cabinet.
Will these settings work with my guitar?
These settings were adapted for a Fender Standard Stratocaster HH. Different pickups change how much gain and treble you need. ToneAdapt adapts the tone to your exact guitar, pickups, amp and pedals.
Master of Puppets on other amps
- Master of Puppets on Fender Mustang LT25 · 1,425
- Master of Puppets on Boss Katana · 926
- Master of Puppets on Fender Frontman 10G · 434
- Master of Puppets on Line 6 Helix Floor / LT / Rack · 280
- Master of Puppets on Fender Champion 20 · 218
- Master of Puppets on Fender Frontman 15G · 207
- Master of Puppets on Neural DSP Quad Cortex · 193
- Master of Puppets on Boss Katana 50 Gen 3 · 182
Popular songs on the Fender Mustang GT40
- Hotel California · Eagles
- 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
- Holy Wars · Megadeth
- Iris · Goo Goo Dolls
- Mr. Brightside · The Killers
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.