Fender Mustang GTX 50 settings
Blackened settings for Fender Mustang GTX 50
Metallica · adapted 2 times on ToneAdapt
To get the Metallica "Blackened" riff tone on a Fender Mustang GTX 50, select the Metal 2000 preset, then set Gain 8, Bass 5, Mid 3, Treble 7, Presence 6, Reverb 0. Use the bridge pickup with your guitar's tone on 10 and volume on 10.
Riff settings
Adapted for a Jackson Rhoads JS32T FSR · updated 2026-09-26
- Preset / mode
- Metal 2000
- Pickup
- Bridge pickup
- Guitar knobs
- Tone 10 · Volume 10
Fender Mustang GTX 50 knobs
- Gain
- 8
- Bass
- 5
- Mid
- 3
- Treble
- 7
- Presence
- 6
- Reverb
- 0
Playing tips
- Use aggressive palm muting for tight rhythms.
- Focus on downstrokes for a heavier attack.
- Experiment with picking dynamics to add variation.
The original rig
What Metallica used on the recording, for reference. ToneAdapt translates this to the controls your Fender Mustang GTX 50 actually has.
- Guitar
- ESP MX220 'EET FUK' Explorer
- Amp
- Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ Head (studio recording, 1988)
- Gain
- 8
- Bass
- 5
- Mid
- 3
- Treble
- 7.5
- Presence
- 6.5
- Reverb
- 0
Different guitar or pedals? Get Blackened 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 GTX 50 for Blackened?
Start from the Metal 2000 preset, then set Gain 8, Bass 5, Mid 3, Treble 7, Presence 6, Reverb 0.
Which pickup should I use for Blackened?
Bridge pickup, with the guitar's tone at 10 and volume at 10.
What gear did Metallica use on Blackened?
Guitar: ESP MX220 'EET FUK' Explorer. Amp: Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ Head (studio recording, 1988).
Will these settings work with my guitar?
These settings were adapted for a Jackson Rhoads JS32T FSR. Different pickups change how much gain and treble you need. ToneAdapt adapts the tone to your exact guitar, pickups, amp and pedals.
Blackened on other amps
Popular songs on the Fender Mustang GTX 50
- Sweet Child O' Mine · Guns N' Roses
- Walk · Pantera
- Hotel California · Eagles
- Holy Wars · Megadeth
- Welcome to the Jungle · Guns N' Roses
- Stairway to Heaven · Led Zeppelin
- Whole Lotta Love · Led Zeppelin
- Back in Black · AC/DC
- Smells Like Teen Spirit · Nirvana
- Crazy Train · Ozzy Osbourne
- Pride and Joy · Stevie Ray Vaughan
- 1979 · The Smashing Pumpkins
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.