Fender Mustang LT50 settings
Fade to Black settings for Fender Mustang LT50
Metallica · adapted 4 times on ToneAdapt
To get the Metallica "Fade to Black" solo tone on a Fender Mustang LT50, select the METAL LEAD preset, then set Gain 8, Bass 5, Mid 6, Treble 7, Reverb 1.5. Use the neck pickup with your guitar's tone on 7-8 and volume on 8-9.
Solo settings
Adapted for a Jackson JS Series RR Minion JS1X · updated 2026-08-20
- Preset / mode
- METAL LEAD
- Pickup
- Neck pickup
- Guitar knobs
- Tone 7-8 · Volume 8-9
Fender Mustang LT50 knobs
- Gain
- 8
- Bass
- 5
- Mid
- 6
- Treble
- 7
- Reverb
- 1.5
Built-in effects
- Reverb on (spring) · 3
Playing tips
- Use the neck pickup for a warm, thick tone.
- Engage the amp's built-in reverb for added depth.
- Consider using a wah pedal in a cocked position to emphasize midrange during the solo.
Riff settings
updated 2026-09-07
- Preset / mode
- FENDER CLEAN
- Pickup
- Neck pickup
- Guitar knobs
- Tone 7-8 · Volume 7-8
Fender Mustang LT50 knobs
- Gain
- 1.5
- Bass
- 5
- Mid
- 4
- Treble
- 7
- Reverb
- 1.5
Built-in effects
- Reverb on (spring) · 3
Playing tips
- Use your amp's built-in reverb set to a moderate level to recreate the gentle reverb tail of the original tone.
- Play with a light touch to achieve the dynamic, touch-sensitive response characteristic of the original riff.
- Focus on rich, articulate chord voicings to match the warm neck pickup tone.
The original rig
What Metallica used on the recording, for reference. ToneAdapt translates this to the controls your Fender Mustang LT50 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 preset should I use on the Fender Mustang LT50 for Fade to Black?
Start from the METAL LEAD preset, then set Gain 8, Bass 5, Mid 6, Treble 7, Reverb 1.5.
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 JS Series RR Minion JS1X. 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
More Metallica on the Fender Mustang LT50
All Metallica tones →Popular songs on the Fender Mustang LT50
- Walk · Pantera
- Sweet Child O' Mine · Guns N' Roses
- Hotel California · Eagles
- Whole Lotta Love · Led Zeppelin
- Welcome to the Jungle · Guns N' Roses
- Crazy Train · Ozzy Osbourne
- Back in Black · AC/DC
- Smells Like Teen Spirit · Nirvana
- Raining Blood · Slayer
- Highway to Hell · AC/DC
- Smoke on the Water · Deep Purple
- Creep · Radiohead
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.