Marshall JCM 900 settings
Master of Puppets settings for Marshall JCM 900
Metallica · adapted 8 times on ToneAdapt
To get the Metallica "Master of Puppets" riff tone on a Marshall JCM 900, set Gain 9, Bass 6, Mid 3, Treble 7.5, Presence 6.5, Reverb 0.5. Use the bridge pickup with your guitar's tone on 10 and volume on 10.
Riff settings
updated 2026-11-02
- Pickup
- Bridge pickup
- Guitar knobs
- Tone 10 · Volume 10
Marshall JCM 900 knobs
- Gain
- 9
- Bass
- 6
- Mid
- 3
- Treble
- 7.5
- Presence
- 6.5
- Reverb
- 0.5
- Power option
- 1
- Fx loop level
- 0
- Channel a reverb
- 0
- Channel a volume
- 0
- Channel b reverb
- 0
- Channel b volume
- 7
Built-in effects
- Reverb on · 0.5
Playing tips
- Use aggressive palm muting for tight chugging.
- Focus on fast alternate picking for clarity.
- Keep your attack sharp to maintain articulation.
The original rig
What Metallica used on the recording, for reference. ToneAdapt translates this to the controls your Marshall JCM 900 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 are the best Marshall JCM 900 settings for Master of Puppets?
Set Gain 9, Bass 6, Mid 3, Treble 7.5, Presence 6.5, 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?
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 Marshall JCM 900
- Walk · Pantera
- Sweet Child O' Mine · Guns N' Roses
- Highway to Hell · AC/DC
- Back in Black · AC/DC
- Raining Blood · Slayer
- Whole Lotta Love · Led Zeppelin
- The Song · Humbreaders
- Welcome to the Jungle · Guns N' Roses
- Crazy Train · Ozzy Osbourne
- Smoke on the Water · Deep Purple
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.