Marshall JCM2000 settings
Blackened settings for Marshall JCM2000
Metallica · adapted 2 times on ToneAdapt
To get the Metallica "Blackened" riff tone on a Marshall JCM2000, set Gain 8, Bass 5, Mid 2, 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 Epiphone Les Paul · updated 2026-05-11
- Pickup
- Bridge pickup
- Guitar knobs
- Tone 10 · Volume 10
Marshall JCM2000 knobs
- Gain
- 8
- Bass
- 5
- Mid
- 2
- Treble
- 7
- Presence
- 6
- Reverb
- 0
- Fx mix
- 0
- Tone shift
- 1
- Deep switch
- 1
Playing tips
- Focus on tight palm muting for chugging riffs.
- Use fast downpicking to maintain aggression.
- Ensure clear articulation between notes for a sharp attack.
The original rig
What Metallica used on the recording, for reference. ToneAdapt translates this to the controls your Marshall JCM2000 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 are the best Marshall JCM2000 settings for Blackened?
Set Gain 8, Bass 5, Mid 2, 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 Epiphone Les Paul. 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
More Metallica on the Marshall JCM2000
All Metallica tones →Popular songs on the Marshall JCM2000
- Sweet Child O' Mine · Guns N' Roses
- Wanted Dead or Alive · Bon Jovi
- Welcome to the Jungle · Guns N' Roses
- Walk · Pantera
- Comfortably Numb · Pink Floyd
- Back in Black · AC/DC
- Smells Like Teen Spirit · Nirvana
- Whole Lotta Love · Led Zeppelin
- Hotel California · Eagles
- Highway to Hell · AC/DC
- Crazy Train · Ozzy Osbourne
- Paradise City · Guns N' Roses
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.