Marshall JCM800 settings
Master of Puppets settings for Marshall JCM800
Metallica · adapted 109 times on ToneAdapt
To get the Metallica "Master of Puppets" riff tone on a Marshall JCM800, set Gain 9, Bass 6, Mid 3, Treble 7.5, Presence 6.5, Master volume 8. Use the bridge pickup with your guitar's tone on 10 and volume on 10.
Riff settings
Adapted for a Harley Benton R-446 Blood Metallic · updated 2026-11-13
- Pickup
- Bridge pickup
- Guitar knobs
- Tone 10 · Volume 10
Marshall JCM800 knobs
- Gain
- 9
- Bass
- 6
- Mid
- 3
- Treble
- 7.5
- Presence
- 6.5
- Master volume
- 8
- Input sensitivity
- 1
Built-in effects
- Reverb off
Playing tips
- Focus on tight palm muting for chugging riffs.
- Use fast alternate picking to maintain clarity and aggression.
- Keep your picking hand close to the bridge for a sharper attack.
The original rig
What Metallica used on the recording, for reference. ToneAdapt translates this to the controls your Marshall JCM800 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 JCM800 settings for Master of Puppets?
Set Gain 9, Bass 6, Mid 3, Treble 7.5, Presence 6.5, Master volume 8.
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 Harley Benton R-446 Blood Metallic. 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 JCM800
- Sweet Child O' Mine · Guns N' Roses
- Welcome to the Jungle · Guns N' Roses
- Hotel California · Eagles
- Whole Lotta Love · Led Zeppelin
- Highway to Hell · AC/DC
- Holy Wars · Megadeth
- Walk · Pantera
- Crazy Train · Ozzy Osbourne
- Iron Man · Black Sabbath
- Smells Like Teen Spirit · Nirvana
- Raining Blood · Slayer
- Killing in the Name · Rage Against the Machine
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.