Marshall MG15 Gold settings
The Unforgiven settings for Marshall MG15 Gold
Metallica · adapted 3 times on ToneAdapt
To get the Metallica "The Unforgiven" riff tone on a Marshall MG15 Gold, set Gain 1.5, Bass 5, Mid 4, Treble 7. Use the bridge pickup with your guitar's tone on 8 and volume on 8-9.
Riff settings
Adapted for a Jackson JS32T Rhoads · updated 2026-06-03
- Pickup
- Bridge pickup
- Guitar knobs
- Tone 8 · Volume 8-9
Marshall MG15 Gold knobs
- Gain
- 1.5
- Bass
- 5
- Mid
- 4
- Treble
- 7
Built-in effects
- Reverb off
Playing tips
- Focus on a tight, percussive attack to maintain clarity.
- Use fingerstyle for a more dynamic touch.
- Experiment with picking dynamics to emphasize notes.
The original rig
What Metallica used on the recording, for reference. ToneAdapt translates this to the controls your Marshall MG15 Gold actually has.
- Guitar
- ESP MX220 'Eet Fuk' (James Hetfield's main rhythm guitar on The Black Album)
- Amp
- Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ (primary rhythm amp for The Black Album sessions)
- Gain
- 7.5
- Bass
- 6
- Mid
- 4
- Treble
- 7
- Presence
- 6
- Reverb
- 1
Different guitar or pedals? Get The Unforgiven 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 MG15 Gold settings for The Unforgiven?
Set Gain 1.5, Bass 5, Mid 4, Treble 7.
Which pickup should I use for The Unforgiven?
Bridge pickup, with the guitar's tone at 8 and volume at 8-9.
What gear did Metallica use on The Unforgiven?
Guitar: ESP MX220 'Eet Fuk' (James Hetfield's main rhythm guitar on The Black Album). Amp: Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ (primary rhythm amp for The Black Album sessions).
Will these settings work with my guitar?
These settings were adapted for a Jackson JS32T Rhoads. Different pickups change how much gain and treble you need. ToneAdapt adapts the tone to your exact guitar, pickups, amp and pedals.
The Unforgiven on other amps
More Metallica on the Marshall MG15 Gold
All Metallica tones →Popular songs on the Marshall MG15 Gold
- Sweet Child O' Mine · Guns N' Roses
- Hotel California · Eagles
- Highway to Hell · AC/DC
- Smells Like Teen Spirit · Nirvana
- Sultans of Swing · Dire Straits
- Smoke on the Water · Deep Purple
- Iron Man · Black Sabbath
- Back in Black · AC/DC
- Welcome to the Jungle · Guns N' Roses
- Lithium · Nirvana
- Creep · Radiohead
- Holy Wars · Megadeth
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.