Marshall MG15 settings
Master of Puppets settings for Marshall MG15
Metallica · adapted 46 times on ToneAdapt
To get the Metallica "Master of Puppets" riff tone on a Marshall MG15, set Gain 9, Bass 5, Mid 4, Treble 7, Clean volume 0, Overdrive gain 8. Use the bridge pickup with your guitar's tone on 10 and volume on 10.
Riff settings
Adapted for a Jackson JS Series King V JS32 · updated 2026-11-12
- Pickup
- Bridge pickup
- Guitar knobs
- Tone 10 · Volume 10
Marshall MG15 knobs
- Gain
- 9
- Bass
- 5
- Mid
- 4
- Treble
- 7
- Clean volume
- 0
- Overdrive gain
- 8
- Overdrive volume
- 6
Built-in effects
- Reverb off
Playing tips
- Focus on tight palm muting for chugging riffs.
- Use fast alternate picking to maintain aggression.
- Keep your picking hand close to the bridge for a sharper attack.
Solo settings
Adapted for a Squier Stratocaster · updated 2026-08-01
- Pickup
- Bridge pickup
- Guitar knobs
- Tone 8 · Volume 10
Marshall MG15 knobs
- Gain
- 9
- Bass
- 5
- Mid
- 3
- Treble
- 7
Built-in effects
- Reverb off
Playing tips
- Use aggressive palm muting for tight rhythms.
- Focus on precise picking for articulate lead lines.
- Maintain a strong attack to enhance the crispness of the notes.
The original rig
What Metallica used on the recording, for reference. ToneAdapt translates this to the controls your Marshall MG15 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 MG15 settings for Master of Puppets?
Set Gain 9, Bass 5, Mid 4, Treble 7, Clean volume 0, Overdrive gain 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 Jackson JS Series King V JS32. 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 MG15
- Sweet Child O' Mine · Guns N' Roses
- Hotel California · Eagles
- Walk · Pantera
- Welcome to the Jungle · Guns N' Roses
- Smells Like Teen Spirit · Nirvana
- Stairway to Heaven · Led Zeppelin
- Highway to Hell · AC/DC
- Holy Wars · Megadeth
- Iron Man · Black Sabbath
- Crazy Train · Ozzy Osbourne
- Whole Lotta Love · Led Zeppelin
- Back in Black · AC/DC
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.