Marshall MG15CFX settings
Creeping Death settings for Marshall MG15CFX
Metallica · adapted 8 times on ToneAdapt
To get the Metallica "Creeping Death" riff tone on a Marshall MG15CFX, select the Crunch Channel preset, then set Gain 7, Volume 8, Master 5, Bass 6, Mid 3, Treble 8. Use the bridge pickup with your guitar's tone on 8-10 and volume on 8-10.
Riff settings
Adapted for a Epiphone Flying V Prophecy · updated 2026-04-27
- Preset / mode
- Crunch Channel
- Pickup
- Bridge pickup
- Guitar knobs
- Tone 8-10 · Volume 8-10
Marshall MG15CFX knobs
- Gain
- 7
- Volume
- 8
- Master
- 5
- Bass
- 6
- Mid
- 3
- Treble
- 8
- Reverb
- 0
- FX
- 0
- Contour
- 7
Built-in effects
- Reverb on (spring) · 1
Playing tips
- Use tight palm muting for chugging rhythms.
- Focus on fast alternate picking for clarity.
- Keep the amp's reverb low to maintain aggression.
The original rig
What Metallica used on the recording, for reference. ToneAdapt translates this to the controls your Marshall MG15CFX actually has.
- Guitar
- ESP MX220 (custom Explorer-style, white finish, 1984)
- Amp
- Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ head into Marshall 4x12 cabinet (studio, 1984)
- Gain
- 8
- Bass
- 5.5
- Mid
- 3
- Treble
- 7
- Presence
- 6
- Reverb
- 0.5
Different guitar or pedals? Get Creeping Death 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 preset should I use on the Marshall MG15CFX for Creeping Death?
Start from the Crunch Channel preset, then set Gain 7, Volume 8, Master 5, Bass 6, Mid 3, Treble 8.
Which pickup should I use for Creeping Death?
Bridge pickup, with the guitar's tone at 8-10 and volume at 8-10.
What gear did Metallica use on Creeping Death?
Guitar: ESP MX220 (custom Explorer-style, white finish, 1984). Amp: Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ head into Marshall 4x12 cabinet (studio, 1984).
Will these settings work with my guitar?
These settings were adapted for a Epiphone Flying V Prophecy. Different pickups change how much gain and treble you need. ToneAdapt adapts the tone to your exact guitar, pickups, amp and pedals.
Creeping Death on other amps
Popular songs on the Marshall MG15CFX
- Iron Man · Black Sabbath
- Sweet Child O' Mine · Guns N' Roses
- Walk · Pantera
- Back in Black · AC/DC
- Hotel California · Eagles
- R U Mine? · Arctic Monkeys
- Creep · Radiohead
- Come As You Are · Nirvana
- Highway to Hell · AC/DC
- Lithium · Nirvana
- Rooster · Alice in Chains
- Tokyo Reggie · Masayoshi Takanaka
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.