Marshall MG15CFX settings
Sad But True settings for Marshall MG15CFX
Metallica · adapted 2 times on ToneAdapt
To get the Metallica "Sad But True" riff tone on a Marshall MG15CFX, select the OD2 Channel preset, then set Gain 8.5, Volume 7, Master 5, Bass 5, Mid 2, Treble 7. Use the bridge pickup with your guitar's tone on 10 and volume on 10.
Riff settings
Adapted for a Epiphone Flying V Prophecy · updated 2026-04-25
- Preset / mode
- OD2 Channel
- Pickup
- Bridge pickup
- Guitar knobs
- Tone 10 · Volume 10
Marshall MG15CFX knobs
- Gain
- 8.5
- Volume
- 7
- Master
- 5
- Bass
- 5
- Mid
- 2
- Treble
- 7
- Reverb
- 0
- FX
- 0
- Contour
- 7
Playing tips
- Focus on tight palm muting for chugging riffs.
- Use aggressive pick attack for percussive rhythm.
- Maintain consistent dynamics while playing to keep the tone tight.
Solo settings
Adapted for a Epiphone Flying V Prophecy · updated 2026-04-25
- Preset / mode
- OD2 Channel
- Pickup
- Bridge pickup
- Guitar knobs
- Tone 8-9 · Volume 8-9
Marshall MG15CFX knobs
- Gain
- 8.5
- Volume
- 6
- Master
- 5
- Bass
- 5
- Mid
- 2
- Treble
- 7
- Reverb
- 0
- FX
- 0
- Contour
- 7
Playing tips
- Use aggressive palm muting for a tight sound.
- Focus on smooth legato playing for the solo sections.
- Experiment with vibrato to add expressiveness to sustained notes.
The original rig
What Metallica used on the recording, for reference. ToneAdapt translates this to the controls your Marshall MG15CFX actually has.
- Guitar
- ESP MX-220 (black finish)
- Amp
- Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC++
- Gain
- 8.5
- Bass
- 4
- Mid
- 1.5
- Treble
- 6
- Presence
- 4.5
- Reverb
- 0
Different guitar or pedals? Get Sad But True 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 Sad But True?
Start from the OD2 Channel preset, then set Gain 8.5, Volume 7, Master 5, Bass 5, Mid 2, Treble 7.
Which pickup should I use for Sad But True?
Bridge pickup, with the guitar's tone at 10 and volume at 10.
What gear did Metallica use on Sad But True?
Guitar: ESP MX-220 (black finish). Amp: Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC++.
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.
Sad But True 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.