How to Dial In "Ride the Lightning" by Metallica - Guitar Tone Settings
What Metallica Actually Used on "Ride the Lightning"
Original Knob Positions, Pickup, and Tuning
Where to set the knobs for this tone. Each value is on the standard 0–10 amp scale.
These numbers are for a Marshall JCM800 2203. On your amp, they won't sound the same.
Get the settings for my ampHow the artist had their guitar configured for this take.
Recorded February-March 1984 at Sweet Silence in Copenhagen with Flemming Rasmussen. Tuned down a half step to E flat standard like the rest of the album, which is non-negotiable — the riff's open low string is the whole sound. Hetfield's rig at this point is a Gibson Flying V into a Marshall JCM800 2203 with a Tube Screamer in front, not the Mesa Mark IIC+ that arrives with Master of Puppets; the difference is real, the JCM800 sound is drier and more upper-mid than the Boogie. Use the Tube Screamer the way Hetfield does — drive low, level high — as a tightener into an already-distorted amp rather than as the gain source. Cliff Burton's writing shows up in the harmonised sections; the clean intro arpeggio is the same rig with the guitar volume rolled well back.
Common Questions About the "Ride the Lightning" Tone
What guitar did Metallica use on "Ride the Lightning"?
Metallica tracked "Ride the Lightning" on a Gibson Flying V (released 1984). Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. The track is in E♭ Standard (E♭ A♭ D♭ G♭ B♭ E♭), so retune before you dial anything in.
What amp settings does "Ride the Lightning" need?
On Marshall JCM800 2203: Gain 7.5, Bass 5.5, Mid 5, Treble 7.5, Presence 7, Volume 7. Each value is on the standard 0–10 amp scale; match them on your amp first, then nudge to taste. ToneMirror can translate these positions for whatever amp you actually own.
Can I play "Ride the Lightning" without a Marshall JCM800 2203?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the original recipe above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Ride the Lightning" tone on a Katana, a Helix, a tube combo, or anything else. The translation accounts for EQ curve, gain structure, and pickup type so the result actually sounds like the record, not just the same knob numbers on different gear.
What pedals are on "Ride the Lightning"?
The original signal chain for "Ride the Lightning" runs through Ibanez Tube Screamer TS-9. Whether you own those exact units or close substitutes, ToneMirror maps the pedal voicings onto the pedalboard you actually have.
More Tones You Can Dial In
Tone references for "Ride the Lightning" by Metallica are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.