Fade to Black by Metallica — Amp Settings & Guitar Tone
Reference tone dialed on a Squier Classic Vibe Stratocaster into a Fender Mustang LT25. Settings below are cited from real sources; open the page in a browser for the interactive version, or get this tone dialed for your exact gear.
This setup aims to capture the dynamic range of 'Fade to Black' by using the Fender Mustang LT25's modeling capabilities to approximate the Marshall JCM crunch and the Squier Stratocaster to mimic the humbucker tone. The clean intro transitions into a saturated crunch, with subtle reverb to enhance the ambiance.
Signal chain settings
Squier Classic Vibe Stratocaster '60s — Main rhythm tone
| Control | Setting | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Pickup Selector | Neck Pickup | Select the neck pickup for a warmer tone in the clean intro. |
| Master Volume | 7 | Set to 7 for a balanced output that matches the dynamics of the recording. |
| Tone 1 | 10 | Tone wide open — roll it down to soften the high end. |
| Tone 2 | 10 | Tone wide open — roll it down to soften the high end. |
Fender Mustang LT25 — Main amplification
| Control | Setting | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Preset | 04 CLASSIC ROCK | Closest starting point for the Marshall JCM crunch sound. |
| Gain | 6 | Set to 6 to achieve the saturated tube crunch in heavy sections. |
| Volume | 5 | Advisory setting from player evidence; balances the overall output. |
| Treble | 6 | Advisory setting from player evidence; adds brightness to the distorted sections. |
| Bass | 5 | Set to 5 to maintain a balanced low end without overpowering the mids. |
| Master | 8 | Advisory setting from player evidence; ensures sufficient headroom and dynamics. |
| Cabinet build | Not used | Not needed for this tone — leave it off. |
| Amp Models | Not used | Not needed for this tone — leave it off. |
| Effects | Not used | Not needed for this tone — leave it off. |
Section guide — how the tone changes through the song
Intro Clean
The intro features clean arpeggiated chords with subtle reverb, requiring a switch to a clean tone.
- the pedal: Gain → 3
- the pedal: Volume → 4
What Metallica actually used
Recorded at Sweet Silence Studios in Copenhagen, 'Fade to Black' features a blend of acoustic and electric guitars, marking Metallica's first foray into ballad territory. The recording sessions were notably impacted by the theft of the band's equipment prior to recording, leading to the use of various Marshall amplifiers.
- Gibson Explorer — main rhythm. Used by James Hetfield during the recording sessions.
- Gibson Flying V — lead. Used by Kirk Hammett for lead parts.
- Wah-wah pedal — lead tone shaping. Hammett used the neck pickup and played through a wah pedal in the 'up' position to achieve a warm solo tone.
- Marshall amplifier — main amplification. After Hetfield's amplifier was stolen, the band auditioned various Marshall stacks during the recording sessions.
Tuning: Standard
Sources
- https://www.fender.com/en-US/squier-electric-guitars/stratocaster/classic-vibe-stratocaster-60s/0303010500.html
- https://www.manualslib.com/manual/1547905/Fender-Mustang-Lt25.html
- https://www.fender.com/en-US/guitar-amplifiers/contemporary-digital/mustang-lt25/2311100000.html
- https://www.manualslib.com/manual/3126493/Fender-Mustang-Lt25.html
- https://www.guitarchalk.com/fender-mustang-lt25-settings/
- https://www.loudersound.com/features/metallica-story-behind-fade-to-black
- https://www.rigtone.com/tone/fade-to-black-amp-settings
- https://metalinjection.net/editorials/back-in-the-day/sad-but-true-the-robbery-in-boston-that-inspired-metallicas-fade-to-black