One 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.

To capture the dynamic tone of Metallica's 'One', we'll use the Fender Mustang LT25 to emulate the high-gain Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ sound. We'll start with the '11 METAL LEAD' preset to achieve the aggressive, tight distortion needed for the heavy sections. The Squier Classic Vibe '60s Stratocaster will stand in for the ESP guitars used on the recording, with its bright single-coil pickups compensating for the lack of active pickups.

Signal chain settings

Squier Classic Vibe '60s Stratocaster — rhythm guitar

Control	Setting	Why
Pickup Selector	Bridge Pickup	Select the Bridge Pickup for a sharper, more aggressive tone in heavy sections.
Master Volume	7	Set to 7 for a balanced output that cuts through the mix.
Tone 1	Leave at default	Not used for the bridge pickup.
Tone 2	5	Set to 5 to maintain brightness without harshness.

Fender Mustang LT25 — amp and effects

Control	Setting	Why
Preset	11 METAL LEAD	This preset provides the high-gain character needed to emulate the Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ heard on the record.
Gain	7	Set to 7 to achieve the saturated tube crunch in heavy sections.
Volume	5	Set to 5 to maintain a balanced overall output, as advised by community settings.
Treble	7	Set to 7 to enhance brightness and articulation, matching the recording's tone.
Bass	6	Set to 6 to support the scooped mids while maintaining a tight low end.
Master	5	Set to 5 to control the overall loudness without losing 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.

Section guide — how the tone changes through the song

Intro Clean

The intro features a clean, atmospheric tone with reverb-laden sound.

the pedal: Preset → 15 CLEAN DELAY
the pedal: Gain → 3
the pedal: Treble → 6
the pedal: Bass → 5

What Metallica actually used

Metallica recorded 'One' at One on One Recording Studios in Los Angeles in 1988. The track features James Hetfield on rhythm guitar and vocals, Kirk Hammett on lead guitar, Jason Newsted on bass, and Lars Ulrich on drums. The production was handled by Flemming Rasmussen, who had previously worked with the band on their earlier albums.

ESP 400 Series S-Type — lead guitar. Used by Kirk Hammett during the recording of 'One'.
ESP MX-220 — rhythm guitar. Used by James Hetfield during the recording of 'One'.
Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ — guitar amplification. Used for both rhythm and lead guitar tracks.
Dunlop Cry Baby Wah — lead guitar effect. Utilized by Kirk Hammett for the solo sections.
TC Electronic 2290 Digital Delay — lead guitar effect. Applied during mixing for lead guitar tracks.
Graphic EQ — tone shaping. Used to sculpt the guitar tones during mixing.

Tuning: Standard

Sources