Sad But True (Metallica) guitar tone and amp settings
Sad But True guitar tone on a BOSS Katana 50 Gen 3: Brown amp type, medium gain (Gain 6.5), scooped mids (Middle 3.5), bright top (Treble 6.5), bridge pickup.
Tuning: D standard
Settings for your amp
Sad But True settings on a BOSS Katana 50 Gen 3
BOSS Katana 50 Gen 3 settings for every songAmpBOSS Katana 50 Gen 3
GuitarElectric guitar with two humbuckers
The same settings in text
Amp
- Variation
- Off
- Amp Type
- Brown
- Gain
- 6.5
- Volume
- 6
- Bass
- 6
- Middle
- 3.5
- Treble
- 6.5
- Booster
- 0
- Mod
- 0
- FX
- 0
- Delay
- 0
- Reverb
- 0
- Master
- Set to your room
- Power Control
- Set to your room
Electric guitar with two humbuckers
- Pickup Selector
- Bridge
- Volume
- 10
- Tone
- 8
A baritone guitar can add the original low-octave overdub.
Sad But True settings on a Positive Grid Spark 40
Positive Grid Spark 40 settings for every songAmpPositive Grid Spark 40
GuitarElectric guitar with two humbuckers
The same settings in text
Amp
- Amp Type
- Metal
- Gain
- 7.5
- Bass
- 5.5
- Mid
- 3.5
- Treble
- 6.5
- Master
- Set to your room
- Mod
- 2.5
- Delay
- 0
- Reverb
- 0
- Output
- Set to your room
- App Amp Model
- Treadplate
- App Drive
- Off
- App Comp/Wah
- Off
- App Mod/EQ
- Guitar EQ
- App Delay
- Off
- App Reverb
- Off
Electric guitar with two humbuckers
- Pickup Selector
- Bridge
- Volume
- 10
- Tone
- 8
A baritone guitar adds the octave-lower overdub used for extra depth.
Sad But True settings on a Fender Mustang LT25
Fender Mustang LT25 settings for every songAmpFender Mustang LT25
GuitarElectric guitar with two humbuckers
The same settings in text
Amp
- Amp Model
- 90S ROCK
- Gain
- 6.8
- Volume
- 6
- Treble
- 6.5
- Bass
- 6
- Middle
- 4
- Master
- Set to your room
- Stomp
- 5-BAND EQ
- Mod
- None
- Delay
- None
- Reverb
- None
Electric guitar with two humbuckers
- Pickup Selector
- Bridge
- Volume
- 10
- Tone
- 8
Layer a D-standard baritone track to approach the low octave overdub.
Sad But True settings on any amp with Gain, Bass, Mid, Treble
Amp
GuitarElectric guitar with two humbuckers
The same settings in text
Amp
- Gain
- 7
- Bass
- 6.5
- Mid
- 2.5
- Treble
- 6
Electric guitar with two humbuckers
- Pickup Selector
- Bridge
- Volume
- 10
- Tone
- 8
Add a graphic EQ and octave-lower baritone layer for closer matching.
Why it sounds like that
Sad But True is built on James Hetfield's rhythm guitar, which is layered rather than played once. His core amp is a mid-Eighties Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC++ with a scooped mid setting on its graphic EQ, and Marshall amps restored some of the midrange. He played an ESP with EMG pickups. Layers recorded through different amps and cabinets build the rhythm, a baritone guitar an octave lower adds depth, and muted string chucks sharpen the attack. Outboard EQ and compression most likely sat in the effects loop.
- Build the rhythm from several layered takes, each through a different amp or cabinet.
- Double the riff an octave lower with a baritone guitar for depth.
What amp did James Hetfield use on Sad But True?
- Guitar World credits James Hetfield with the rhythm part only. (on this song)[1]
- Guitar World says Hetfield's rhythm part is composed of numerous layers of tracks recorded through different amps and cabinets. (on this song)[1]
- Guitar World says a Jerry Jones baritone tuned an octave lower was overdubbed to add depth. (on this song)[1]
- Guitar World says extra overdubs of muted string chucks made the attack more percussive. (on this song)[1]
- Guitar World's gear box lists an ESP MX-220 with EMG 81 pickups for this track. (on this song)[1]
- Guitar World says the core of Hetfield's sound is a mid-Eighties Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC++. (on this song)[1]
- Guitar World says Marshall amps restored some of the midrange sculpted out of the Mesas. (on this song)[1]
- Guitar World says the Mesa's five-band graphic EQ, in a scooped mid V configuration, plays a key role in the tone. (on this song)[1]
- Guitar World says Aphex EQ and compression units most likely sat in the amp's effects loop. (on this song)[1]
- Hetfield said his primary guitar on the album was an ESP Explorer with EMG pickups. (on the album Metallica)[2]
- Hetfield said he ended up using the same Mesa/Boogie Simulclass Mark II he had used on the last three albums. (on the album Metallica)[2]
- Hetfield said his Mesa/Boogie Mark II C++ has been his amp since the Ride the Lightning and Master of Puppets era. (on the album Metallica)[3]
- Hetfield named his Mesa/Boogie amp and his ESP Explorer with EMGs as his main setup. (on the album Metallica)[3]
- James Hetfield said: ‘I can't play leads.’ (on the album Metallica)[2]
- Hetfield said some of Kirk Hammett's solo work on the album is really good. (on the album Metallica)[2]
- Guitar World's gear box gives the tuning as D standard. (on this song)[1]
- Guitar.com says Hetfield used a Danelectro Jerry Jones baritone for muted chugs on the Sad But True riff. (on this song)[4]
Questions
What amp did James Hetfield use on Sad But True?
The sources on this page document James Hetfield's gear on Sad But True by Metallica: guitar, ESP MX-220 [1]; pickup, EMG 81 [1]; amp, Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC++ [1]. Each value cites the numbered source it comes from, listed at the foot of the page.
What are the Sad But True settings on a BOSS Katana 50 Gen 3?
For the Sad But True guitar tone on a BOSS Katana 50 Gen 3, set Amp Type Brown, Gain 6.5, Volume 6, Bass 6, Middle 3.5, Treble 6.5, Booster 0, Mod 0, FX 0, Delay 0, Reverb 0; on the electric guitar with two humbuckers, Pickup Selector Bridge, Volume 10, Tone 8. Set Master and Power Control to your room. They are AI-assisted starting points; adjust them by ear on your own amp.
What are the Sad But True settings on a Positive Grid Spark 40?
For the Sad But True guitar tone on a Positive Grid Spark 40, set Amp Type Metal, Gain 7.5, Bass 5.5, Mid 3.5, Treble 6.5, Mod 2.5, Delay 0, Reverb 0, App Amp Model Treadplate, App Mod/EQ Guitar EQ; on the electric guitar with two humbuckers, Pickup Selector Bridge, Volume 10, Tone 8. Set Master and Output to your room. They are AI-assisted starting points; adjust them by ear on your own amp.
What are the Sad But True settings on a Fender Mustang LT25?
For the Sad But True guitar tone on a Fender Mustang LT25, set Amp Model 90S ROCK, Gain 6.8, Volume 6, Treble 6.5, Bass 6, Middle 4, Stomp 5-BAND EQ, Mod None, Delay None, Reverb None; on the electric guitar with two humbuckers, Pickup Selector Bridge, Volume 10, Tone 8. Set Master to your room. They are AI-assisted starting points; adjust them by ear on your own amp.
What tuning is Sad But True in?
Sad But True by Metallica is played in D standard, according to the cited source [1]. Tune to it before you set the amp, or the riff will not sit right against the record.
Can I get the Sad But True tone on my own amp?
Yes. The settings above cover 3 reference amps and any amp with the basic controls. For your exact rig, KnobMaster, an iPhone app, sets every knob of your own amp, guitar and pedals for Sad But True, using only the controls your gear has.
Get it for your exact rig
KnobMaster sets every knob of your own amp, guitar and pedals for this song.
Download KnobMaster on the App Store