What amp settings do I need for the Orion guitar tone?

Set your amp to roughly: gain 4, bass 6, mid 6, treble 6, presence 5, reverb 1. These are community-researched baselines — GuitarToneAdapt re-dials them for your exact guitar and amp.

What gear was used for the Orion tone?

Original gear/effects: Guitar: Rickenbacker / Aria · Amp: Ampeg SVT.

Can I get the Orion tone on a different guitar or amp?

Yes. Different guitars and amps need different knob positions to sound the same. GuitarToneAdapt models pickup output and wood brightness, then compensates so you match the record on your own rig.

🎸 Thrash Metal · 1980s

Orion (Riff · Bass) — Guitar Tone

by Metallica · riff

The Orion by Metallica guitar tone is built on a Ampeg SVT, dialed in at gain 4/10, bass 6, mid 6, treble 6, presence 5 (community-researched baseline). Full breakdown below — then adapt every knob to your exact guitar and amp, free.

🎛️ Adapt this tone to YOUR guitar & amp — free →

Amp settings (0–10)

GAIN

BASS

MID

TREBLE

PRESENCE

REVERB

Community-researched baseline. Your rig is different — GuitarToneAdapt re-dials every knob for your specific guitar, amp and pickups.

Original gear

Guitar: Rickenbacker / Aria · Amp: Ampeg SVT

Pickups

both pickups

Tone character

Melodic, singing metal bass with grind and a lead-guitar sensibility — Cliff's signature distorted lyricism.

Note: These are bass amp settings (gain here = drive/grind); adapt to your bass amp and the mix by ear. Fingerstyle vs pick vs slap changes the tone as much as the EQ.

Get these exact settings for your rig →

🎧 Can you guess the tone?

Recognise famous songs from just the amp dials — a quick 10-round game. Beat your friends. Play free →

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