Boss Katana 50 Gen 3 settings
Lithium settings for Boss Katana 50 Gen 3
Nirvana · adapted 2 times on ToneAdapt
To get the Nirvana "Lithium" riff tone on a Boss Katana 50 Gen 3, set Gain 7, Bass 5, Mid 5.5, Treble 6, Reverb 1, Contour 1. Use the bridge pickup with your guitar's tone on 7-8 and volume on 8-9.
Riff settings
Adapted for a Donner DST-100 · updated 2026-09-19
- Pickup
- Bridge pickup
- Guitar knobs
- Tone 7-8 · Volume 8-9
Boss Katana 50 Gen 3 knobs
- Gain
- 7
- Bass
- 5
- Mid
- 5.5
- Treble
- 6
- Reverb
- 1
- Contour
- 1
- Gain control
- 0
- Master volume
- 7
- Power control
- 3
- Volume control
- 8
- Variation button
- 0
Built-in effects
- Reverb on (spring) · 2
Playing tips
- Use your amp's built-in reverb set to a low level to add depth to the fuzz tone.
- Experiment with the contour control to shape the mid-range response for a thicker sound.
- Keep the volume on your guitar at a higher setting to ensure a full-bodied fuzz tone.
The original rig
What Nirvana used on the recording, for reference. ToneAdapt translates this to the controls your Boss Katana 50 Gen 3 actually has.
- Guitar
- Fender Japanese Stratocaster (likely 1989-1991, black, with Seymour Duncan Hot Rails in bridge)
- Amp
- Fender Bassman (studio recording, Nevermind sessions)
- Gain
- 7
- Bass
- 6
- Mid
- 6.5
- Treble
- 6.5
- Presence
- 5
- Reverb
- 1
Different guitar or pedals? Get Lithium adapted to your exact rig
These settings were generated for the gear named above. ToneAdapt adapts Nirvana's tone to your own guitar, pickups, amp and pedals in seconds.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best Boss Katana 50 Gen 3 settings for Lithium?
Set Gain 7, Bass 5, Mid 5.5, Treble 6, Reverb 1, Contour 1.
Which pickup should I use for Lithium?
Bridge pickup, with the guitar's tone at 7-8 and volume at 8-9.
What gear did Nirvana use on Lithium?
Guitar: Fender Japanese Stratocaster (likely 1989-1991, black, with Seymour Duncan Hot Rails in bridge). Amp: Fender Bassman (studio recording, Nevermind sessions).
Will these settings work with my guitar?
These settings were adapted for a Donner DST-100. Different pickups change how much gain and treble you need. ToneAdapt adapts the tone to your exact guitar, pickups, amp and pedals.
Lithium on other amps
More Nirvana on the Boss Katana 50 Gen 3
All Nirvana tones →Popular songs on the Boss Katana 50 Gen 3
- Master of Puppets · Metallica
- Walk · Pantera
- Sweet Child O' Mine · Guns N' Roses
- Enter Sandman · Metallica
- Hotel California · Eagles
- Holy Wars · Megadeth
- Raining Blood · Slayer
- Sultans of Swing · Dire Straits
- Crazy Train · Ozzy Osbourne
- Stairway to Heaven · Led Zeppelin
- Welcome to the Jungle · Guns N' Roses
- Iron Man · Black Sabbath
Settings are generated by ToneAdapt's tone adaptation for the gear named on this page and are a starting point — every amp, guitar and room is a little different.