Fender '65 Princeton Reverb settings
Lithium settings for Fender '65 Princeton Reverb
Nirvana · adapted 2 times on ToneAdapt
To get the Nirvana "Lithium" riff tone on a Fender '65 Princeton Reverb, set Gain 6, Volume 6, Bass 6, Treble 7, Reverb 1.5, Reverb level 0. Use the bridge pickup with your guitar's tone on 7-8 and volume on 8-9.
Riff settings
Adapted for a Gibson Les Paul · updated 2026-07-17
- Pickup
- Bridge pickup
- Guitar knobs
- Tone 7-8 · Volume 8-9
Fender '65 Princeton Reverb knobs
- Gain
- 6
- Volume
- 6
- Bass
- 6
- Treble
- 7
- Reverb
- 1.5
- Reverb level
- 0
- Vibrato speed
- 0
- Vibrato intensity
- 0
Built-in effects
- Reverb on (spring) · 2
Playing tips
- Use your amp's built-in reverb set to a low level for added depth.
- Keep the guitar volume high for a saturated fuzz tone.
- Play with a strong attack to emphasize the punchy character of the riff.
The original rig
What Nirvana used on the recording, for reference. ToneAdapt translates this to the controls your Fender '65 Princeton Reverb 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 Fender '65 Princeton Reverb settings for Lithium?
Set Gain 6, Volume 6, Bass 6, Treble 7, Reverb 1.5, Reverb level 0.
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 Gibson Les Paul. 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
Popular songs on the Fender '65 Princeton Reverb
- Hotel California · Eagles
- Layla · Derek and the Dominos
- Pride and Joy · Stevie Ray Vaughan
- Sweet Child O' Mine · Guns N' Roses
- Whole Lotta Love · Led Zeppelin
- Sultans of Swing · Dire Straits
- Highway to Hell · AC/DC
- The Thrill is Gone · B.B. King
- Do I Wanna Know? · Arctic Monkeys
- Walk · Pantera
- Creep · Radiohead
- Float On · Modest Mouse
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.