Fender '65 Twin Reverb settings
Lithium settings for Fender '65 Twin Reverb
Nirvana · adapted 2 times on ToneAdapt
To get the Nirvana "Lithium" riff tone on a Fender '65 Twin Reverb, set Gain 7, Bass 6, Mid 6.5, Treble 6.5, Reverb 1, Bright switch 1. Use the bridge pickup with your guitar's tone on 7-8 and volume on 8-9.
Riff settings
Adapted for a HSS Stratocaster · updated 2026-09-16
- Pickup
- Bridge pickup
- Guitar knobs
- Tone 7-8 · Volume 8-9
Fender '65 Twin Reverb knobs
- Gain
- 7
- Bass
- 6
- Mid
- 6.5
- Treble
- 6.5
- Reverb
- 1
- Bright switch
- 1
- Vibrato speed
- 0
- Vibrato intensity
- 0
Built-in effects
- Reverb on (spring) · 2
Playing tips
- Use a heavy picking attack to emphasize the fuzz and sustain.
- Experiment with palm muting for a chunkier sound during the riff.
- Try to maintain a consistent rhythm to capture the driving force of the riff.
The original rig
What Nirvana used on the recording, for reference. ToneAdapt translates this to the controls your Fender '65 Twin 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 Twin Reverb settings for Lithium?
Set Gain 7, Bass 6, Mid 6.5, Treble 6.5, Reverb 1, Bright switch 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 HSS Stratocaster. 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 Fender '65 Twin Reverb
All Nirvana tones →Popular songs on the Fender '65 Twin Reverb
- Pride and Joy · Stevie Ray Vaughan
- Sweet Child O' Mine · Guns N' Roses
- Whole Lotta Love · Led Zeppelin
- 1979 · The Smashing Pumpkins
- Stairway to Heaven · Led Zeppelin
- Back in Black · AC/DC
- Hotel California · Eagles
- 午夜猶明 · Who Cares Band & Üne SONG
- Killing in the Name · Rage Against the Machine
- Master of Puppets · Metallica
- Barracuda · Heart
- Highway to Hell · AC/DC
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.