Fender Blues Junior settings
1979 settings for Fender Blues Junior
The Smashing Pumpkins · adapted 6 times on ToneAdapt
To get the The Smashing Pumpkins "1979" riff tone on a Fender Blues Junior, set Gain 4, Volume 6, Master 5, Bass 5, Mid 6, Treble 6. Use the neck pickup with your guitar's tone on 7-8 and volume on 8-9.
Riff settings
Adapted for a Fender Jaguar · updated 2026-09-21
- Pickup
- Neck pickup
- Guitar knobs
- Tone 7-8 · Volume 8-9
Fender Blues Junior knobs
- Gain
- 4
- Volume
- 6
- Master
- 5
- Bass
- 5
- Mid
- 6
- Treble
- 6
- Reverb
- 1.5
- Fat switch
- 0
- Reverb level
- 0
Built-in effects
- Reverb on (spring) · 2
Playing tips
- Use your amp's built-in reverb to add depth to the clean tone.
- Consider using a compressor pedal to smooth out dynamics and enhance sustain.
- Experiment with a light chorus effect to recreate the shimmer of the original tone.
The original rig
What The Smashing Pumpkins used on the recording, for reference. ToneAdapt translates this to the controls your Fender Blues Junior actually has.
- Guitar
- Fender Stratocaster (likely 1970s or early 80s, as used by Billy Corgan in studio)
- Amp
- Marshall JCM800 (modded with KT88 tubes, as used on Mellon Collie sessions)
- Gain
- 4
- Bass
- 5.5
- Mid
- 6.5
- Treble
- 6.5
- Presence
- 5.5
- Reverb
- 2.5
Different guitar or pedals? Get 1979 adapted to your exact rig
These settings were generated for the gear named above. ToneAdapt adapts The Smashing Pumpkins's tone to your own guitar, pickups, amp and pedals in seconds.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best Fender Blues Junior settings for 1979?
Set Gain 4, Volume 6, Master 5, Bass 5, Mid 6, Treble 6.
Which pickup should I use for 1979?
Neck pickup, with the guitar's tone at 7-8 and volume at 8-9.
What gear did The Smashing Pumpkins use on 1979?
Guitar: Fender Stratocaster (likely 1970s or early 80s, as used by Billy Corgan in studio). Amp: Marshall JCM800 (modded with KT88 tubes, as used on Mellon Collie sessions).
Will these settings work with my guitar?
These settings were adapted for a Fender Jaguar. Different pickups change how much gain and treble you need. ToneAdapt adapts the tone to your exact guitar, pickups, amp and pedals.
1979 on other amps
Popular songs on the Fender Blues Junior
- Pride and Joy · Stevie Ray Vaughan
- Whole Lotta Love · Led Zeppelin
- Sweet Child O' Mine · Guns N' Roses
- Layla · Derek and the Dominos
- Back in Black · AC/DC
- Mr. Brightside · The Killers
- The Thrill is Gone · B.B. King
- Sultans of Swing · Dire Straits
- Crossroads · Cream
- Comfortably Numb · Pink Floyd
- Master of Puppets · Metallica
- Stairway to Heaven · Led Zeppelin
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.