Fender Blues Junior settings
Lithium settings for Fender Blues Junior
Nirvana · adapted 4 times on ToneAdapt
To get the Nirvana "Lithium" riff tone on a Fender Blues Junior, set Gain 7, Volume 7, Master 5, Bass 5, Mid 6, Treble 6. Use the bridge pickup with your guitar's tone on 7-8 and volume on 8-9.
Riff settings
Adapted for a Fender Stratocaster · updated 2026-09-30
- Pickup
- Bridge pickup
- Guitar knobs
- Tone 7-8 · Volume 8-9
Fender Blues Junior knobs
- Gain
- 7
- Volume
- 7
- Master
- 5
- Bass
- 5
- Mid
- 6
- Treble
- 6
- Reverb
- 1.5
- Fat switch
- 1
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 sound.
- Engage the FAT switch to enhance the midrange, making the fuzz tone thicker and more pronounced.
- Maintain a consistent picking attack to ensure the fuzz remains punchy and clear.
The original rig
What Nirvana used on the recording, for reference. ToneAdapt translates this to the controls your Fender Blues Junior 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 Blues Junior settings for Lithium?
Set Gain 7, Volume 7, Master 5, Bass 5, Mid 6, Treble 6.
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 Fender 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
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
- 1979 · The Smashing Pumpkins
- Comfortably Numb · Pink Floyd
- Master of Puppets · Metallica
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.