Fender Champion 100 settings
1979 settings for Fender Champion 100
The Smashing Pumpkins · adapted 30 times on ToneAdapt
To get the The Smashing Pumpkins "1979" riff tone on a Fender Champion 100, set Gain 3, Volume 5, Bass 5, Mid 6, Treble 6, Fx level 5. Use the neck pickup with your guitar's tone on 7-8 and volume on 8-9.
Riff settings
Adapted for a Epiphone SG Standard · updated 2026-11-06
- Pickup
- Neck pickup
- Guitar knobs
- Tone 7-8 · Volume 8-9
Fender Champion 100 knobs
- Gain
- 3
- Volume
- 5
- Bass
- 5
- Mid
- 6
- Treble
- 6
- Fx level
- 5
- Fx select
- 4
Built-in effects
- Chorus on
- Reverb on (Spring) · 5
Playing tips
- Use your amp's built-in chorus set to a moderate level for added shimmer.
- Engage reverb to create a spacious feel, but keep it subtle.
- Consider using a compression pedal to smooth out dynamics and enhance sustain.
The original rig
What The Smashing Pumpkins used on the recording, for reference. ToneAdapt translates this to the controls your Fender Champion 100 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 Champion 100 settings for 1979?
Set Gain 3, Volume 5, Bass 5, Mid 6, Treble 6, Fx level 5.
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 Epiphone SG Standard. 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 Champion 100
- Master of Puppets · Metallica
- Sweet Child O' Mine · Guns N' Roses
- Whole Lotta Love · Led Zeppelin
- Walk · Pantera
- Hotel California · Eagles
- Enter Sandman · Metallica
- Smells Like Teen Spirit · Nirvana
- Holy Wars · Megadeth
- Pride and Joy · Stevie Ray Vaughan
- Stairway to Heaven · Led Zeppelin
- Back in Black · AC/DC
- 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.