Fender Champion 25 settings
1979 settings for Fender Champion 25
The Smashing Pumpkins · adapted 5 times on ToneAdapt
To get the The Smashing Pumpkins "1979" riff tone on a Fender Champion 25, select the Fender Overdrive preset, then set Gain 4, Bass 5, Treble 6, Fx level 5, Fx select 3. Use the neck + middle pickup with your guitar's tone on 7-8 and volume on 8-9.
Riff settings
Adapted for a Squier Stratocaster · updated 2026-10-22
- Preset / mode
- Fender Overdrive
- Pickup
- Neck + Middle
- Guitar knobs
- Tone 7-8 · Volume 8-9
Fender Champion 25 knobs
- Gain
- 4
- Bass
- 5
- Treble
- 6
- Fx level
- 5
- Fx select
- 3
Built-in effects
- Chorus on
- Reverb on (Spring) · 5
Playing tips
- Use your amp's built-in chorus set to a moderate level for a subtle shimmer.
- Engage the reverb for added depth and space in your clean tone.
- 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 25 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 preset should I use on the Fender Champion 25 for 1979?
Start from the Fender Overdrive preset, then set Gain 4, Bass 5, Treble 6, Fx level 5, Fx select 3.
Which pickup should I use for 1979?
Neck + Middle, 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 Squier Stratocaster. 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 25
- Hotel California · Eagles
- Sweet Child O' Mine · Guns N' Roses
- Walk · Pantera
- Enter Sandman · Metallica
- Master of Puppets · Metallica
- Smells Like Teen Spirit · Nirvana
- Stairway to Heaven · Led Zeppelin
- Iron Man · Black Sabbath
- Heart-Shaped Box · Nirvana
- Creep · Radiohead
- Highway to Hell · AC/DC
- Welcome to the Jungle · Guns N' Roses
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.