Fender Frontman 15G settings
1979 settings for Fender Frontman 15G
The Smashing Pumpkins · adapted 28 times on ToneAdapt
To get the The Smashing Pumpkins "1979" riff tone on a Fender Frontman 15G, set Gain 4, Bass 5, Mid 6, Treble 6, Drive volume 0, Normal volume 6. 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 HSS · updated 2026-11-09
- Pickup
- Neck + Middle
- Guitar knobs
- Tone 7-8 · Volume 8-9
Fender Frontman 15G knobs
- Gain
- 4
- Bass
- 5
- Mid
- 6
- Treble
- 6
- Drive volume
- 0
- Normal volume
- 6
Built-in effects
- Reverb off
Playing tips
- Use fingerstyle for a more delicate touch.
- Experiment with light palm muting for added texture.
- Focus on smooth transitions between notes for fluidity.
The original rig
What The Smashing Pumpkins used on the recording, for reference. ToneAdapt translates this to the controls your Fender Frontman 15G 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 Frontman 15G settings for 1979?
Set Gain 4, Bass 5, Mid 6, Treble 6, Drive volume 0, Normal volume 6.
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 HSS. 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
More The Smashing Pumpkins on the Fender Frontman 15G
All The Smashing Pumpkins tones →Popular songs on the Fender Frontman 15G
- Master of Puppets · Metallica
- Sweet Child O' Mine · Guns N' Roses
- Hotel California · Eagles
- Enter Sandman · Metallica
- Walk · Pantera
- Smells Like Teen Spirit · Nirvana
- Back in Black · AC/DC
- Creep · Radiohead
- Stairway to Heaven · Led Zeppelin
- Highway to Hell · AC/DC
- Iron Man · Black Sabbath
- Whole Lotta Love · 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.