Fender Frontman 212R settings
Lithium settings for Fender Frontman 212R
Nirvana · adapted 3 times on ToneAdapt
To get the Nirvana "Lithium" riff tone on a Fender Frontman 212R, set Gain 7, Bass 6, Mid 6.5, Treble 6.5, Reverb 1, Mid contour 0. Use the bridge pickup with your guitar's tone on 7-8 and volume on 8-9.
Riff settings
updated 2026-11-07
- Pickup
- Bridge pickup
- Guitar knobs
- Tone 7-8 · Volume 8-9
Fender Frontman 212R knobs
- Gain
- 7
- Bass
- 6
- Mid
- 6.5
- Treble
- 6.5
- Reverb
- 1
- Mid contour
- 0
Built-in effects
- Reverb on · 1
Playing tips
- Use your amp's built-in reverb set to a low level for added depth.
- Play with a strong attack to emphasize the fuzz character.
- Keep your palm muting technique in mind for tighter riffs.
The original rig
What Nirvana used on the recording, for reference. ToneAdapt translates this to the controls your Fender Frontman 212R 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 Frontman 212R settings for Lithium?
Set Gain 7, Bass 6, Mid 6.5, Treble 6.5, Reverb 1, Mid contour 0.
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?
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 Frontman 212R
- Whole Lotta Love · Led Zeppelin
- Back in Black · AC/DC
- Sweet Child O' Mine · Guns N' Roses
- Master of Puppets · Metallica
- Iron Man · Black Sabbath
- Walk · Pantera
- La Grange · ZZ Top
- Enter Sandman · Metallica
- Man in the Box · Alice in Chains
- Creep · Radiohead
- Stairway to Heaven · Led Zeppelin
- Rooster · Alice in Chains
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.