Fender Mustang II (v.2) settings
Lithium settings for Fender Mustang II (v.2)
Nirvana · adapted 2 times on ToneAdapt
To get the Nirvana "Lithium" riff tone on a Fender Mustang II (v.2), select the Fender '59 Bassman preset, then set Gain 7, Bass 6, Mid 5, Treble 5, Reverb 1.5, Tap tempo 0. 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 2026-10-10
- Preset / mode
- Fender '59 Bassman
- Pickup
- Bridge pickup
- Guitar knobs
- Tone 7-8 · Volume 8-9
Fender Mustang II (v.2) knobs
- Gain
- 7
- Bass
- 6
- Mid
- 5
- Treble
- 5
- Reverb
- 1.5
- Tap tempo
- 0
- Exit button
- 0
- Save button
- 0
- Preset select
- 11
- Modulation select
- 0
- Delay reverb select
- 0
Built-in effects
- Reverb on (spring) · 2
Playing tips
- Use your amp's built-in reverb set to a low level for a subtle spacious feel.
- Play with a strong attack to emphasize the punchy, saturated nature of the riff.
- Experiment with palm muting to achieve a darker, thumping sound.
The original rig
What Nirvana used on the recording, for reference. ToneAdapt translates this to the controls your Fender Mustang II (v.2) 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 preset should I use on the Fender Mustang II (v.2) for Lithium?
Start from the Fender '59 Bassman preset, then set Gain 7, Bass 6, Mid 5, Treble 5, Reverb 1.5, Tap tempo 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?
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 Mustang II (v.2)
- Master of Puppets · Metallica
- Sweet Child O' Mine · Guns N' Roses
- Hotel California · Eagles
- Walk · Pantera
- Holy Wars · Megadeth
- Back in Black · AC/DC
- Take Me Out · Franz Ferdinand
- Crazy Train · Ozzy Osbourne
- R U Mine? · Arctic Monkeys
- Sultans of Swing · Dire Straits
- Iris · Goo Goo Dolls
- Stairway to Heaven · 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.