Fender Mustang III V.2 settings
Lithium settings for Fender Mustang III V.2
Nirvana · adapted 2 times on ToneAdapt
To get the Nirvana "Lithium" riff tone on a Fender Mustang III V.2, select the Super-Sonic (Burn) preset, then set Gain 7, Bass 6, Mid 5, Treble 5, Reverb 1.5, Cut 5. Use the bridge pickup with your guitar's tone on 7-8 and volume on 8-9.
Riff settings
Adapted for a Ibanez GRG121DX · updated 2026-11-07
- Preset / mode
- Super-Sonic (Burn)
- Pickup
- Bridge pickup
- Guitar knobs
- Tone 7-8 · Volume 8-9
Fender Mustang III V.2 knobs
- Gain
- 7
- Bass
- 6
- Mid
- 5
- Treble
- 5
- Reverb
- 1.5
- Cut
- 5
- Sag
- 5
- Bias
- 5
- Gate
- 2
- Gain2
- 0
- Master2
- 5
Built-in effects
- Reverb on (Spring) · 1.5
Playing tips
- Use your amp's built-in reverb set to a moderate level to add depth to the sound.
- Play with a strong attack to emphasize the punchy, saturated tone.
- Experiment with palm muting for a heavier sound in the riff.
The original rig
What Nirvana used on the recording, for reference. ToneAdapt translates this to the controls your Fender Mustang III 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 III V.2 for Lithium?
Start from the Super-Sonic (Burn) preset, then set Gain 7, Bass 6, Mid 5, Treble 5, Reverb 1.5, Cut 5.
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 Ibanez GRG121DX. 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 III V.2
- Master of Puppets · Metallica
- Whole Lotta Love · Led Zeppelin
- Walk · Pantera
- Hotel California · Eagles
- Enter Sandman · Metallica
- Sweet Child O' Mine · Guns N' Roses
- Stairway to Heaven · Led Zeppelin
- Back in Black · AC/DC
- Iron Man · Black Sabbath
- Raining Blood · Slayer
- Pride and Joy · Stevie Ray Vaughan
- Highway to Hell · AC/DC
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.