Fender Mustang LT25 settings
Panama settings for Fender Mustang LT25
Van Halen · adapted 8 times on ToneAdapt
To get the Van Halen "Panama" riff tone on a Fender Mustang LT25, select the SUPER ROCK preset, then set Gain 8.5, Volume 7, Master 5, Bass 5, Treble 7, Reverb 0.5. Use the bridge pickup with your guitar's tone on 7-8 and volume on 8-9.
Riff settings
Adapted for a Squier Stratocaster · updated 2026-10-27
- Preset / mode
- SUPER ROCK
- Pickup
- Bridge pickup
- Guitar knobs
- Tone 7-8 · Volume 8-9
Fender Mustang LT25 knobs
- Gain
- 8.5
- Volume
- 7
- Master
- 5
- Bass
- 5
- Treble
- 7
- Reverb
- 0.5
Built-in effects
- Chorus on
- Reverb on (Spring) · 0.5
- Flanger on
Playing tips
- Use palm muting for tight chugs to emphasize the percussive rhythm.
- Pick aggressively to achieve the dynamic pick response characteristic of Van Halen's style.
- Incorporate subtle use of the amp's built-in chorus to mimic the modulation effects used in the original tone.
Solo settings
Adapted for a HSS Stratocaster · updated 2026-06-30
- Preset / mode
- METAL LEAD
- Pickup
- Bridge pickup
- Guitar knobs
- Tone 7-8 · Volume 8-9
Fender Mustang LT25 knobs
- Gain
- 8.5
- Bass
- 5.5
- Treble
- 7
- Reverb
- 0
Playing tips
- Use your amp's built-in delay set to a moderate level to recreate the spacious feel of the original tone.
- Engage the chorus effect to add modulation swirl to your solo, mimicking the original tone's movement.
- Play with a tight, percussive attack to achieve the aggressive sound characteristic of Van Halen's style.
The original rig
What Van Halen used on the recording, for reference. ToneAdapt translates this to the controls your Fender Mustang LT25 actually has.
- Guitar
- Kramer 5150 (Frankenstrat-style, custom build by Eddie Van Halen)
- Amp
- Marshall Super Lead 1959 100-watt (run through a Variac, voltage lowered to ~90V)
- Gain
- 8.5
- Bass
- 5
- Mid
- 7
- Treble
- 7.5
- Presence
- 6
- Reverb
- 2.5
Different guitar or pedals? Get Panama adapted to your exact rig
These settings were generated for the gear named above. ToneAdapt adapts Van Halen's tone to your own guitar, pickups, amp and pedals in seconds.
Frequently asked questions
What preset should I use on the Fender Mustang LT25 for Panama?
Start from the SUPER ROCK preset, then set Gain 8.5, Volume 7, Master 5, Bass 5, Treble 7, Reverb 0.5.
Which pickup should I use for Panama?
Bridge pickup, with the guitar's tone at 7-8 and volume at 8-9.
What gear did Van Halen use on Panama?
Guitar: Kramer 5150 (Frankenstrat-style, custom build by Eddie Van Halen). Amp: Marshall Super Lead 1959 100-watt (run through a Variac, voltage lowered to ~90V).
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.
Panama on other amps
More Van Halen on the Fender Mustang LT25
All Van Halen tones →Popular songs on the Fender Mustang LT25
- Master of Puppets · Metallica
- Walk · Pantera
- Sweet Child O' Mine · Guns N' Roses
- Hotel California · Eagles
- Enter Sandman · Metallica
- Smells Like Teen Spirit · Nirvana
- Holy Wars · Megadeth
- Raining Blood · Slayer
- Crazy Train · Ozzy Osbourne
- Whole Lotta Love · Led Zeppelin
- Back in Black · AC/DC
- 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.