Line 6 Spider III settings
Lithium settings for Line 6 Spider III
Nirvana · adapted 2 times on ToneAdapt
To get the Nirvana "Lithium" riff tone on a Line 6 Spider III, select the Crunch preset, then set Gain 7, Bass 5, Mid 5, Treble 5, Reverb 1.5, Boost 0. Use the bridge pickup with your guitar's tone on 7-8 and volume on 8-9.
Riff settings
updated 2026-10-12
- Preset / mode
- Crunch
- Pickup
- Bridge pickup
- Guitar knobs
- Tone 7-8 · Volume 8-9
Line 6 Spider III knobs
- Gain
- 7
- Bass
- 5
- Mid
- 5
- Treble
- 5
- Reverb
- 1.5
- Boost
- 0
- FX Knob 1
- 0
- FX Knob 2
- 0
- Noise Gate
- 1
- Tap Delay Time
- 0
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 riff.
- Maintain a steady strumming pattern to emphasize the punchy, saturated tone.
- Experiment with palm muting to create a darker, thumpier sound during the riff.
The original rig
What Nirvana used on the recording, for reference. ToneAdapt translates this to the controls your Line 6 Spider III 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 Line 6 Spider III for Lithium?
Start from the Crunch preset, then set Gain 7, Bass 5, Mid 5, Treble 5, Reverb 1.5, Boost 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 Line 6 Spider III
- Walk · Pantera
- Master of Puppets · Metallica
- Enter Sandman · Metallica
- Hotel California · Eagles
- Sweet Child O' Mine · Guns N' Roses
- Holy Wars · Megadeth
- Man in the Box · Alice in Chains
- Crazy Train · Ozzy Osbourne
- Welcome to the Jungle · Guns N' Roses
- War Pigs · Black Sabbath
- 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.