Marshall JCM800 settings
Lithium settings for Marshall JCM800
Nirvana · adapted 7 times on ToneAdapt
To get the Nirvana "Lithium" riff tone on a Marshall JCM800, set Gain 7, Bass 5, Mid 6, Treble 6, Presence 5, Master volume 7. 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 2026-11-06
- Pickup
- Bridge pickup
- Guitar knobs
- Tone 7-8 · Volume 8-9
Marshall JCM800 knobs
- Gain
- 7
- Bass
- 5
- Mid
- 6
- Treble
- 6
- Presence
- 5
- Master volume
- 7
- Input sensitivity
- 1
Built-in effects
- Reverb off
Playing tips
- Use aggressive strumming to emphasize the fuzz tone.
- Experiment with palm muting for a chunkier sound.
- Focus on tight rhythm playing to maintain clarity in the riff.
The original rig
What Nirvana used on the recording, for reference. ToneAdapt translates this to the controls your Marshall JCM800 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 Marshall JCM800 settings for Lithium?
Set Gain 7, Bass 5, Mid 6, Treble 6, Presence 5, Master volume 7.
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 Squier 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 Marshall JCM800
- Sweet Child O' Mine · Guns N' Roses
- Master of Puppets · Metallica
- Enter Sandman · Metallica
- Welcome to the Jungle · Guns N' Roses
- Hotel California · Eagles
- Whole Lotta Love · Led Zeppelin
- Highway to Hell · AC/DC
- Holy Wars · Megadeth
- Walk · Pantera
- Crazy Train · Ozzy Osbourne
- Iron Man · Black Sabbath
- Raining Blood · Slayer
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.