Playground amp settings — Fender Mustang LT25

The Steve Lacy guitar tone for “Playground”, dialed in for a Fender Mustang LT25 with a Squier Affinity Stratocaster. Studio version, Apollo XXI (2019)

Original rig

IK Multimedia iRig interface into iPhone/DAW, likely amp sim (clean Fender-style voicing), Stratocaster-style guitar with single coils

Bright, clean funk rhythm with percussive attack and subtle chorus shimmer

Amp settings — Fender Mustang LT25

CHANNELClean (Fender '65 Twin Reverb model)BRIGHToffBOOSToff

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	2
Bass	4
Mid	6
Treble	7
Presence	5
Reverb	2
Master	5

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Guitar

PICKUPneck+middle TONE7 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01Chorus (built-in Mustang effect)

Use the Mustang's onboard chorus effect — subtle shimmer, not heavy modulation. Access via Fender Tone app or amp menu.

Rate 3 · Depth 4 · Level 6

Why these settings

Lacy's original was a direct-recorded amp sim tone, so your Mustang's digital modeling is actually well-suited. The '65 Twin model gives the glassy Fender clean he likely used. Mid pushed to 6 compensates for your Squier's brighter ceramic pickups vs vintage-wound singles. Treble at 7 keeps the funk snap without ice-pick harshness.

PRO TIPThe percussive funk attack on 'Playground' comes from muting technique — rest your picking hand palm lightly on the strings near the bridge and use sharp, staccato 16th-note strums. Lift to let chords ring on the accents. This rhythmic control matters more than any amp setting.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Fender Mustang LT25. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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Song, artist and gear names are used to identify the tone being matched; ToneAdapt is not affiliated with or endorsed by the artists or manufacturers mentioned. Settings are AI-generated starting points — trust your ears.