Boss GT-1000 settings
Heart-Shaped Box settings for Boss GT-1000
Nirvana · adapted 11 times on ToneAdapt
To get the Nirvana "Heart-Shaped Box" riff tone on a Boss GT-1000, use the TWIN COMBO (Fender Twin Reverb) amp model on the crunch channel, then set Drive 6, Master 7, Bass 6, Mid 7, Treble 6, Presence 5. Use the bridge pickup with your guitar's tone on 7-8 and volume on 8-9.
Riff settings
Adapted for a Ibanez Gio · updated 2026-11-09
- Amp model
- TWIN COMBO (Fender Twin Reverb)
- Channel
- Crunch
- Cab
- 4x12 cabinet
- Pickup
- Bridge pickup
- Guitar knobs
- Tone 7-8 · Volume 8-9
Amp block
- Drive
- 6
- Master
- 7
- Bass
- 6
- Mid
- 7
- Treble
- 6
- Presence
- 5
Effects chain
- 1distortionDS-1 (BOSS DS-1)Gain 7 · Tone 5 · Level 7
- 2reverbSPRINGMix 3 · Decay 4
- 3noise gateNOISE SUPPRESSORRelease 5 · Threshold 4
- 4compressionBOSS COMP (BOSS CS-3)Level 6 · Sustain 5
Playing tips
- Use tight palm muting for chugging riffs to achieve a punchy sound.
- Focus on dynamic picking to maintain clarity and aggression in the notes.
- Experiment with slight variations in picking intensity to enhance the gritty edge.
The original rig
What Nirvana used on the recording, for reference. ToneAdapt translates this to the controls your Boss GT-1000 actually has.
- Guitar
- Fender Jaguar (early 1960s, modified with DiMarzio Super Distortion bridge pickup and black Seymour Duncan Hot Rails neck pickup)
- Amp
- Fender Twin Reverb (Silverface, late 1970s)
- Gain
- 6.5
- Bass
- 6
- Mid
- 7
- Treble
- 6
- Presence
- 5
- Reverb
- 2
Different guitar or pedals? Get Heart-Shaped Box 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 amp model should I use on the Boss GT-1000 for Heart-Shaped Box?
Use the TWIN COMBO (Fender Twin Reverb) (crunch channel) with Drive 6, Master 7, Bass 6, Mid 7, Treble 6, Presence 5, followed by DS-1 (BOSS DS-1), SPRING, NOISE SUPPRESSOR, BOSS COMP (BOSS CS-3).
Which pickup should I use for Heart-Shaped Box?
Bridge pickup, with the guitar's tone at 7-8 and volume at 8-9.
What gear did Nirvana use on Heart-Shaped Box?
Guitar: Fender Jaguar (early 1960s, modified with DiMarzio Super Distortion bridge pickup and black Seymour Duncan Hot Rails neck pickup). Amp: Fender Twin Reverb (Silverface, late 1970s).
Will these settings work with my guitar?
These settings were adapted for a Ibanez Gio. Different pickups change how much gain and treble you need. ToneAdapt adapts the tone to your exact guitar, pickups, amp and pedals.
Heart-Shaped Box on other amps
- Heart-Shaped Box on Fender Mustang LT25 · 165
- Heart-Shaped Box on Fender Frontman 10G · 67
- Heart-Shaped Box on Boss Katana · 62
- Heart-Shaped Box on Fender Champion 20 · 30
- Heart-Shaped Box on Line 6 Helix Floor / LT / Rack · 20
- Heart-Shaped Box on Fender Frontman 20G · 19
- Heart-Shaped Box on Fender Frontman 15G · 18
- Heart-Shaped Box on Orange Crush 12 · 17
Popular songs on the Boss GT-1000
- Sweet Child O' Mine · Guns N' Roses
- Hotel California · Eagles
- Walk · Pantera
- Enter Sandman · Metallica
- Back in Black · AC/DC
- Holy Wars · Megadeth
- Stairway to Heaven · Led Zeppelin
- Crazy Train · Ozzy Osbourne
- Highway to Hell · AC/DC
- Iron Man · Black Sabbath
- Whole Lotta Love · Led Zeppelin
- 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.