Fender Mustang (V1 Series) settings
Heart-Shaped Box settings for Fender Mustang (V1 Series)
Nirvana · adapted 2 times on ToneAdapt
To get the Nirvana "Heart-Shaped Box" riff tone on a Fender Mustang (V1 Series), select the '59 Bassman preset, then set Gain 6.5, Bass 5, Treble 6, Reverb 0.5, Tap tempo 0, Mid control 4. Use the bridge pickup with your guitar's tone on 7-8 and volume on 8-9.
Riff settings
Adapted for a Donner DST-100 · updated 2026-09-24
- Preset / mode
- '59 Bassman
- Pickup
- Bridge pickup
- Guitar knobs
- Tone 7-8 · Volume 8-9
Fender Mustang (V1 Series) knobs
- Gain
- 6.5
- Bass
- 5
- Treble
- 6
- Reverb
- 0.5
- Tap tempo
- 0
- Mid control
- 4
- Effect level
- 5
Built-in effects
- Reverb on (spring) · 3
Playing tips
- Use tight palm muting for chugging sections to emphasize the punchy attack.
- Focus on dynamic picking to maintain the percussive quality of the riff.
- Keep the guitar volume high to ensure clarity and sustain in the notes.
The original rig
What Nirvana used on the recording, for reference. ToneAdapt translates this to the controls your Fender Mustang (V1 Series) 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 preset should I use on the Fender Mustang (V1 Series) for Heart-Shaped Box?
Start from the '59 Bassman preset, then set Gain 6.5, Bass 5, Treble 6, Reverb 0.5, Tap tempo 0, Mid control 4.
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 Donner DST-100. 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
More Nirvana on the Fender Mustang (V1 Series)
All Nirvana tones →Popular songs on the Fender Mustang (V1 Series)
- Master of Puppets · Metallica
- Sweet Child O' Mine · Guns N' Roses
- Hotel California · Eagles
- Walk · Pantera
- Raining Blood · Slayer
- Welcome to the Jungle · Guns N' Roses
- Enter Sandman · Metallica
- Man in the Box · Alice in Chains
- Holy Wars · Megadeth
- 1979 · The Smashing Pumpkins
- Back in Black · AC/DC
- Iron Man · Black Sabbath
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.