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Fender Tone Master Twin Reverb settings

Heart-Shaped Box settings for Fender Tone Master Twin Reverb

Nirvana · adapted 2 times on ToneAdapt

To get the Nirvana "Heart-Shaped Box" riff tone on a Fender Tone Master Twin Reverb, select the Normal Channel preset, then set Gain 6.5, Bass 5, Mid 5, Treble 6, Reverb 0.5, Attenuator 4. Use the bridge pickup with your guitar's tone on 7-8 and volume on 8-9.

Riff settings

Adapted for a Squier Mustang · updated 2026-11-11

Preset / mode
Normal Channel
Pickup
Bridge pickup
Guitar knobs
Tone 7-8 · Volume 8-9

Fender Tone Master Twin Reverb knobs

Gain
6.5
Bass
5
Mid
5
Treble
6
Reverb
0.5
Attenuator
4

Built-in effects

  • Reverb on (Spring) · 0.5

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.
  • Ensure your bridge pickup is selected for maximum brightness and clarity.

The original rig

What Nirvana used on the recording, for reference. ToneAdapt translates this to the controls your Fender Tone Master Twin Reverb 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
Full Heart-Shaped Box tone breakdown, effects and sources →

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 Tone Master Twin Reverb for Heart-Shaped Box?

Start from the Normal Channel preset, then set Gain 6.5, Bass 5, Mid 5, Treble 6, Reverb 0.5, Attenuator 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 Squier Mustang. Different pickups change how much gain and treble you need. ToneAdapt adapts the tone to your exact guitar, pickups, amp and pedals.

Popular songs on the Fender Tone Master Twin Reverb

All 14 songs for the Fender Tone Master Twin Reverb →

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.