Line 6 HX Stomp settings
Heart-Shaped Box settings for Line 6 HX Stomp
Nirvana · adapted 3 times on ToneAdapt
To get the Nirvana "Heart-Shaped Box" riff tone on a Line 6 HX Stomp, use the US Double Vib (Fender Twin) 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 Squier Bullet Stratocaster HSS · updated 2026-09-17
- Amp model
- US Double Vib (Fender Twin)
- Channel
- Crunch
- Cab
- 4x12
- 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
- 1distortionVermin DistGain 7 · Tone 6 · Level 8
- 2reverbSpringMix 3 · Decay 4
- 3noise gateNoise GateRelease 5 · Threshold 4
Playing tips
- Use a strong picking attack to emphasize the punchy, percussive nature of the riff.
- Incorporate palm muting on the lower strings for tight chugging sections.
- Experiment with dynamics; play softer for the verses and harder for the chorus to capture the song's intensity.
The original rig
What Nirvana used on the recording, for reference. ToneAdapt translates this to the controls your Line 6 HX Stomp 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 Line 6 HX Stomp for Heart-Shaped Box?
Use the US Double Vib (Fender Twin) (crunch channel) with Drive 6, Master 7, Bass 6, Mid 7, Treble 6, Presence 5, followed by Vermin Dist, Spring, Noise Gate.
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 Bullet Stratocaster HSS. 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 Line 6 HX Stomp
- Master of Puppets · Metallica
- Pride and Joy · Stevie Ray Vaughan
- Hotel California · Eagles
- Sweet Child O' Mine · Guns N' Roses
- Holy Wars · Megadeth
- Back in Black · AC/DC
- Mr. Brightside · The Killers
- Walk · Pantera
- Welcome to the Jungle · Guns N' Roses
- Whole Lotta Love · Led Zeppelin
- Raining Blood · Slayer
- Enter Sandman · Metallica
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.