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NUX MG-300 / MG-300 MKII settings

Heart-Shaped Box settings for NUX MG-300 / MG-300 MKII

Nirvana · adapted 3 times on ToneAdapt

To get the Nirvana "Heart-Shaped Box" riff tone on a NUX MG-300 / MG-300 MKII, use the Twin Rvb 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

updated 2026-09-25

Amp model
Twin Rvb
Channel
Crunch
Cab
Open back 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

  1. 1distortionDist +Gain 7 · Tone 5 · Level 7
  2. 2reverbSpringMix 3 · Decay 4
  3. 3noise gateNoise GateRelease 3 · Threshold 5

Playing tips

  • Use tight palm muting for chugging riffs.
  • Focus on a percussive attack to enhance the gritty edge.
  • Experiment with dynamic picking to capture the raw aggression of the tone.

The original rig

What Nirvana used on the recording, for reference. ToneAdapt translates this to the controls your NUX MG-300 / MG-300 MKII 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.

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Frequently asked questions

What amp model should I use on the NUX MG-300 / MG-300 MKII for Heart-Shaped Box?

Use the Twin Rvb (crunch channel) with Drive 6, Master 7, Bass 6, Mid 7, Treble 6, Presence 5, followed by 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?

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

More Nirvana on the NUX MG-300 / MG-300 MKII

All Nirvana tones →

Popular songs on the NUX MG-300 / MG-300 MKII

All 42 songs for the NUX MG-300 / MG-300 MKII →

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.