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NUX MG-400 settings

Heart-Shaped Box settings for NUX MG-400

Nirvana · adapted 2 times on ToneAdapt

To get the Nirvana "Heart-Shaped Box" riff tone on a NUX MG-400, 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

Adapted for a HSS Stratocaster · updated 2026-09-25

Amp model
Twin Rvb
Channel
Crunch
Cab
Open Back 2x12
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 4 · Decay 3
  3. 3compressionRose CompLevel 7 · Ratio 3 · Attack 5 · Release 5
  4. 4noise gateNoise GateRelease 5

Playing tips

  • Use tight palm muting for chugging riffs to maintain punch.
  • Focus on dynamic picking to achieve the gritty edge of breakup tone.
  • Experiment with picking harder for a more aggressive attack.

The original rig

What Nirvana used on the recording, for reference. ToneAdapt translates this to the controls your NUX MG-400 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-400 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, Rose Comp, 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 HSS Stratocaster. 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

Popular songs on the NUX MG-400

All 23 songs for the NUX MG-400 →

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.