Vox VT20+ settings
Heart-Shaped Box settings for Vox VT20+
Nirvana · adapted 2 times on ToneAdapt
To get the Nirvana "Heart-Shaped Box" riff tone on a Vox VT20+, select the US Blues Custom preset, then set Gain 6.5, Bass 5, Mid 4, Treble 6, Reverb 0.5, Tap tempo 0. Use the bridge pickup with your guitar's tone on 7-8 and volume on 8-9.
Riff settings
updated 2026-06-25
- Preset / mode
- US Blues Custom
- Pickup
- Bridge pickup
- Guitar knobs
- Tone 7-8 · Volume 8-9
Vox VT20+ knobs
- Gain
- 6.5
- Bass
- 5
- Mid
- 4
- Treble
- 6
- Reverb
- 0.5
- Tap tempo
- 0
- Power level
- 8
- Noise reduction
- 1
Built-in effects
- Reverb on (spring) · 3
Playing tips
- Use tight palm muting on the lower strings for punchy chugs.
- Focus on a percussive attack when picking to enhance the riff's aggression.
- Keep your picking dynamics varied to maintain the song's raw feel.
The original rig
What Nirvana used on the recording, for reference. ToneAdapt translates this to the controls your Vox VT20+ 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 Vox VT20+ for Heart-Shaped Box?
Start from the US Blues Custom preset, then set Gain 6.5, Bass 5, Mid 4, Treble 6, Reverb 0.5, Tap tempo 0.
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
- 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 Vox VT20+
- Master of Puppets · Metallica
- Whole Lotta Love · Led Zeppelin
- Hotel California · Eagles
- Walk · Pantera
- Sweet Child O' Mine · Guns N' Roses
- Enter Sandman · Metallica
- Sultans of Swing · Dire Straits
- Layla · Derek & The Dominos
- Holy Wars · Megadeth
- Welcome to the Jungle · Guns N' Roses
- Floods · Pantera
- Back in Black · AC/DC
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.