VOX VT20X settings
Heart-Shaped Box settings for VOX VT20X
Nirvana · adapted 4 times on ToneAdapt
To get the Nirvana "Heart-Shaped Box" riff tone on a VOX VT20X, select the FENDER CLEAN preset, then set Gain 6.5, Bass 5, Mid 6, Treble 6, Reverb 0.5. Use the bridge pickup with your guitar's tone on 7-8 and volume on 8-9.
Riff settings
Adapted for a Yamaha Pacifica 012 · updated 2026-08-31
- Preset / mode
- FENDER CLEAN
- Pickup
- Bridge pickup
- Guitar knobs
- Tone 7-8 · Volume 8-9
VOX VT20X knobs
- Gain
- 6.5
- Bass
- 5
- Mid
- 6
- Treble
- 6
- Reverb
- 0.5
Built-in effects
- Reverb on (spring) · 3
Playing tips
- Use tight palm muting for chugging sections to emphasize the percussive attack.
- Pick aggressively to achieve a dynamic response from the amp.
- Maintain a consistent picking rhythm to keep the riff punchy and raw.
The original rig
What Nirvana used on the recording, for reference. ToneAdapt translates this to the controls your VOX VT20X 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 VT20X for Heart-Shaped Box?
Start from the FENDER CLEAN preset, then set Gain 6.5, Bass 5, Mid 6, Treble 6, Reverb 0.5.
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 Yamaha Pacifica 012. 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 VT20X
- Master of Puppets · Metallica
- Hotel California · Eagles
- Sweet Child O' Mine · Guns N' Roses
- Enter Sandman · Metallica
- Stairway to Heaven · Led Zeppelin
- Walk · Pantera
- Iron Man · Black Sabbath
- Holy Wars · Megadeth
- Welcome to the Jungle · Guns N' Roses
- Back in Black · AC/DC
- Highway to Hell · AC/DC
- Whole Lotta Love · Led Zeppelin
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.