Riff Tone

Heart-Shaped Box (2013 Mix)

Nirvana

Guitarrock1990s

Original Gear

GuitarFender Jaguar (early 1960s, modified with DiMarzio Super Distortion in bridge, black finish, tune-o-matic bridge, Gotoh tailpiece)

AmpFender Twin Reverb 'Silverface' (Quad Reverb variant, used in studio for In Utero)

PickupsDiMarzio Super Distortion (bridge), stock Jaguar single coil (neck)

Amp Settings

gain6.5

bass6

mid7

treble6.5

reverb2

presence6

Effects & Signal Chain

distortionBoss Boss DS-2 Turbo Distortion

distortionTech 21 Tech 21 SansAmp Classic

Notes

Studio recording, 1993 (In Utero sessions, 2013 mix is a remix of these tracks). Guitar is the black Fender Jaguar with bridge humbucker. Amp is the Fender Quad Reverb, not the Randall. Pedals confirmed as Boss DS-2 Turbo Distortion into Tech 21 SansAmp Classic, both always on for main riff. No modulation or time-based pedals used for riff. Settings estimated based on era and amp type.

Tone Character(10)

aggressive, biting distortionmid-heavy, raw attackgrainy, saturated crunchtight, focused low endslightly scooped but present midsbright, cutting treblepercussive, dynamic pick attacknot overly compresseddistinct note separationstudio representation of amp sound

Difficulty

The riff is based on simple power chords but requires precise muting, aggressive attack, and tight timing to capture the song's intensity.

Sources

Kurt Cobain's Guitar Rig, Gear & Pedalboard | Equipboard "It sounds exactly like the record" – guitarist nails Kurt Cobain's Nirvana In Utero distorted tones with two pedals, a Fender amp and some insider information | MusicRadar

This tone has been researched 2 times by the community

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