GuitarDistortedRiff60% confidence
About a Girl Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Nirvana
Nirvana · 1980s · grunge
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Epiphone ET270
Pickups
Stock humbuckers
Amp
1968 Fender Twin Reverb
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording for 'Bleach' album, December 1988. The Fender Twin Reverb was borrowed from producer Jack Endino and connected to Kurt's BFI Bullfrog 2×12 cabinet with Celestion speakers. Effects were limited to a Boss DS-1 distortion pedal.
Amp Settings
Mids5.5
Bass5.5
Gain4
Reverb1
Treble6
Presence2.5
Effects Chain
- Boss DS-1 Distortion · distortion
Epiphone ET270 → Boss DS-1 → Fender Twin Reverb → BFI Bullfrog 2×12 cabinet
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Tone Character
- raw and aggressive
- punchy and direct
- minimalist distortion
- unpolished sound
- gritty and edgy
Notes & Caveats
- Exact amp settings are estimated based on typical settings for similar equipment and genre.
- Guitar knob settings are inferred from common practices and may not reflect the exact settings used during the recording.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Kurt Cobain's tone on 'About a Girl' is characterized by a crunchy, yet not overly distorted sound typical of his early work. The settings reflect a balanced EQ with a slight emphasis on mids for clarity, and minimal reverb to maintain the rawness of the recording.