GuitarDistortedRiff80% confidence
Blew Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Nirvana
Nirvana · 1990s · punk
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Univox Hi-Flier Phase 3
Pickups
P-90 style single coils (stock Univox Hi-Flier pickups)
Amp
Mesa/Boogie Studio .22 Preamp into Crown Power Base 2 Power Amp (Bleach studio sessions, Reciprocal Recording 1988-1989)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording, 1988-1989. Guitar confirmed as Univox Hi-Flier for Bleach era; amp setup inferred from Bleach session documentation and engineer Jack Endino's notes. No evidence of live rig or later gear for studio version. No chorus, delay, or modulation effects audible or cited for the riff section.
Amp Settings
Mids6.5
Bass6
Gain8
Reverb0
Treble7
Presence5.5
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Tone Character
- fuzzy and saturated
- raw and aggressive
- loose, sludgy low end
- pronounced midrange growl
- grainy, compressed texture
- thick, heavy power chords
- minimal clarity, intentionally muddy
- punchy, percussive pick attack
- no audible modulation or time-based effects
Notes & Caveats
- No direct amp knob settings for Blew studio found; settings estimated based on Bleach-era Mesa/Boogie Studio .22 usage and typical grunge/punk tones.
- No evidence of pedals used on Blew studio riff; distortion is from amp and/or preamp, not pedals.
- Some sources mention DOD Grunge and Boss DS-1/DS-2 for live or later eras, but these are not confirmed for Blew studio recording.
- No chorus, delay, or modulation effects audible or cited for the riff section; confirmed by listening and lack of source evidence.
- Pickup choice inferred from typical Bleach-era tones and the Univox Hi-Flier's bridge pickup usage for heavy riffs.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Kurt Cobain used a high-gain, mid-forward British amp tone (often a Boss DS-1/DS-2 into a Marshall or Mesa preamp) for 'Blew,' with moderate bass and treble for punch and clarity, little to no reverb, and a raw, dry, aggressive sound typical of late-80s/early-90s grunge.