BassDistortedDistorted
Breed Bass Tone Settings — Nirvana
Nirvana · 1990s · rock
studio
Original Recording
A reconstruction of the bass tone. Gear attributions and estimated settings are explained in the research notes below.
Bass
Gibson RD Artist Bass
Pickups
Dual humbuckers (active Moog electronics, but often run passive)
Amp
Ampeg SVT (likely SVT-II or SVT Classic, era-correct for Nevermind sessions)
Pickup Position
Both pickups balanced
Studio recording, Nevermind album, 1991. Krist Novoselic used the Gibson RD Artist Bass and Ampeg SVT for both studio and live performances of 'Breed'.
Amp Settings
Suggested starting points on a 0–10 scale, not documented studio knob positions. Match to your gear for controls specific to your setup.
Mids6
Bass6
Gain7
Treble6
Presence6
compression3.5
Effects Chain
- Pro Co RAT 2 · distortion
Gibson RD Artist Bass → Pro Co RAT 2 → Ampeg SVT (amp-mic'd, possible DI blend in studio)
Tone Matcher
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Tone Character
- aggressive pick attack
- gritty, saturated overdrive
- mid-scooped, punchy lows
- clanky upper mids
- fuzzy, compressed sustain
- cutting through dense guitars
- raw, punk-inspired drive
- slightly metallic edge
- notably present in the mix
Playing Technique
- pick
Sources
Tone Story / Why This Tone Works
studio