GuitarDistortedRiff80% confidence
Paper Cuts Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Nirvana
Nirvana · 1990s · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Univox Hi-Flier Phase 3
Pickups
Univox P-90 style single coils
Amp
Randall RG-120 solid-state head
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording, 1988-1989, Bleach album sessions. Guitar and amp confirmed for 'Paper Cuts' riff section. No evidence of additional pedals or effects beyond distortion from amp. No evidence of live rig or alternate gear for this recording.
Amp Settings
Mids6
Bass6
Gain8
Reverb0
Treble6.5
Presence5.5
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Tone Character
- raw and aggressive
- heavy fuzz-like distortion
- sludgy and thick
- percussive low end
- scratchy attack
- unpolished, abrasive texture
- minimal clarity
- compressed and saturated
- loose, gritty sound
- mid-scooped but not hollow
Notes & Caveats
- No specific numeric amp settings found in sources; settings estimated based on typical Randall RG-120 usage for Bleach-era Nirvana and genre/era conventions.
- No evidence of pedals or effects used on this recording; distortion is from amp.
- Pickup model is inferred from confirmed Univox Hi-Flier Phase 3 used on Bleach.
- No evidence of amp reverb or other amp effects used; reverb set to 0.
- If more detailed studio notes or interviews surface, settings may need revision.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Kurt Cobain's 'Paper Cuts' tone is raw, aggressive, and mid-forward, typical of his late-80s/early-90s setup (DS-1/DS-2 into a solid-state or JC-120, sometimes a Mesa preamp), with high gain, moderate bass, strong mids, and little to no reverb for a dry, in-your-face grunge sound.