GuitarDistortedRiff
The Man Who Sold the World (Live Acoustic) Guitar Tone Settings
Nirvana · 1990s · rock
live
Original Recording
Guitar
Martin D-18E (1959, modified with Bartolini and DeArmond pickups)
Pickups
Bartolini 3AV soundhole pickup (neck), DeArmond 210 soundhole pickup (bridge), plus original piezo under-saddle
Amp
No guitar amp used; signal routed direct to PA/mixer with effects pedals
Pickup Position
Neck pickup (Bartolini 3AV soundhole pickup)
Live performance (MTV Unplugged, 1993); acoustic guitar with magnetic pickups, no traditional amp; distortion pedal used for riff section; direct-in setup confirmed by multiple sources.
Amp Settings
Mids6.5
Bass5.5
Gain4.5
Reverb4
Treble6.5
Presence5
Effects Chain
- Boss DS-2 Turbo Distortion · distortion
Martin D-18E (neck pickup) → Boss DS-2 Turbo Distortion → PA/mixer (with room reverb)
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Tone Character
- slightly gritty acoustic tone
- warm midrange presence
- clear note definition with mild breakup
- open, airy highs
- punchy attack
- dynamic response to picking
- not fully saturated, retains acoustic character
- subtle amp-like breakup
- natural acoustic resonance preserved
- no heavy compression or fuzz