Tone library / Nirvana / Breed

Breed amp settings — Kustom Kla40

The Nirvana guitar tone for “Breed”, dialed in for a Kustom Kla40 with a Gears4music Strat. Studio recording, Nevermind (1991) - Main Riff / Rhythm

Original rig

Fender Mustang / Strat with bridge humbucker -> ProCo Rat / Boss DS-1 -> Mesa/Boogie Studio Preamp + Crown Power Base 2 into Marshall 4x12 cab

Raw, raspy, mid-heavy punk distortion with aggressive pick attack
Amp settings — Kustom Kla40
CHANNELLead / Overdrive Channel
GAIN 8 BASS 6 MID 7 TREBLE 6 REVERB 0 MASTER 5
KnobSetting (0–10)
Gain8
Bass6
Mid7
Treble6
Reverb0
Master5
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Guitar
PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10
Signal chain

01ProCo Rat 2

RECOMMENDED — not currently owned; with this pedal, switch amp to Clean channel and set amp gain to 2

Distortion 7 · Filter 5 · Volume 6
Why these settings

The Kustom KLA40's analog solid-state Lead channel is pushed to gain 8 to approximate the saturation of Kurt's Mesa Studio Preamp and Rat blend without an external pedal. Because the Gear4music Strat single-coil has less low-end grunt and sharper top-end than Cobain's humbucker, mids and bass are pushed up while treble is capped at 6 to tame harsh fizz. Reverb is kept at 0 to match the dry, in-your-face room tracking on Nevermind.

PRO TIPHit all downstrokes with heavy pick force near the bridge to get the signature percussive, raspy scrape heard on the main riff.

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These settings are for a Kustom Kla40. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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