Tone library / Nirvana / Heart shape box

Heart shape box amp settings — Boss Cube LX

The Nirvana guitar tone for “Heart shape box”, dialed in for a Boss Cube LX with a Stagg SES-30 BK 3/4. Studio version, In Utero (1993)

Original rig

Fender Quad Reverb (broken, one power tube), Fender Competition Mustang, Tech 21 SansAmp, Boss DS-2 Turbo Distortion, EHX Poly Chorus

Gritty, compressed low-gain verse with mid-forward snarl; thick saturated chorus sections with swirling modulation

Amp settings — Boss Cube LX

CHANNELCRUNCH amp typeBOOSToff

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	7
Bass	5
Mid	7
Treble	6
Presence	4
Reverb	0
Master	6

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Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE7 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01Boss DS-2 Turbo Distortion (RECOMMENDED — not currently owned)

RECOMMENDED — not owned. Essential for Cobain's sound. Use Turbo Mode I (non-turbo). For verses, back off amp gain to 2-3 and use pedal bypassed; kick it on for choruses.

Tone 5 · Dist 10 · Level 10 · Turbo 1

02EHX Small Clone Chorus (RECOMMENDED — not currently owned)

RECOMMENDED — not owned. For the warbling chorus/solo sections. Cobain's Poly Chorus settings: Rate 4, Width 10. Engage only during chorus and solo.

Rate 4 · Depth 10

Why these settings

Your Cube LX's CRUNCH type approximates Cobain's broken Fender pushed into gritty saturation. The SES-30's single coils are actually closer to Cobain's Mustang than a humbucker guitar would be — no compensation needed there. Without the DS-2, use the amp's gain at 7 for the heavy chorus sections; roll gain back to 3-4 and play softer for verses. Mids pushed to 7 to capture that nasal Nirvana bark the Cube's neutral voicing lacks naturally.

PRO TIPCobain's dynamics came from pick attack, not pedal dancing — dig in hard on downstrokes during choruses, lighten up for verses. The 3/4 scale SES-30 will feel slinky; use that to your advantage for the bent notes in the solo by really leaning into them.

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

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