Tone library / Nirvana / Heart-Shaped Box

Heart-Shaped Box amp settings — Aroma Tm-15s

The Nirvana guitar tone for “Heart-Shaped Box”, dialed in for a Aroma Tm-15s with a Ibanez GRX40. Studio version, In Utero (1993) — iconic chorus/main distortion tone

Original rig

Univox Hi-Flier / Fender Mustang (bridge humbucker) + Tech 21 SansAmp Classic / Boss DS-2 Turbo Distortion + Electro-Harmonix PolyChorus into Fender Quad Reverb / Marshall studio rig

Raw, aggressive mid-pushed grunge distortion with tight low-end and bite

Amp settings — Aroma Tm-15s

CHANNELDistortion / Lead channel (Drive ON)

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	8
Bass	6
Mid	7
Treble	6
Reverb	0
Master	6

Don’t have a Aroma Tm-15s? See this song on other amps → Match your own rig →

Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01Tech 21 SansAmp Classic / Boss DS-2

RECOMMENDED — not currently owned; push into clean amp channel once acquired

Level 7 · Tone 6 · Distortion 8

02Electro-Harmonix PolyChorus / Small Clone

RECOMMENDED — not currently owned; essential for the watery solo modulation

Rate 4 · Depth 7

Why these settings

The Aroma TM-15S practice amp needs its drive/distortion channel pushed to 8 to approximate the SansAmp grit without pedals. Mids are kept at 7 to capture Kurt's aggressive cut through the small speaker while keeping bass at 6 to prevent low-end flub. For the verse, switch the amp to the Clean channel and roll guitar volume to 7.

PRO TIPTune your low E string down to D (Drop D) and pick aggressively with heavy downstrokes near the bridge to get that signature raspy attack.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Aroma Tm-15s. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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Song, artist and gear names are used to identify the tone being matched; ToneAdapt is not affiliated with or endorsed by the artists or manufacturers mentioned. Settings are AI-generated starting points — trust your ears.