Breed by Nirvana — Amp Settings & Guitar Tone
Reference tone dialed on a Squier Classic Vibe Stratocaster into a Fender Mustang LT25. Settings below are cited from real sources; open the page in a browser for the interactive version, or get this tone dialed for your exact gear.
To recreate the aggressive grunge tone of 'Breed,' we'll use the Fender Mustang LT25's 'METAL LEAD' preset to capture the high-gain, mid-forward character. The Squier Classic Vibe '60s Stratocaster will stand in for the Mustang, with its single-coil pickups approximating the raw edge of Cobain's sound. This setup will emulate the saturated tube crunch and articulate picking response heard on the record.
Signal chain settings
Squier Classic Vibe '60s Stratocaster — main rhythm guitar
| Control | Setting | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Pickup Selector | Bridge Pickup | Select the bridge pickup for a brighter, more aggressive tone. |
| Master Volume | Leave at default | Keep at default to maintain consistent output. |
| Tone 1 | Leave at default | Not used for the bridge pickup. |
| Tone 2 | Leave at default | Leave at default to preserve the natural brightness of the bridge pickup. |
Fender Mustang LT25 — primary amplifier
| Control | Setting | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Preset | 11 METAL LEAD | This preset provides the high-gain character needed for the song. |
| Gain | 7 | Set to 7 to achieve the saturated crunch similar to the Mesa/Boogie preamp. |
| Volume | 5 | Set to 5 to balance output without overpowering the mix. |
| Treble | 5 | Set to 5 to maintain brightness without harshness. |
| Bass | 6 | Set to 6 to support the low end without muddiness. |
| Master | 7 | Set to 7 to ensure the amp's output is strong and present. |
| Cabinet build | Not used | Not needed for this tone — leave it off. |
| Amp Models | Not used | Not needed for this tone — leave it off. |
Section guide — how the tone changes through the song
Verse
The verse tone is clean and punchy with a gritty edge, achieved by slightly rolling back the guitar's volume.
- the pedal: Master Volume → 4
What Nirvana actually used
Kurt Cobain's setup for recording 'Breed' on Nirvana's 'Nevermind' album featured his Fender Mustang guitar through a Boss DS-1 Distortion pedal into a Mesa/Boogie Studio Preamp, powered by a Crown Power Base 2 amplifier, and output through Marshall 4x12 cabinets. This configuration contributed to the song's aggressive tone. The recording took place at Sound City Studios in Van Nuys, California, with producer Butch Vig.
- Fender Mustang — main rhythm. left-handed model
- Boss DS-1 Distortion — primary distortion
- Mesa/Boogie Studio Preamp — preamp
- Crown Power Base 2 — power amplifier
- Marshall 4x12 Cabinet — speaker cabinet
Tuning: Standard
Sources
- https://www.fender.com/en-US/squier-electric-guitars/stratocaster/classic-vibe-stratocaster-60s/0303010500.html
- https://www.manualslib.com/manual/1547905/Fender-Mustang-Lt25.html
- https://www.fender.com/en-US/guitar-amplifiers/contemporary-digital/mustang-lt25/2311100000.html
- https://www.manualslib.com/manual/3126493/Fender-Mustang-Lt25.html
- https://www.guitarchalk.com/fender-mustang-lt25-settings/
- https://guitar.com/features/artist-rigs/the-humble-gear-used-by-kurt-cobain-on-nirvana-nevermind
- https://musicteacher.com/kurt-cobain-guitar-rig-1991/