What guitar did Kurt Cobain use on About a Girl?

Kurt Cobain used a Fender Mustang guitar on "About a Girl." The Mustang's short scale length and single-coil pickups contributed to the song's distinctive jangly, raw rhythm guitar sound.

What amp did Nirvana use to record About a Girl?

Nirvana used a Mesa/Boogie Studio .22 amplifier to record "About a Girl." This small tube amp was set to provide moderate gain with natural overdrive and breakup when strummed hard.

How to get Kurt Cobain's About a Girl guitar tone?

Use a Fender Mustang or similar guitar with single-coil pickups through a small tube amp set to moderate gain for natural breakup. Focus on achieving prominent midrange frequencies and a raw, slightly overdriven character rather than heavy distortion.

Where was About a Girl by Nirvana recorded?

"About a Girl" was recorded at Reciprocal Recording in Seattle, Washington with Jack Endino producing and engineering. The guitar was likely close-miked in a relatively dry recording environment.

What pickups were on Kurt Cobain's Mustang?

Kurt Cobain's Fender Mustang featured the guitar's standard single-coil pickups. These pickups contributed significantly to the bright, jangly character heard on "About a Girl" and other early Nirvana recordings.

rhythm guitar from "about a girl" by nirvana

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rhythm guitar

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Tone Profile

A raw, slightly fuzzy, and jangly rhythm guitar tone, characteristic of early Nirvana. It's got a distinct mid-range presence and a lo-fi aesthetic.

Shop This Rig

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Fender Mustang(instrument)
Mesa/Boogie Studio .22(amp)

The Story

Kurt Cobain recorded "About a Girl" using a Fender Mustang guitar through a Mesa/Boogie Studio .22 amp at Reciprocal Recording in Seattle with Jack Endino producing. The amp was set to a moderate gain level that provided slight overdrive and breakup when strummed hard, creating the song's characteristic raw, jangly rhythm tone with prominent midrange frequencies.

Production Credits

Producer: Jack Endino

Engineer: Jack Endino

Recorded at: Reciprocal Recording (Seattle, WA)

Signal Chain

Instrument: Fender MustangShop on Reverb

Amp: Mesa/Boogie Studio .22Shop on Reverb

Recreation Tips

Start with a Fender Mustang or similar guitar with single-coil pickups.
Use a Mesa/Boogie Studio .22 or a similar small tube amp known for its clean and slightly crunchy tones.
Set the amp to a moderate gain level, just enough to get a bit of breakup when you strum hard.
Experiment with the amp's EQ to find the sweet spot for the mid-range presence.
If you don't have the exact amp, try using an overdrive pedal with a clean amp to achieve a similar effect.

Original Gear

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Fender MustangShop on Reverb(guitar)
Mesa/Boogie Studio .22Shop on Reverb(amp)

Substitutions & Recommendations

Fender Player MustangShop on Reverb$700-$800

Alternative to: Fender Mustang guitar

Current production Mustang with the same short scale and single-coil pickups that give the jangly, raw character

Fender Blues Junior IVShop on Reverb$400-$500

Alternative to: Mesa/Boogie Studio .22 amp

15-watt tube amp that breaks up naturally at moderate volumes, delivering similar raw overdrive character

Universal Audio LionPlugin Boutique$150-$200

Alternative to: Mesa/Boogie Studio .22 amp

Accurately models the Studio .22's preamp circuit and natural tube breakup characteristics

Squier Classic Vibe '60s MustangShop on Reverb$300-$400

Alternative to: Fender Mustang guitar

Budget option with authentic Mustang specs including 24-inch scale and vintage-style single-coils

Boss Blues Driver BD-2Shop on Reverb$50-$70

Alternative to: Mesa/Boogie Studio .22 natural overdrive

Can recreate the moderate breakup character when used with a clean amp, especially the raw midrange bite

Sources

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rhythm guitar from “about a girl” by nirvana | ToneDB