bass guitar from “lithium” by nirvana | ToneDB
lithium
nirvana
bass guitar
AI generatedv1.0
Tone Profile
A raw, punchy bass tone with a slightly overdriven character that provides a solid foundation for the song. It's gritty and aggressive, fitting the overall grunge aesthetic.
Gear
- Univox Hi-Flierinstrument
- Reverb$569Sweetwater
- Ampeg SVTamp
- ReverbSweetwater
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The Story
The bass tone on Nirvana's "Lithium" features a Univox Hi-Flier guitar strung as a bass, played through an Ampeg SVT amplifier. The track was recorded at Sound City Studios with Butch Vig producing, using a blend of direct input signal and miked amplifier to achieve the characteristic gritty, mid-heavy sound that became part of Krist Novoselic's signature tone.
Production Credits
Producer: Butch Vig
Engineer: Butch Vig
Recorded at: Sound City Studios, Van Nuys, CA
Signal Chain
Instrument: Univox Hi-Flier
Amp: Ampeg SVT
Recreation Tips
- Start with a bass guitar that has a strong mid-range character.
- Use an Ampeg SVT or a plugin emulation of it.
- Experiment with light overdrive to add grit without sacrificing low-end.
- Blend a DI signal with the amp signal to retain clarity and punch.
Original Gear
- Univox Hi-Flier(guitar)
- Ampeg SVT(amp)
Substitutions & Recommendations
Alternative to: Univox Hi-Flier guitar used as bass
Modern recreation of the original Univox Hi-Flier with proper bass scale length and hardware, maintaining the characteristic mid-range honk
ReverbSweetwaterAlternative to: Ampeg SVT amplifier head
Current production all-tube SVT that delivers the same low-end foundation and natural overdrive growl as the vintage units
ReverbSweetwaterAlternative to: Ampeg SVT amplifier
Accurate digital emulation of the SVT's tube saturation and cabinet response for home recording setups
ReverbSweetwaterAlternative to: Univox Hi-Flier guitar used as bass
Short-scale bass with similar punchy midrange character and vintage-style single-coil pickups at a budget price point
ReverbSweetwaterAlternative to: Ampeg SVT tube overdrive
Provides SVT-style tube saturation and DI blending capabilities to recreate the direct/amp blend used on the recording
ReverbSweetwaterFrequently Asked Questions
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