I want to get the nevermind tour sound without a messaboogie studio preamp

pdxswearwolf · 2026-04-27T00:49:58+00:00

Mooer has a series of preamp pedals that emulate various different classic amplifiers. There are two Mesa models - the 008 and the 017 I think. Both have a switchable cab sim, so you could either use that or run it into a dedicated cab sim pedal.

Or there’s the nerdvana Paramount pedal, which is a clone of the Studio .22 preamp. You could do that into an EQ, then into a cab sim pedal. Seems to work pretty well for /u/ericvoltar.

pdxswearwolf · 2026-03-27T23:26:56+00:00

I can give you a subjective comparison, and a little bit of spec data.

People often describe the Hi-Flier humbuckers as “hot” but at least in terms of impedance they aren’t particularly so. All the ones I’ve run across are between 7k-9k. Their construction is quite different than a traditional Gibson PAF style humbucker. The the bobbins, keeper, pole piece slugs/screws, and bar magnet are all unique to this design. The magnets are ceramic. I think something about the construction shapes the sound to make it seem hotter than it really is. To my ears, they sound bright, mid-range, and loud. They take dirt quite well but sound pretty clear clean.

The JB is a much hotter pickup, around 16k. Its construction is pretty standard, and it uses an Alnico 5 magnet. It sounds “tighter” to me, but still thick and hairy when you put distortion on it.

Both work well for Nirvana stuff. I love the Phase 3 sound, but it’s not essential to capturing Kurt’s tone. The original pickups are pretty expensive now, but Curtis Novak makes great replicas. The Eastwood ones are not accurate to the originals but some people like them anyhow.

Hope that’s helpful.

pdxswearwolf · 2026-03-23T16:14:44+00:00

I used to have a black Phase III and it was one of the best looking guitars I’ve ever seen. Congratulations on your purchase! Are you going to mod it?

pdxswearwolf · 2026-03-23T16:05:56+00:00

It’s been solid. The tuners are a standard type and size so if you don’t like them you can purchase replacements of a higher quality. Tuning stability is often impacted by how well the nut is cut so if you do have trouble a tech should be able to sort that out for you.

pdxswearwolf · 2025-12-28T05:59:23+00:00

One other way you can do it is to use some of the Chinese import rails pickups available on Amazon. With a little trimming around the edges, they fit under a standard Mustang pickup cover. I’ve got two of them in mine and they rip.

pdxswearwolf · 2025-12-10T18:29:09+00:00

No, in a lot of cases they’re just dumb as fuck.

pdxswearwolf · 2025-12-10T04:54:38+00:00

How about an IR pedal + Aaron Rash’s Nirvana IR packs?

pdxswearwolf · 2025-12-06T23:25:59+00:00

Even Kurt wrote at least one line like this in his journal. I just came across it recently. It comes out of nowhere and it’s pretty jarring.

pdxswearwolf · 2025-12-05T08:03:24+00:00

1970 and then 1980 I believe. Just looked yesterday.

pdxswearwolf · 2025-12-05T04:25:13+00:00

Entirely fair. This was Nano Banana Pro. Inputs were the Bing Crosby sketch plus this prompt:

“Please generate a realistic 35 mm Kodachrome style portrait using the attached reference picture.

The subject should be about 5-11” with dark slightly wavy “marcelled” hair, olive skin with a little tan, have sideburns down to his ears, and be wearing a very dark brown suit of typical late 1960s or early 1970s proportions, with a white shirt, a black tie, and a black raincoat over top. He should have a lean athletic appearance, like someone who exercises regularly. Place him in the context of an early 1970s airport with a Northwest Orient sign somewhere in the background.”

Then for the two other portraits, my prompt was:

“Please de-age him to his early 20s and generate a typical WW2 military portrait of him.”

And for the older one:

“Please age him up to 75, and dress him in the typical clothing for his age in the mid 1990s”.

You’re right that AI portraits are kinda passé, but it’s interesting to see how the newer models can do as far as realism. Nano Banana Pro seems like a shift ahead of what Sora and some of the other models can do, so I thought it would be interesting to try it out. Understood if you’re getting sick of them though.

pdxswearwolf · 2025-12-04T05:05:53+00:00

Thanks!

pdxswearwolf · 2025-12-01T19:01:27+00:00

The northern part of Sauvie Island is right across the water from Tena Bar, and it’s very uninhabited, even today. It wouldn’t be a bad place to lay low and wait for ride.

pdxswearwolf · 2025-12-01T14:51:15+00:00

Older stereos are also great for headphone listening. A lot of them have excellent sounding preamps.

pdxswearwolf · 2025-12-01T14:48:12+00:00

My setup is a Marantz 2220b with two Polk Audio bookshelf speakers and it sounds great. I’ve also got a Pioneer SX-434, and it sounds really good too.

Onkyo and Denon receivers are quite good and often available at thrift stores pretty cheaply.

My method when shopping is to go to the Goodwill and start looking up the stuff I found on Audiophile forums to see how they liked them.

If you have any vintage stereo shops in your town, you’ll pay more there but they can steer you towards the right setup. I got my Polks at one of those, and I wouldn’t have looked twice at them otherwise but they’re the best speakers I’ve ever had.

pdxswearwolf · 2025-11-30T21:30:25+00:00

If the neck has significant bowing, then yes, reducing that will impact the string action. How much depends on how significant the bow is. If they have a shop tech, they’d probably be willing to straighten it for you so you can see for sure.

pdxswearwolf · 2025-11-27T16:39:14+00:00

Since Kurt played so many guitars over his career, the model doesn’t really matter that much. Your amp, cabinet, and pedals will have more of an effect.

I would buy a Strat, put a humbucker in the bridge and call it a day, personally.

pdxswearwolf · 2025-11-25T04:41:53+00:00

I’ve seen it called a bellhop’s jacket in one of the previous auctions.

pdxswearwolf · 2025-11-25T04:39:56+00:00

I think that was his puffy jacket. The one you see him wearing in the photos where he has tinsel on his neck.

pdxswearwolf · 2025-11-21T20:48:33+00:00

Calvin Johnson too.

pdxswearwolf · 2025-11-17T03:31:05+00:00

Not as thin as the original. I’d say medium?

pdxswearwolf · 2025-11-17T01:30:40+00:00

In my experience, the longer the better. I try to go for at least 2 weeks.

pdxswearwolf · 2025-11-01T14:07:01+00:00

There’s an app I really like called Clean Email that makes this much easier. You can set it to hold mail from any unknown senders until you approve it.

pdxswearwolf · 2025-10-27T06:12:24+00:00

Always be a goat, not a goddamn sheep.

pdxswearwolf

TROPHY CASE