What guitar did Kurt Cobain use?

Kurt Cobain was most famously seen playing a 1959 sunburst Fender Stratocaster. He bought it in 1991 at the Seattle Guitar Center and used it throughout his musical career, including during Nirvana’s iconic MTV Unplugged performance in 1993. The guitar is now housed at the Museum of Pop Culture in Seattle, where fans can pay tribute to its legacy.

Early Guitars of Kurt Cobain

In the early stages of his career, Kurt Cobain made use of an array of guitars. During his formative years in Aberdeen, Washington, he wielded a Univox Hi-Flier, a Japanese-made guitar that proved to be the perfect accompaniment for Cobain’s budding skills and improvisational style. He later traded it in at a pawn shop in favor of one of his most iconic instruments: a 1967 Mosrite Gospel Mark IV.

This model featured unique design elements such as “oversized rectangular pickups” as well as “weird wiring schemes and switch configurations” that were tailor-made to suit Cobain’s songwriting needs. One example is how the two middle pickups could be wired together so that both humbuckers were placed into series instead of parallel or single coil mode. This setup enabled him to achieve immense crunch when pushing the amp with distortion pedals like Big Muffs or Boss DS-1s.

The Mosrite Gospel was eventually replaced by another favorite piece of Cobain’s collection – a 1964 sunburst Fender Jaguar gifted by Sub Pop cofounder Bruce Pavitt upon signing with Nirvana back in 1989. This guitar had its own set of customizations including adding more treble frequencies with its high output pups and fitting it with DiMarzio Super Distortion Humbuckers. All this combined resulted in a rawer sound compared to the Mosrite making it ideal for crafting those punchy rhythm sections on classic Nirvana tracks such as Come As You Are and Smells Like Teen Spirit among others.

In Search of the Perfect Sound: The Guitar Evolution of Nirvana

The iconic grunge rock band Nirvana is synonymous with the electrifying sound of a distorted electric guitar. Kurt Cobain and his legendary bandmates helped to revolutionize music in the early 90s, creating an unmistakable sound that has gone on to influence generations of musicians. But what was the source behind this revolutionary sound? What guitar did Kurt Cobain use?

To answer this question it is necessary to take a look back at the evolution of Nirvana’s guitar style. During their career as a band, Kurt went through several stages, changing guitars throughout each stage to seek out the perfect tone he was looking for. In 1988 and 1989, when Nirvana first started, Kurt primarily used two Japanese made Fender Stratocasters. Although they were relatively cheap models, they still gave off an impressive quality of noise that helped him make those unforgettable riffs on hits like ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’.

By 1991, Cobain had moved away from traditional Fender guitars and began experimenting with more complex sounds. He had acquired new guitars such as Danelectro Bellzouki 12-string basses and Mosrite Gospel Mark IV models which provided much more variation in tones than anything he had ever used before. It was around this time that his musical genius truly shone as he mastered these unique instruments to create masterpieces like ‘Lithium’ and ‘Come As You Are’ – proving himself as one of history’s most influential rock stars along the way.

Kurt never stopped searching for new sounds until his death in 1994; during his last few months he can be seen playing various other instruments including Gibson Les Paul Juniors (the same model famously used by Jimi Hendrix) and Gretsch White Falcons. This dedication to finding new ways of making music shows just how special an artist Kurt really was – even if we may never know exactly what guitar did Kurt Cobain use in his journey towards creating timeless classics.

From Fender Mustang to Jaguar: Cobain’s Distinctive Sound

Kurt Cobain’s sound was iconic and instrumental in the success of grunge music, which had an indelible impact on popular culture. His distinctive, raw tone was developed through experimentation and a constant tweaking of his guitar equipment. He favored Fender Mustangs for most of his career, but later switched to Jaguars as Nirvana began to make waves within the alternative scene.

Fender Mustangs were released in 1964 and became extremely popular during the ’60s garage rock revival period. It is thought that Cobain purchased one in 1988 for about $350 from a pawn shop near Seattle, Washington. This model featured humbucking pickups that provided thick distortion that helped to define his sound on albums such as Bleach (1989) and Nevermind (1991).

By 1992 however, Cobain opted for a Jaguar instead; its slimmer design allowed him easier access to different fret combinations while playing live onstage. The signature feature on this guitar is its bridge plate tremolo system – allowing players to manipulate pitch by applying pressure with their palm or finger against the strings. This effect can be heard clearly on songs like “Smells Like Teen Spirit” and “Lithium”.

Cobain may not have been able to predict the eventual success of Nirvana or how far-reaching their influence would become, but it’s clear he went above-and-beyond when it came creating a unique soundscape with two very distinct guitars from Fender: Mustang and Jaguar.

Uncovering the Mysteries Behind Cobain’s Custom-Modified Guitars

Kurt Cobain’s sonic signature has been etched in rock ‘n’ roll history, and his guitar playing is no exception. While the Nirvana frontman is widely associated with a variety of iconic guitars such as the Fender Mustang and Jag-Stang, he had a knack for altering his instruments to truly make them unique. Exploring some of Kurt Cobain’s modifications can be an enlightening way to better understand the band’s music and their groundbreaking sound.

The most common customizations that Cobain employed revolved around removing components from guitars rather than adding any extra features. For example, he liked to remove toggle switches from his guitars, which allowed for simpler access to pickup settings when performing live. Similarly, he removed tone knobs on many models – including one of his signature Mustangs – so that sounds were limited solely by volume controls when played at different levels onstage. This creative technique gave Kurt direct access to thick tones while also freeing up some room on the body of the guitar itself; something clearly dear to him due to his smaller stature and appreciation for lighter instruments.

Cobain often took apart parts like pickguards or electronics covers just so he could rearrange them differently than normal – either leaving off screws or gluing pieces back together in unusual positions. There is even evidence that Kurt would take regular strings off Fender Telecasters – which typically use three single coils pickups – and replace them with two single coil sized humbuckers attached side-by-side instead. It was through these sort of improvisations that he created an entirely new soundscape compared to traditional electric guitar setups – making him a true pioneer in modern alternative music production methods.

The Legacy and Influence of Cobain’s Guitar on Modern Rock Music

Kurt Cobain’s electric guitar of choice, a 1961 Fender Mustang, has left an indelible mark on rock music. The grunge icon and Nirvana frontman is best known for his experimental sound and unique sonic palette–and this instrument played a major role in both his creative endeavors and the development of the alternative scene. His ability to craft hauntingly powerful chords with the Mustang was key to giving voice to his emotive songwriting.

The sounds that he achieved on this guitar have become so iconic they are still emulated today by modern players. Though it may not be as flashy or immediately recognizable as other guitars associated with seminal artists, its influence can be felt throughout many styles of contemporary rock. Whether it’s through radio hits or independent releases, Kurt Cobain’s unmistakable tone continues to drive much of what we hear from electric guitars today.

The instrument itself remains popular among seasoned veterans and novice strummers alike; any player who seeks an authentic ’90s sound knows that the Mustang is a must-have piece of equipment. Despite being out of production for decades, original models can still be found if you know where to look – making them sought after collectables from one of the most iconic eras in music history.