IN UTERO" Studio tone - 1970 Fender Competition Mustang VS 1971 Sunburst Mustang

If it isn't obvious, I'm pretty crazy about Nirvana's In Utero studio tone. So I did a thing, I built a 1971 Fender Mustang from various parts found on Reverb.com. Now I need to find out which one sounds better. In this video I compare both guitars to Nirvana's In Utero studio tone. Which one sounds better and why?

[@Rjhorning]

Crazy man. I'm actually left handed, but play guitar right handed also. That's cool as hell. I don't meet alot of people who do that.

[@inferiordior]

Same

[@AaronRash]

Haha we're a rare breed I guess 😂

[@swedishfishfuckingsuck3842]

yo me too

[@smittywoo6492]

Yoooo same

[@OuchMyHooves]

same here!

[@cymbaline87]

Awesome video, the blue one sounded great all the way through the video, and the sunburst one nailed hsb. so, If you don't have to, don't sell any of them, you'll regret it. I'm loving your stuff, great content.

[@AaronRash]

Thanks for the feedback man! I'm leaning towards keeping them both.

[@bleachstain6922]

2:26 i decided to Shazam this part, it found a heart-shaped box, that's gold aaron!

[@BC_J0MBI]

sunburst definatly hit that tone better, I'd love to get my hands on those multi-tracks as I really like to dig into the details that are kind of hidden during the mix. Subbed!

[@brandonfinch2781]

Sunburst sounded more clear and crisp to my ear. A bit more jangley than the '70. in a good way and, overall the Sunburst sounded closer to the In Utero "clean" tones. IMO Great video!

[@anthonysclafani3963]

love this video. The time you spent making it is noticeable, this is very high quality. Keep making nirvana videos!

[@bigmuffmelvin7388]

Dude this might be the best put together nirvana tone KZbin channel of all time. I am def subbing and setting up that notification bell Both are beautiful guitars, there is something about that 70s sunburst mustang. Sounds amazing

[@jq.guitars]

That 71 is awesome! Great video quality! You nailed that In Utero studio tone!

[@AaronRash]

Thanks brother! 🤘🏻

[@strat_1880]

What I would give to have that 1969' Fender Mustang 🥰

[@mattdaniel2395]

Dont stop the way you are doing this. Keep the nirvana material rolling

[@smivvys]

heart shaped box with the competition mustang through the quad reverb... holy moly it's spot on

[@agustinalejandrogerosa7069]

Jesus you have better production and more charm than chanels 100 times your sub amount. You going big bro, greetings from Uruguay

[@AaronRash]

wow thanks man! I appreciate the support!

[@bludyash8362]

Cheers mate. I hope I can see more of your videos ❗️

[@plush4123]

That sunburst mustang is absolutely beautiful in both looks and tone

[@seanmckelvey6618]

Cool video, always been kind of fascinated with the tone he got on that album. I feel it is worth mentioning that the amp used on the album (apparently a quad or twin reverb) had a broken (or just straight up missing) tube, which is why even the clean tones have a weird semi-distorted sound to them. Nonetheless, you got pretty damn close and this is not meant to dismiss your efforts in the slightest, just a weird little fact that I think might be worth exploring.

[@AaronRash]

Hey Sean thats correct it’s was mostly done with a quad reverb with 3 broken tubes. I’m actually working on a pedal that will do that. If you check out my video on recreating the tone for very ape it’s in there! In this video I was mainly just comparing the guitars rather than trying to recreate the exact tone. But I have some videos on my channel for recreating the exact tone if you want to check them out man! I’m doing a little mini series for recreating tones for each song on in utero.

[@seanmckelvey6618]

@@AaronRash will check them out for sure, this is good stuff man.

[@joshingtonbarthsworth631]

Also a number of the tracks were recorded using an aluminum Veleno guitar, which had something to do with tone too.

[@sammyboy567890]

@@AaronRash Wow, a pedal that would recreate that tone is an amazing idea. I would buy that in a heartbeat! So cool that boutique pedal makers can do stuff like that now. I'm curious, what is that Amplitube plugin setting you're using? Is that available anywhere?

[@b-regsproductions]

Good content. I like the nirvana deep dives. Always wanted to find out every guitar, pickup and amp he used for each specific track

[@damian200]

These videos are insanely good! Thank you

[@ayberkgokdemir3234]

That competition mustang looks stunning!

[@eliaskaff]

Btw you have a wonderful ear the way you notice the differences between guitar sounds and recreating the tones

[@MrConduct]

That sunburst nailed it! Great comps

[@larrence3]

Really enjoyed your video, more content like this forsure! Loved the in utero back story!

[@OutWithMyGear]

i so needed this content 20 years ago

[@markserrano8586]

Great video!!! I believe it’s called Burgundy Blue because it gives off this purplish color towards the outer edges when light is cast at a certain angle.

[@AaronRash]

Good point! I've never noticed any purple tones from it but that makes sense lol. I've seen a few aged ones turn a purple color

[@danielneires]

Grunge will never die

[@Robixino]

really dig this content man! keep it up!

[@paressehylton]

Wow. Man, that univox behind the bridge stuff on tourettes, that’s such a cool find. So you get that Bb D E with the univox tuned half a step down? (Like on tourettes). Love your chanel man, always going to the bottom of the story, so precise, so interesting.

[@labyrinth999]

Hey! Nice video. I would say the sunburst sounds "better" to my ears. More lively, more alive, more colourful, with a "soul". I would not sell that one for sure 🙂. Keep it up!

[@AaronRash]

Thanks! I'll definitely never sell the sunburst one, lol

[@mirata7748]

Great video production man! I love your style of videos! The lighting and the minimal editing style I really dig it. 71 sunburst had more highs and had more attack but the competition did sound definitely a bit darker, it had a bit more bass response and mids and sounded really nice and balanced. Overall I think I prefer the competition burgundy 1970 mustang because 1. The beautiful color and 2. I love the way it sounds nails the in utero tone soo well. Also Jaguar was used in pennyroyal tea just listen to the scratch take. You should really keep that competition mustang. Also I totally understand about your problem whenever you pluck the low e with the competition mustang, I think it could be the way you play the chords to the opening riff, kurt had his own style of playing HSB, I could be entirely wrong though, probably I am wrong, but that was just speculation. Also about your other mustangs the competition red one specifically, have you tried asking in any forum where they know a lot about these offsets? They may find your problem to why it sounds so scooped to the lows.

[@AaronRash]

Hey man thanks for the feedback and comment! For me pennyroyal sounds like my hi flier more than my jag when comparing, but the jag and hi flier sound really similar the main difference between my jag and hi flier is the jag is so so extremely bright with the 1M pots and the DiMarzio Super distortions and almost has a " rubbery" tone to it would be my best way to describe it lol. Very well could be the jag on pennyroyal though! My red mustang is sold. I've had a million mustangs by now and what I've learned is its the body that affects the tone, for mustangs anyway. I did fun stuff like swapping necks between all 9 mustangs and the sound always followed the body, not the neck. Some bodies just resonate at different frequencies I think and absorb certain frequencies which have a big impact on attack and tone. I know some people will disagree but, in my experience and a lot of money spent, that's what I've learned. Especially with mustangs, no 2 will ever sound exactly the same. Anyways thanks comment man, you think maybe I should do a hi flier vs jag video next maybe?

[@mirata7748]

@@AaronRash oh shoot I forgot to see this! Yeah you should do a hi flier and jaguar comparison, interesting you say that the jaguar and hi flier sound really similar I always thought theu were polar opposite of each other, other than the tail peace bridge setup thingy. Sad that you sold the red one I liked the sound of it had a specific tone to it and color was amazing on it. And yeah I totally agree on your opinion on the body thingy, I think the paint was kinda thick in those 60s mustangs, like compare the reissues and the vintage, the reissue look slimmer to me I don't know why could be just a illusion.

[@revengeof1307]

What was your quad reverb setting?!? Oh just bought one and I also love nirvana too

[@millennialanimal]

The things I’d do for that blue mustang, Greer video!

[@thatduck6753]

I think that the comp stang sounded fucking amazing

[@middle_pickup]

I think it's called burgandy blue because the undercoat of that metallic is burgandy. Metallic colors are like that. Like my candy apple red thinline has an undercoat of some gold. I can see it in the dinged up marks I made in it over the years.

[@jackyungbluth3437]

Heart-shaped box is spot on!!

[@hockeybitez]

IN UTERO was by far their best experimental album but sound and tone wise due to butch vig producing it on the neve system it has to be nevermind

[@TheChadPad]

I do think the parts Mustang sounds better. They both sound fantastic. The blue one does have a sort of "solid" sound to it, though, which I would expect from a well worn-in guitar. It has better bass for sure. If you ask me, this is completely down to pickup differences. The blue is louder, meaning a hotter pickup. It is also overdriving your amp more, another sign of a hotter pickup. I tend to think that lower output pickups sound better, and what you may have found here is that Kurt's had a lower output pickup than the one in the blue guitar, and much more like your parts Mustang. Seriously, take the pickup out of the Sunburst guitar and put it in the Competition Mustang, run the test again. You're obviously attached to that guitar

[@buckseedamerica2743]

What is the lower output pickups are you talking about...is there a make or a type? Both bridge pu look like hot rails to me. Thx for helping out.

[@paulg3686]

@@buckseedamerica2743 With the way pickups are wound, sometimes they're wound with more or less wire, leading to them having more or less output. Its not a make or a type, its just random luck. Even 2 of the same pickup dont always sound the same.

[@eugenenik1876]

Dude, keep them both. They both sound preety good

[@RobertNolan]

Great guitar, I have a Comp Blue from '70 I believe his was a '69, right?

[@seblax5822]

El sonido tal cual,impecable. Abrazo enorme y seguí asi

[@MrFrankMasson]

Aaeuoffpht! ! Une face à Farger de toutes ses toutes ses forces. Incroyable,

[@charlie00]

I have a 1971 competition mustang best of both worlds :)

[@cameronvillarrealLp]

The sunburst is beautiful

[@beep5150]

They both sound fuckin Great

[@guinness1376]

Great video, I really like both guitars. Are the hotrails vintage or new? I'm thinking of installing a Hotrail in my mustang but I can't decide between the seymour duncan or a billy corgan dimarzio.

[@AaronRash]

Thanks man! These have vintage hot rails in them but the new ones sound exactly the same. I’ve never tried a Corgan pickup but imagine it probably wouldn’t sound much different

[@sammyboy567890]

@@AaronRash Curious why you use the Hotrails and not the Seymour Duncan JB's? I'd always thought those were a big part of the tone. Or are all these Seymour Duncan hi-output humbuckers basically the same?

[@eliaskaff]

I envy you for the wonderful guitars and gear you have , unfortunately i live in a country where i cant find a left handed fender mustang , got lucky 7 years ago and got the KC jag from germany . greetings

[@pauliusi9691]

This is some insane content!

[@DestroyingAmpsGearDemos]

lovely looking video !

[@tobiasthiessen]

Great video! can you tell if on "You Know You're Right" Kurt uses the Univox as well?

[@joshingtonbarthsworth631]

According to Ernie, his guitar tech, yes. That session was done with a univox.

[@tobiasthiessen]

@@joshingtonbarthsworth631 thanks! It would be great if Aaron did studio tone video on 'you know you're right' with the univox!

[@geraldjenkins7719]

I personally like the sound of the Sunburst only because the sound is so spot on with songs like "Heart Shaped Box" and "Rape Me".I wonder how the Sunburst would sound with songs like "Blew" and "On A Plane" ??????

[@vaperrecon165]

That parts mustang is stunning

[@_julianguitarz1992_]

I personally like the blue comp-stang alot more, it sounds more "grungey" and "Kurty" imo.

[@globalnova]

What kind of strings does a jaguar have? Jag wires .

[@Kami_81]

The competition sounded like a guitar with new strings, prefer the sunburst, it nailed the in utero tone.

[@adampietrewicz112]

Hey! Nice video! You mentioned you have the multi-tracks for In Utero, how'd you get them? I really like In Utero as well, its my favourite album by them. It would be so cool to hear the multi-tracks to it

[@AaronRash]

Hey man, thanks! Just search on youtube. There's a channel here called "Nirvana Dump" they have a lot

[@frankiechong5906]

interesting vid! I would like to ask what is the website of fender color collection at 0:55 showed,thanks!

[@AaronRash]

Hey! I just found that searching on google. It wasn't on a website, just google images.

[@frankiechong5906]

@@AaronRash thanks!!!

[@bigmuffmelvin7388]

Don’t let that comp stang go tho man. I sold mine back in 05 and have regretted it every day since They are getting hard to find

[@pedrohenriqueviana5596]

You should do the Heart Shaped Box solo tone. I think its kinda impossible to reach that tone

[@R3TR0R4V3]

I like the sunburst one way better. Both are pretty rad though, but if I were to sell one, it would be the comp stang. ✌️

[@elduderinounemployed3438]

What did you pay for that competition? On ebay it's hard to find one for under $15 000.

[@strnvii]

They definitely have a super small difference Anyways amazing video

[@nirvana_o_negative13]

Welp youve got a new subscriber i need to start making comparisons videos like this lol

[@seasounds_]

What pickup is used for the neck position in the competition mustang?

[@DeadPunk_]

its lake placid blue, they made the same model in a burgundy or red color.

[@CLA82529]

My god the sunburst sounds so identical to In Utero.

[@Izzy-fh8sr]

They’re both rad. Guess you gotta keep both🤷🏻‍♂️

[@DelScully]

did you have the same brand of strings on both, and both new? If not, that could entirely be the difference you are hearing.

[@DougScottYoung]

Is that the Dimarzio SD S in the Bridge?

[@AaronRash]

Hi, no they are both Seymour Duncan Hot rails just like Kurt had in his completion mustang

[@sammyboy567890]

@@AaronRash Didn't most of his Mustangs have Seymour Duncan JB's?

[@nikkisuddenlydidit1510]

The JagWire!

[@DillonWithMoney]

great video 🔴

[@AaronRash]

Thanks!

[@enorrishughley9222]

did you mix the sing in the video yourself

[@AmericanSpyFox]

The Frankenstang sounds better to me.

[@AaronRash]

I agree, also love your channel man!

[@jonathanbeck1018]

I thought the sunburst sounded a bit better - brighter, louder, and fuller.

[@cloudyeight]

How does one get access to the multi-tracks?

[@nirvanafan715]

The 70’ competition mustang has a darker tone while the 71’ mustang had a lighter tone

[@cgavin1]

I thought In Utero was mostly a UL twin reverb ..

[@prod.container5021]

sick!!!!

[@michaeltherion7459]

I find the the low e string jumps out of its saddle on a mustang bridge

[@kevin_nagle]

I thought you selected two good songs to do a tone comparison BUT, there's always a butt.. I think you need to brush up on Rape Me ! 😬 I was able to quickly decide on the sunburst but was distracted by the way you strum the main riff.. Other than that, everything else sounded great. If you're just wanting to compare the two guitars tones to the album, then the Sunburst wins hands down all day long 🤘🏼🤘🏼 Let's here some more Nirvana riffs!!! Maybe do entire play-throughs... would make for great content

[@baskah]

The sunburst one sounds definitely better! Hard to describe it’s like clearer…just better to my ears. But the blue one looks better. Don’t sell any of them

[@nathanki1]

The sunburst sounded incredible, but don’t sell the competition Mustang, that’s too sweet.

[@tomz1989]

Sunburst sounded more complete and on point. Let the guitars be played. That's what they are supposed to be. Think if you are gonna sell the ones you don't actually play , some cool guy could create the next rock genre. If you keep it in the closet well...it can became a dust champion at most. Greetings from Italy

[@manolispates8206]

Would love to hear your opinion on which guitar was used for Teen Spirit, Mustang or Strat?!!

[@gavinethan2325]

In the music video a mustang was used

[@caivsivlivs]

u have to keep the compstang...no questions

[@bronlebron]

What's the song on the beginning

[@profile_01]

What single coil sized HBs do you have in them pray tell?

[@AaronRash]

They both have SD Hotrails

[@codymcgrew4015]

The Hot Rail was MOST definitely used on Rape Me

[@slb21]

the jag-wire

[@dankintx]

I just finished a 1975 sunburst with parts from the same seller and I’m totally in love with it! I think in this video anyway, your sunburst sounds better…. Just my opinion!

[@codymcgrew4015]

Put a Hot Rail or JB jr in the bridge of the Competition Mustang

[@marlo4822]

Hi what hot rails are you using in both

[@AaronRash]

Hey there, they both have vintage SD hot rails installed in them, they are the same besides the color. The sunburst has a white SD hot rail and the competition has a black SD hot rail.

[@blam07]

Did you change also pots?

[@AaronRash]

Nope they both have 250K pots

[@evanjolley1279]

was there ever a point where starting u felt a lefty guitar would be better for u being left handed

[@AaronRash]

Nope, it's always felt so weird and backwards to me! lol

[@McGillicuddy849]

blue one looks familiar lol

[@h3braga]

Sunburst \m/

[@scottdavidson6066]

I prefer the sound of the Frankenstang!

[@kristiyannedelchev940]

What is the name of the instrumental at the start of the video?

[@AaronRash]

Thats just some solo stuff I came up with that I'm working on.

[@kristiyannedelchev940]

@@AaronRash its sounds awesome!

[@AaronRash]

@@kristiyannedelchev940 wow thank you Kristiyan!!!

[@joecinder]

If you ever wanna sell the sunburst hmu. its awesome!!!

[@chrishorak7245]

The Comp mustang sounds better in every song. The sunburst is way to middle range driven.

[@leomilani_gtr]

I thought the sunburst sounded way better, man.

[@youdperferansastronaut]

The partstang sounds better to me

[@nealeblevins922]

I have to say who cares, Kurt played anything with strings and a suitable high output humbucker, just ask Earnie, the only guitar he seemed to have any affection for was the sunburst Jaguar, cause he liked it, who are we to argue