The Rare Pickup Kurt Cobain Used To Record Bleach

Discussing & demoing the Univox Hi Flier Phase III humbucker, the pickup that Kurt Cobain used to record Nirvana's debut album Bleach
0:07 - My Bleach Mustang
0:36 - Vintage Univox humbucker
1:02 - Challenges I had installing the pickup
3:02 - What gear Kurt used on Bleach
6:10 - Yes, pickups do matter for tone recreations
7:59 - About a Girl
9:07 - School
9:49 - Scoff
10:59 - Mr Moustache
12:15 - Sifting
13:08 - Big Long Now
14:25 - Negative Creep
15:15 - Swap Meet
15:50 - Blew
GEAR USED:
‪@khristore‬ Bleach Mustang
Modded with a vintage Univox Hi Flier Phase III humbucker
Boss DS-1
Mesa Boogie 5 Band EQ Pedal
Fender Tone Master Twin Reverb
Join my Patreon to get early & exclusive content:
/ nirvanaguitars
Like what I do? Buy me a coffee so I can stay awake while I mix audio and edit videos 😴
www.buymeacoff...
My amazon storefront where you can buy gear/parts Kurt used: www.amazon.com...
Vandalism Strat Stickers - use coupon code "nirvanaguitars" to get 2 for the price of 1:
khristore.com/...
Follow me on instagram at @nirvanaguitars
Check out my progressive punk band at @ithomiid8830
Check out my acoustic project at @atlasmn2836

[@MasonsFavs7]

The hi flier phase 3 pickup is my favorite sounding pickup besides the Seymour Duncan JB. Bleach’s tones are definitely the coolest tones of Nirvanas studio albums. My Univox hi flier phase 4 can get pretty close to the bleach tones but that Mustang with the phase 3 pickup is literally a clone of the bleach tones!! Love that sound

[@NirvanaGuitars]

Thank you so much for the kind words!! JB has always been number 1 for me too, but man this one honestly is pretty high up there now on my list of favorite pickups. Can see why Kurt moved it around from guitar to guitar after they'd get smashed, Univox humbuckers are phenomenal!

[@FossyPickles]

if using electrical tape to hold a pickup in place isn’t the most nirvana thing i don’t know what is. another amazing video eric :))

[@NirvanaGuitars]

haha that's what I'm saying!! That's why it's really grown on me, it's a very "Bleach-esque" set up 😆

[@doomgang2541]

Kurt was punk as hell.

[@KyleStone-pe4oc]

Lmao one of my pickups is nailed and taped in place 💀

[@russellmarcusliam1458]

That nirvana bleach tone was accurate like you can’t deny that Eric has the most dedication for nirvana gear and tone recreation

[@NirvanaGuitars]

🥹 🙏

[@ARobloxMusician]

dude that vintage univox pickup sounds SO CLOSE to the record. Bleach is one of my favorite albums. I love what you do Eric. Keep it up!

[@NirvanaGuitars]

Thank you so much! I don't take for granted your continued support, I look forward to your comment every week 😊 Thanks so much for being here!!

[@ARobloxMusician]

@@NirvanaGuitars You're very welcome!

[@ghastyy09]

god damn about a girl was literally the same as the studio recording! cool stuff dude!

[@NirvanaGuitars]

That song specifically, those cleans and distortion, is the sound I've been after for 3 years. I believe this is the closest I've gotten yet 😃

[@MikeRay1978]

I’m an old dude that lived through the 90’s. They were my teenage years. I was sooo into nirvana then. It’s crazy to see younger people still into the music and diving into the sounds all these years later. Back then we didn’t have any access to what a band used. Not a band like nirvana anyway. We’d study every picture from every magazine looking for any hints. Hell that was the days of OLGA and just having tabs for most of the songs was amazing. It’s been 35 years since I learned a lot of the nirvana songs I still love playing today. I rarely play my guitar without at least running through Aunerism.

[@NathanBrubaker-d6y]

Curtis Novak is now making a very accurate reproduction of these. They’re great pickups. Not as “hot” as people usually claim - both of mine are in the 7.5k range. But man do they rip. Glad you’ve got one now!

[@Critty_witty]

You should totally make a in bloom smart session tone recreation

[@CoburtCocain]

Daymmm this sounds much much much more similar than the previous video! I love how the distortion sounds so in your face so so so Angry and angsty angstier the univox you have!❤

[@NirvanaGuitars]

A sound I've been after for years and I believe this is the closest I've gotten yet! 😊

[@CoburtCocain]

Fr🔥​@@NirvanaGuitars

[@Coolkidstan]

This is actually so exciting. I have only been watching recently, glad that cool content like this is consistent.

[@fogpumas]

2:25 that’s what Kurt would have done

[@benoit-bass.guitar]

you have the best youtube channel on nirvana, great job thank you.

[@magraretsbane6274]

I firmly believe that every little factor makes a difference. From pickups to speakers to strings to picks, it all makes a difference. Great video as always!

[@Coolguy2llllllllllll]

Mic placement, microphones used, mixing, amp size, room.

[@magraretsbane6274]

@ Amen to that

[@fogpumas]

7:14 keep the electrical tape. It looks so much more authentic that way. I love that guitar but I thought it looked a little too shiny new before. Stoked for you. I might do a similar build on one of my mustangs. Sorry for all the comments. I’ve been playing Univox exclusively for over 20 years, so it’s cool to see this kind of interest in these guitars finally. Just a bummer the prices have been driven up. Luckily I’m secure with two of em. Phase 3 and 4, and also I have a phase 4 Hi Flyer bass. My only bass.

[@H._.arry._.X]

this is so awesome man been a nirvana fan for 6 months now and i love this!

[@NirvanaGuitars]

Welcome to the rabbit hole for your new favorite band! 😉 🐇

[@MaddoxRossMusic]

So awesome!

[@williamhurrelbrink3324]

Yeah dude. That first strum of about a girl was absolutely perfect, you’re right, that’s it. That’s the tone. I can’t think of a clean tone that I like better. I love all kinds of music and make music myself but the about a girl tone is so sweet, so perfect. Good job nailing it down. ❤

[@MackMata-k4t]

Eric!! It would be so cool if you did a history video of Kurt’s first hi-flier, the sunburst one. There’s a lot of mystery and misconception regarding that one and it’d be great to round out the bleach streak you’ve got going on rn :)

[@pipdai4216]

Another outstanding video...thank you! Awesome playing too.

[@jeffjefferson8137]

i never really thought about how many guitars parts all the songs off bleach have. it switches back and forth so fast too. kurt was very gifted

[@xs-xb4ih]

i hate that you feel the need to apologize to guitar luthiers and techs about the pickup installation. this is exactly how cobain would’ve done it, i love it. thanks for the video

[@Schmandle420]

4:35 This is nit picky, but I’m pretty sure he used his DM2 on Love Buzz along with a wah wah during the later part of the song. Great video!

[@joesampson2658]

Definitely the DM2 on Love Buzz

[@cheemsrei]

School sounds amazing on that beast of a guitar, can’t wait to hear the full cover.

[@xellakov]

Agreed, Bleach is legendary, also one of my all times favorite. Congrats on this wonderful guitar and thank you for your work!

[@NirvanaGuitars]

Thank you for the kind words and for watching!

[@jeshX3]

i’ve been falling in love with bleach lately, so this is an amazing video!!!

[@cheezer5876]

That guitar is so sweet man and the tones😍

[@fogpumas]

5:32 yup. I’m not even using a Bleach amp, and I’m still getting that chug with the Univox pup and DS-1. It’s the most satisfying distortion tone I can produce. Currently playing through a Randall RG200.

[@tarteaupomme8167]

just thank you for the videos theyre so good

[@peterlukach310]

awesome vid! you should shoot it out with the Curtis Novak Phase III Humbucker

[@AllNirvanaBackingTracks]

Each single time fascinated by your videos!! Thank You!! And I looove how the tape goes with the bleach era spirit🤘🏻🔥

[@Maxim_Escott773]

Hey Eric, I had this idea when you got your Stella but it would be amazing if you covered Montage of Heck or Sliver: The Best of the Box songs with the Stella.

[@theowlsarenotwhattheyseem476]

Believe me, that tape you used is the perfect setup for this guitar!

[@denverrandy7143]

Sounds great!!!

[@nirvanacover2212]

Very nice, you have the best Nirvana Channel

[@fogpumas]

I have two Hi Flyers and these pickups are, indeed, the best.

[@yea8776]

I wonder if that's the same Pickup that Kurt used on the Fecal Matter demo, as that Univox pickup was put in the Bleach Mustang from the smashed Phase III

[@Yoheeeeen]

That mustang is beautiful!

[@NirvanaGuitars]

🤎

[@wux__]

I did really like this humbucker ! It's lovely sounding and beautiful look that creamy color! Keep it up budd

[@rutger51]

This pickup is a really close call to bleach an that’s FANTASTIC!🎉

[@Death-Axe]

I love this mustang. A mustang is a top 1 on my list of guitars.

[@Supermetalboi2-lb5gc]

Peak tones as always

[@NirvanaGuitars]

Thank you so much!

[@iFSheKnowsWhy]

Awesome Man ❤

[@NirvanaGuitars]

Thanks a lot!

[@cesarsolano9581]

Your tones are so in point bro can't wait for the love buzz or school vid Luv the vid by the way

[@АртёмСиницкий-п3щ]

Blew's so aggressive ❤

[@mikerobbins4138]

Thanks for the video learning new interesting things I never knew thank you

[@NirvanaGuitars]

Thank you so much for watching and for the kind words!

[@mikerobbins4138]

@NirvanaGuitars your welcome

[@MangoNada-sb9pd]

Do a if you must demo video, it’ll be cool!

[@thereallincolntakanashi]

He did that one already.

[@NirvanaGuitars]

Done 😉 kzbin.info/www/bejne/i5OqkqqMrs-maqs

[@MangoNada-sb9pd]

@ really? Oh damn I have to find it then

[@MangoNada-sb9pd]

@@NirvanaGuitars thank you kind sir! Watching it right now, and that tone is spot on

[@Rebolicall]

doesn't matter how you did the pickup, it's probably what Kurt would do too lmao. Probably the most Nirvana thing you can do too! Sweet video :D

[@luke6944]

love this vid, i recently came across that kurt cobain had a jazzmaster that he was gonna convert to his left hand playing style, but i have no idea so i was gonna ask the nirvana guitar guy

[@SquiggleFace]

Great video Eric! ♥️

[@NirvanaGuitars]

Thank you!

[@fisherkhongmaly9893]

We’re skipping more classes with this one 🔥🔥🙏🙏

[@NirvanaGuitars]

anything Nirvana related > classes 😉

[@fisherkhongmaly9893]

@@NirvanaGuitars ap music theory? nah that doesn’t matter

[@kuriboh635]

That is my dream pick up personally, and I just wish there were more options similar to recreate these pickups specifically. You should do a test of Curtis Novak phase 3s to see if it's a viable option

[@matteo_lovenirvana]

He is so generous

[@Teekay617]

Holy crap! When I heard that mustang 😂 Damn I need that humbucker, its like metal bells or something

[@homelander7222]

Hey, pretty good video! Also wanted to say that you should turn down the treble in the mesa eq, try using this settings for the cleans; Treble 9,5 Middle 10, Bass, 9.0, Presence 5.0-6.0, and lower the gain And for the dist: Treble: 5.1 Middle: 7.2 Bass: 4.5 Presence:4.5 If You try it let me know if it gets close!

[@september2wenty8ight64]

That sounds is 🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@NirvanaGuitars]

Thank you! 🙏

[@Dedeye-q9e]

Dude at this point I am just listening to album. This new pick up is amazing. Great video. Also will you make later an updated pine street show because you have essentially the same guitars. Anyways great content as always

[@blashuvec]

Hi! Just like to add that the summer 88 sessions could've had the same setup as the January one. There's definitely some DM-2 oscillation on Love Buzz.

[@GRUDGEDGuitars]

Wow beautiful guitar awesome 🙏🏽

[@Csherby10]

You should do a last live nirvana show anniversary video (love the videos)

[@soulagent79]

Many old pickups you find in Japanese guitars were actually ghost-built by Dimarzio.

[@NJGAMER_12]

Nice video man, Your tones are always spot on. How good is your high flier because I am thinking of getting one

[@thrillvilled111]

The timing is gold. Just got a coffee and noodles! Thanks Eric! Absolute legend! 👍

[@NirvanaGuitars]

haha perfect timing! Thank you so much for your continued support my friend, I don't take for granted that you comment every week 😊 hope you enjoy the video and your meal! 🍜

[@thrillvilled111]

@@NirvanaGuitars My first Nirvana show I watched when getting into their music was Live and Loud and eating noodles

[@ChristianHunt-en6kw]

Dude I love bleach so much

[@NirvanaGuitars]

Same 🖤

[@guitarman1569]

Hey Eric, Just to let you know, Big Long Now is actually played on the 9th fret E string and 8th fret A string. Then you would play open D over the two notes.

[@Choccymylk6666]

Can you plz do a comparison of Curtis Novaks Clone of the phase 3 humbucker? I wanna buy it for my univox phase 2 clone but I’ve never heard it be played before, I would really appreciate it 🤟

[@fogpumas]

1:24 you can mod it so it’s just one on each side, if you’re willing to drill a new hole in the pickup ring. That’s what my tech did. Happened to be the Smashing Pumpkins tech at the time so I naturally trust him

[@MedoSic.]

16:14 Your videos are really great! I would love to be able to do what you do! Thank you for all your sharing!!

[@onbedoeldekut1515]

I had the same issue with the mounting holes being too big, so I used some very old, cheap single coil covers, cut off the mounting holes and used them instead of nuts.

[@evelynschoppmann]

dude i have never heard of anything more kurt cobain than diy-ing your way through the jankiest issues with holes and tape

[@guilhermemasson9911]

Can you make the nevermind riffs with the bleach mustang tone? Will be great i guess❤

[@nachom1971]

You can buy adapters for that type of 2,1 humbucker base

[@scarywall2580]

no way im insanely early

[@NirvanaGuitars]

Thanks for being here!

[@Ivkanator]

This is most awesome thing i heard in 2025 so far!

[@ricardog.s2505]

So now Bleach Mustang definitely is a Jankstang lmao, but it is absolutely in the spirit of Bleach era Nirvana and punk in general

[@inventedsnail82]

The pickup sounds so good!!! Makes me want to get the money to buy a pickup to put in my guitar so badly!!! I’ve been thinking of getting a Seymour Duncan 59 JB to put in my guitar but I’m not sure

[@travisschuster4676]

That’s pretty classic pickup combo. If the jb feels too hot for certain things than just dial the volume back.

[@dio5735]

can you possibly do a what if was on this guitar i’d love to hear in bloom and or spank thru the video breakdown when you were going over the guitar your tone of spank thru sounded damn near close as the studio sub pop version

[@NirvanaGuitars]

Yes that's a great idea!! You'll definitely be seeing & hearing a lot of this guitar, a "what if" video with it would be really fun 😃

[@dio5735]

@NirvanaGuitars i’m no genius with my guitars but i try to go for the exact tuning, my recommendation to you would be going from standard Talk to me, in bloom, turnaround, spank thru to eb Do re mi, pennyroyal tea, oh the guilt, pen cap chew

[@bbq4126]

Some pickup foam underneath the humbucker might hold it in place better.

[@vincentfallon2290]

If we had a nirvana army this guy whould be general maybe general Eric

[@baducas6193]

Rio Hollywood Rock tones when 🙏

[@Michiganvideoswithmyfriends.]

You should get a Jason Everman guitar

[@SparkyT3D]

It’s very possible that this is indeed a Phase III Hi Flyer pickup, but I think it’s probably just a random 70s humbucker. Maybe it’s another Matsumoku pickup, but I highly doubt it’s from a Hi Flyer. I own a natural Phase III and can confirm that the pickups themselves are rectangle-shaped, not curved at the end. It’s also an opaque beige plastic, whereas yours has some opacity to it. I have a broken phase III humbucker that may or may not be salvageable, but I can send pictures if you’d like of all the pieces. Great stuff as always, just figured I’d throw in my $0.02.

[@Schmandle420]

The pickup itself looks like the ones I have in my Ripper, which is the same as in the Hiflyer Phase 3/4 and Gimme Les Paul copy. The surround is definitely different though, and it doesn’t look like there is plastic covering it either. It think that part is negligible in terms of tone though

[@BleachedGuitars]

I'd agree, the Tell is the Gold ring rather than silver. Gold was Rippers or Les clones. Thought now that I've put one of both now in my Phase 3 I guess they both count!

[@Schmandle420]

@ Ive only seen Rippers come stock with silver surrounds. The Univox Gimme Les Paul in Black and Natural often have gold surrounds out of the factory on these pickups though. I’m guessing that’s where this was originally.

[@BleachedGuitars]

@ Fair enough! I've seen one or two Rippers out of Oregon Craiglist and Reverb in my days of hunting for Univox parts with Gold surrounds but I imagine they were repaired.

[@KillBambis]

I would like to thank you for the content related to Kurt Cobain and his music. from the equipment to everything that encompasses the albums you review. thank you very much for everything. I'm a fan of your channel. also as you are an excellent guitarist. I've never seen anyone play Nirvana as well as you. a strong greeting from portugal...

[@patrick_brev]

day 3 of asking for EQ pedal alternatives (Love your vids eric)

[@tom-sn999]

Are you know the Harley Benton MR Modern/Classic E-Guitar? It’s a Mosrite Copy but I would say it’s a Univox Copy. It’s a cool guitar, if you know it then what’s you’re opinion about it? Thx

[@WoodenCrates1]

Curtis Novak makes a replica phase 3 humbucker for a decent price!

[@john8451]

Dude doesn’t look old enough to remember Nirvana! 😮

[@chemistryofquestionablequa6252]

Did you take a bunch of codeine cough syrup before mixing like the Nirvana guys did? Lol, awesome tone as usual, thanks for everything you do your channel is awesome for Nirvana guitar nerds.

[@Frank-q3z8n]

Day one of waiting for Eric to get the Mosrite guitar

[@lelee.50]

Hi Eric I have a question about the Fender Mustang that Kurt Cobain used during the recording of the In Bloom music video. The video is in black and white, and I’ve never seen that specific guitar before. It appears to have a single-coil pickup configuration, a white pickguard, and what seems to be a Skystang-colored body. However, I also noticed that the headstock doesn’t appear to have a genuine Fender logo. After searching, I managed to find a color image, possibly taken behind the scenes of the video shoot. The guitar appears to be Skystang blue, but I can’t be certain if the image is authentic or if it was a black-and-white photo that someone later colorized. So my main question is: What guitar was Kurt actually using in that video? A Skystang-colored Fender Mustang with a white pickguard, dual single-coils, and possibly no real Fender logo is something I’ve never seen him use before.

[@NirvanaGuitars]

I'm sorry but that is a guitar I don't really know a lot about 😣 it's not one that I've researched yet. I've seen that color photo too, and as far as I know there is no other footage of him using it?

[@rustedElch]

It's possible that it was a prop guitar, or something the production found quickly due to Kurt breaking a guitar or not having one with him for whatever reason. It Is interesting to think about though.

[@lelee.50]

@@NirvanaGuitars i think that it will be cool if you make a video about this type of gear that he used only once or twice

[@mugwump7613]

Kurt bought it to the vid shoot, there's a guy called Mark mcgraff(I think that's his surname)worked on the video who posts in the the nirvana guitar and gear group on fb , he has a univox custom same as kc's with same mods. I believe it had a pickup missing. Kc also had a sunburst mustang that you can hear on the rio sound check. I believe that it was that one he took a pic of and cut and spliced it together with a pic of a jaguar when showing fender what he wanted from the jagstang.

[@copycat4202]

What Dimarzio pick up did Kriststore put in the stock mustang?

[@Nirvanatones27]

Probably a neck one, it just needs to be the same strength

[@mrNobody100]

maybe some loctite on the screws would help keep em put instead of tape? but the tape does look pretty cool.

[@dirtmelchizedek8311]

Have you thought about doing a video on Kurt's Martin "Gandpa" D-18 guitar that also belonged to Elliot Smith and is considered to be cursed?

[@Chickenzguy]

Crazy cool sounding pickup tho

[@NirvanaGuitars]

Definitely one of my favorite pickups now!!

[@Chickenzguy]

@@NirvanaGuitars Same here also Bleach is my favourite album

[@Coolguy2llllllllllll]

I’m putting money away for the tonemaster twin, would you recommend the black one or the blonde one? I know they both have different speakers.

[@TravelatorH8r]

Good god, you sent it out to have some holes drilled? But then you add a bunch of harbor freight screws and nuts? Magnetized or no?

[@Duraan84]

Could you do a tone recreation of The Laundry Session?

[@Homerphobia]

Great video eric, unrelated question but would the mesa boogie .50 caliber plus sound the same or close enough to the studio preamp? Trying to work on my setup and i was just wondering because i saw one near me.

[@andrewsmith1520]

Why not add holes to the pickup ring, and then add springs to the screws? Like a normal pickup?

[@Jonathan1689b]

Picking placement also makes a slight difference

[@matheussantos6353]

I’m very happy about how much information you can bring and deny myths like “the pickups doesn’t matter, just the speakers”. By the way, why you are using the mesa eq if Kurt used the Fender twin?

[@NirvanaGuitars]

Because the final sound we are hearing on the album is *not* how Kurt's amp sounded live in the room! The guitars were later mixed with EQ, maybe some compression and then the final mixes themselves were mastered. Standard audio production procedure. The EQ pedal helps me get closer to that final sound we are all familiar with

[@matheussantos6353]

@@NirvanaGuitars thanks mate! 🍻