The super rare pedal Kurt Cobain used on in Utero (Pedal X)

This video is all about "Pedal X" a guitar pedal used by Kurt Cobain during the recording on their final studio album - In Utero.
Guitar World Magazine, engine article link: www.guitarworld.com/news/aaro...
Check out Aidans channel! ‪@AidanGallagher‬

[@deronforde1360]

The effect on the Albini mix of "Heart Shaped Box" was produced by the vibrato channel on Cobain's Fender Pro Reverb amp. The amp only had half the power tubes working, a broken off pot, and was badly in need of repairs. But Cobain tried to hide the amp from his guitar tech because he liked the broken sound and didn't anyone fixing it. Krist Novoselic described the sound on the original HSB solo to Cobain as an "abortion."

[@astorgaluthier]

Funny I always thought it was recorded with the ehx polychorus.

[@UltraZombie]

@@astorgaluthierwasn’t it the quad reverb not pro reverb

[@UltraZombie]

@@astorgaluthiernah that’s vibrato (pitch change) on the polychorus instead of tremolo (volume change) that is on the solo

[@TempleOfUtopia]

I'm so happy for you Aaron, congratulations for all the attention you're getting, you really deserve it. Btw this pedal makes the guitar sound like a synth, it's crazy

[@wullowtries3018]

I know right!

[@-jank-willson]

more like a lo-fi sound to me

[@triston5673]

I'm a simple man. Aaron uploads, I like.

[@raulwille2002]

🤝🏻

[@jensk4140]

Exactly! 😁

[@catchofthedave8681]

Lol me too. I dont do noodling and shredding I just like playing power chords.

[@Turassicpark]

🫡, present and accountable

[@hamadalawadhi6655]

Sameeee

[@Fuzzfooger]

that's a ring modulator - the clue was when it slowed down and the carrier oscillator went from audio rates to became an LFO and create a tremolo. If you read the manual for the moogerfooger MF-102 it will explain all the concepts needed to understand it

[@notme2221]

Hey man I think your Engine pedal is the start of a fuzzy, gritty sound revolution!

[@millennialanimal]

This is fast becoming my favourite channel, can’t wait to see what you’ve got coming up!

[@ivangonzalez5237]

It’s time everyone! Lo-fi, chimey clean tones, riffs based on chords, shimmer pedals, deep space reverbs have been fun and all……..but let’s bring back heavy noisy distorted riff rock! Aaron lead the way!

[@DanielSanchez-ic5pj]

Babe wake up, a new Aaron Rash video just dropped

[@JohnJohnson-tn2zm]

i was thinking the same thing

[@johnf.r6658]

Awesome as always, hope to see more ! Everything you show and play and talk about is very interesting! Hope you release your original music soon ! Cheers

[@LeonardoTineo_]

Man I can’t wait for come as you are, also can’t wait for the engine pedal to be finished and available for purchase!!!!

[@angelic.oficial]

¡Me encanta la calidad del vídeo y su voz!🔥

[@lucasfurts]

Man...I can listen this for hours. The songs, ambience and feelings are so good. Congratulations for be awesome! 🇧🇷

[@reyn69420]

excited to watch this video, keep up the good work.

[@baskah]

Excellent video and quality as always! Keep em coming!

[@cinemod5393]

very happy to see you accomplish these things man! Forever in your support homie!

[@krstnrose8133]

Cool video Aaron. Love your getting the lime light for your work.

[@peteytwofinger]

good work ! its cool to see people carrying the torch for kurts incredible music . i have a very tough time listening to it .

[@Aidenschommer1]

So happy to here ur getting the attention u deserve man, gives me hope for my in future music :) i love ur content ur a huge inspiration to me!

[@camilemon]

Wow! this is so interesting, learning about new things c: thank you for this video

[@millennialanimal]

Well done with the article! 👏👏👏

[@BradleyMcTaggart]

That’s nuts man. Good for you. Excited to see what happens next for you.

[@Itzcafvs_]

man, the video quality is so good!!^^

[@isaiahgamervw7306]

Awesome video man! Never disappoints

[@Soldano999]

This sounds absolutely fantastic

[@alexkeenan5768]

Holy hell here it is!!!!! Dude 2 weeks man, two weeks I’ve waited!!!!!

[@tomphil5216]

Dude, I love your videos so fucking much, such a vibe

[@MorzakEV]

Love the style of your videos, it's inspirational. And your music is ace, definitely think about self publishing it.

[@jamesh1625]

Please don’t forget to show the settings! Your videos are awesome! I’m a huge fan!

[@danielgraves1521]

Aaron, love the videos! Quick question, do you make your own music anywhere? The little demos you play are sick I would love to here more music like that

[@hanktrotter]

I know you've heard this a lot but we all hope you are considering making your playing an album. I know a lot of people that would love that. Please Aaron!!

[@kieranmercer5936]

congrats, love the pedal

[@luckyboyyt8582]

This is fascinating. Just subbed

[@BlackBeltTitus]

Love this channel!!!

[@fox_4740]

Dang it’s that snowy in seattle? Up here in olympia we got nothing lol! Also congrats on the fame man! Awesome to see a channel grow like this!

[@Duby-rv7bx]

Your so underrated. Your videos should be getting 10X the views you have right now

[@matheusfagundesroling735]

so nice Aaron! Great video :) Cheers

[@SuicideSeason4545]

I’m definitely buying that engine pedal when you release it

[@_julianguitarz1992_]

Hey Aaron. I've been really liking your content, you actually inspired me to start recreating Nirvana tones like you do. thank you dude

[@mirata7748]

To start off, this has been one easily the best videos you have released, i would like to mention i dig the Bob Ross sweater like i really dig it lmao, and you should seriously start considering to sell engine pedals since the popularity it gained is too great to be unnoticed, I really loved the sound of pedal X, it does have that in utero essence, when you dialed in that tremolo setting it sounded great it sounded really familiar to the intro to boulevard of broken dream, pedal X was definitely used in utero, like in the starting of heart shaped box the second guitar definitely used it to some extent, there are probably more songs he used it with that we have no idea of know, also another thing I'd like to mention is the almighty spx90, it totally nailed the tone on lithium and come as you are, for years i thought something was definitely fishy about those two songs since there could be no way that lithium's clean parts were recorded with a dry guitar signal and come as you are had a more ambient chorus sound compared to a normal small clone, the spx90 fully confirms my suspicions, that mustang also sounded really nice and the idea of kurt using the ferrington is very plausible, maybe what albini said about him having a mustang/jaguar hybrid guitar during those sessions were just the ferrington? Could be but I'm not sure. The exclusivity of each video makes it even more special everytime, love your videos man! Looking forward to the next one.

[@albingreen344]

Are you allergic to punctuation or something?

[@caprise-music6722]

@@albingreen344 guinnes world record, longest sentence… .. in the world

[@lecanius]

dude i love your videos

[@camille1619]

aidan is great

[@Oivindjensen]

Secretly the best channel on KZbin

[@barretv7583]

Can’t wait for more

[@SkyBoundMP3]

Ive only read the title of the video but i can already tell its going to be a good one

[@tamtenmateusz9475]

Very exciting video.

[@nnikrangdan]

와~! 너무 멋있어요😎 그리고 기타 톤도 너무 좋아요, 정말 좋아요!✨ 앞으로도 수고하세요~👍🏻

[@bleedwoodwinter]

The only video that I’ve ever seen on this pedal. Also hope you can get the engine fixed!

[@apr1l_fools]

hey man! im really happy for you getting noticed by guitar world and aiden fuckin gallagher! i know you probably get this a lot but id love to hear a lofi album from you. you've really got a thing for melancholic grooves.

[@Bkoded]

the riffs in this video are beautiful

[@elenacadhez]

This's absolutely awesome... You're such a talented man... Your versions of Nirvana songs, GOOD!!!!!!!!!! 🛐✨👑❤️

[@austrianguy1833]

Glad to see you get the attention you deserve

[@matisiowy]

goddamn aroon! Your work is amazing

[@catchofthedave8681]

Aaron here is my suggestion as someone who is a pedal junkie- for the COBAIN ENGINE you should try and get someone to partner with you that can build the demand for it, cuz there will be a HUGE DEMAND cuz otherwise you gonna be like analog mike and have 5 year waits for it. You could try keeley or something……but you wanna make it kinda affordable….I would hit up Jeorge Tripps. He could either make it a way huge pedal or mxr pedal and market it as “by aaron rash”. Cuz joerge tripps is known for ALWAYS giving credit where credit is due and he wont charge hundreds and hundreds of dollars like jhs would or some of the others. Or go the british route-. HIT up SOUNDLAD LIVERPOOL. Dude makes epic pedals for $100. He is a pedal genius and I dunno about production, but I know he could offer some advice on what to do with it. He was basically the co-designer of the 1991 pedal. He did all the technical design. If you don’t know what that is….check it out

[@howitusedtobe]

That “pickup” augment could be made once more over if you’ve ever heard J Mascis who really only plays jazz masters live and using lots of different guitars in studio but somehow still sounding like he’s used Jazzmasters

[@harrybate3620]

3:30 I love that riff. Sounds a bit like a twisted version of paranoid android

[@zimplifyz]

I need that song for real!!!

[@wolfgangmozart_fake]

Im so happy for you ❤

[@Itzcafvs_]

sounds very good 😸

[@artpassos]

2:50 no one is talking about how cool its sounds? Seriously?

[@hartbrk0167]

Yeah, sounds like a beginning for a pretty good post-rock song, im curious as well 👀

[@-jank-willson]

very cinematic

[@IamTheShadows]

I was trying so hard to find the name of it. Is it just he came up with on the spot cuz holy shit.

[@earljohnson8851]

Great video

[@nyylivx]

Amazing!!💖

[@jamieryandowney9880]

In response to whether or not he used it: I am pretty sure this would be the "tremolo" he used on the solo for Heart Shaped Box. It can still be found in the "original Steve Albini 1993 Mix" and it definitely has a harsher ring modish sound as opposed to most tremolo pedals.

[@Trentstone121]

Nope. He famously used an electro harmonics poly chorus/flanger for that sound.

[@wnbbmbjg]

@@Trentstone121 It is the ehx polychorus for the album version, the Albini Mix sounds a lot different tho. But that's much it I think..wonder if he used it on other songs.

[@-jank-willson]

I like that the 'tremolo' part of it can go up to a 'superfast' tremolo, almost a fuzz sound. Most tremolo's cant go that fast

[@Trentstone121]

@@wnbbmbjg he did. He uses it a lot on radio friendly unit shifter, and live he used it for whatever songs he felt like at the time, usually on the solo or on feedback.

[@DirtyDirkDiggler]

@@Trentstone121that’s the simplified answer…

[@caknut]

very happy for you

[@dawidwieczorek7425]

You are talented and stylish. Cheers

[@colt7958]

aaron you NEED to release these songs

[@Afiel84]

I love ur vids dude

[@Fendervana]

I just picked up a Player Mustang same as yours and can say it's amazing!

[@TomWhaley621]

Dude please put out music already... the demos in every video you post are so good, I want more!

[@melanimicheel1176]

Amazing!! 🎉

[@michaelmichaelson6766]

Awesome playing. I really miss that style in todays music.

[@arrolate]

Great tone fr

[@laurent1678]

Never stop

[@BigHead2615]

I can't remember if it was one of your videos before this one, I don't know where I commented this... but man, every time I watch one of your videos, it just helps me feel better that I haven't bothered to put a hotrails humbucker in the Mustang I just bought earlier this year. I was just enjoying the different tones I can accomplish with it as it came (the pickups are not exactly stock, but they are singlecoils and were apparently an upgrade from the stock ones that the previous owner did), but the temptation of teaching myself how to mod one of my own guitars, because I DO have a hotrails humbucker at my disposal, is there, lol. I'm still going to leave my Mustang as it is though.

[@JDStone20]

AWESOME!!!!!!!!

[@millennialanimal]

I’ve been waiting for this! **Rubs hands together**

[@Haunteed]

Awesome stuff man, I know you’re the ‘Nirvana Guy’ but it would be really cool to see you try to get some smashing pumpkins tones. Again awesome stuff!

[@hotboys99]

pls release the videos with the original aspect ratio, it would look better when watching on a smartphone. Thanks

[@gmoney4526]

That is awesome! What is the weight of the player mustang? Also your totally right, the intro of Tourettes has that exact pedal and you can hear it click and go up and down in tone eaxctly like yours! Def used on some tracks hidden under the covals

[@sabpac459]

man i would love to record drums for you, been playing for 15 years.

[@LSD123.]

Miss you Kurt.

[@douglasdog1]

I feel like this might of been used subtlety on the opening chord of Serve The Servants. When I use my ring modulator and hit that chord I can get a similar sound.

[@Ghetto-Yeti]

So, let me first say that the engine pedal is pretty cool and I dig the shit out of it. The other thing I am curious about. I used to have a poly chorus which on songs like scentless apprentice I had thought was obviously the sound of that song w distortion etc. Radio friendly is the polychorus used differently. I heard an interview w krist where he said originally the solo in heart shaped box sounded like an abortion that fell out on the floor and it was in need of the Scott litt remix etc. leads me to think that a ring mod might’ve been involved… idk. The polychorus does a very close match to ring mod with the flanger circuit. Very similarly, scentless apprentice… so I though. Might that be pedal x. It’s certainly one note during the guitar during the verse vox. I totally agree that the bridge makes a lot of difference. The sound of a bridge that’s string thru the body vs say a mustang or jag bring is considerable. Lots more sustain. It’s def closer to rape me. Just the mustang pickups vs jag pickups plays a big role. Well done man!

[@fansdeaidangallagher4955]

Good video

[@johnloughner6572]

My friend Scott from zao worked with Steve albini for the zao album the fear is what keeps us here.

[@parafron8246]

guys! Aarons bouta blow up!!

[@MrGibsn1960]

Pedal x reminds me of the moog ring modulator. There's a lot of sounds in that thing but the cool tremolo sounds in there were very musical

[@bobbyb2964]

Hey Aaron! Where can we keep a lookout for when that Engine pedal goes on sale? I'd love to pick one up!

[@dls3939]

All of the yes

[@sassulusmagnus]

Fairfield Circuitry, the company that makes the Barbershop overdrive, also makes a couple of different pedals that can do essentially what we're hearing here.

[@Alphawolf2325]

Such as?

[@thinmizzy365]

Do a video about the pedal that Steve Albini uses in Shellac. Also, I used to own that same Randall head. Cheers.

[@SlasherthraX]

There's a website that shows all the equipment Kurt/Nirvana used for In Utero which includes all pedals, guitars, strings, amps, mics, drums, fx and much more like strings used, mixing desk and so on. Easily searchable.

[@jeremybeavin9737]

And you assume it's 100% accurate?

[@anthonysclafani3963]

kurtsequipment is a great site but nirvana songs have way more song by song recording variation than you'd think; the site gives you the pieces but not which ones were used on each song

[@kevinbirge2130]

Randall? My favorite amps. Those red-face Commanders? Among the best amps ever made. I use a Diavlo 5C right now. Great, but needs the reverb and tremolo from the Commander.

[@SwagGoober_]

Hey Aaron! Just wanted to say I was listening to Sappy and heard the X pedal in the solo for a small bit, about 5 seconds.

[@marcusmeadow2729]

Love that first diddy at around 3:24 👌👌

[@Sara-vw2ng]

From aidan

[@marifka8678]

From aidan and tua.up ✋🏽

[@nick011182]

My classic player Jaguar nails the rape me and heart shaped box tone. It’s got single coils. I’ve had so many buddies comment on how close it sounds.

[@sneakerpharm]

my days the production for the demo is so sick. deftones white pony vibes!

[@synthoelectro]

Radio friendly Unit Shifter, it's quite possible it was one of the pedals he used, after hearing it here.

[@mianievess]

💘

[@MisterVertigo]

First off congrats on the Engine pedal Aaron! But...Are you sure it was the Pedal X on In Utero? Thought Steve said it was an old Electro-Harmonix Frequency Analyzer on the HSB solo and sprinkles of IU...Just curious about the origin story of Pedal X..? Best to you and yours \m/

[@BatteryCoverMissing]

Maybe the X was just an ehx ring mod and an overdrive shoved into one case. That would satisfy both versions of his answers.

[@filipzivcic5513]

is that Croatia T-shirt underneat the christmas sweater? :D