Been A SonGuitar World, February 1992
GW: Is the Mustang your only guitar?
Kurt: No, I own a '66 Jaguar. That's the guitar I polish and baby-I refuse to let anyone touch it when I jump into the crowd. [laughs] Lately, I've been using a Strat Live, because I don't want to ruin my Mustang yet. I like to use Japanese Strats because they're a bit cheaper, and the frets are smaller than the American version's.
GW: The acoustic guitar you play on "Polly" sounds flat.
Kurt: That's a 20-dollar junk shop Stella - I didn't bother changing the strings. [laughs] It barely stays in tune. In fact, I have to use duct tape to hold the tuning keys in place.
GW: Considering how violently you play the guitar. I have to assume you use pretty heavy-duty strings.
Kurt: Yeah. And I keep blowing up amplifiers, so I use whatever I can find at junk shops-junk is always best.
GW: What was the last amp you blew up?
Kurt: A Crown power amp that was intended for use as a PA, but which I used for a guitar's head because I can never find an amp that's powerful enough-and because I don't want to have to deal with hauling 10 Marshall heads. I'm lazy-I like to have it all in one package. For a preamp I have a Mesa/Boogie, and I turn all the mid-range up. And I use Radio Shack speakers.
GW: How reliable is this setup? It doesn't seem like it would be that durable, especially in view of all the touring you do.
Kurt: It works out okay. The sound changes with every club we play in, but I'm never satisfied. I think the sound I get is mainly a result of the Roland EF-1 distortion box I use. I go through about five a tour.
GW: Ever get the urge to use a twang bar?
Kurt: No. Anybody that plays guitar knows that only Jimi Hendrix was able to use the standard tremolo and still keep it in tune. Those things are totally worthless. I do have one on a Japanses Strat, but I don't use it.
GW: Your first album, Bleach, was recorded for $600; how much did Nevermind run you?
Kurt: [laughs] I don't remember, I've got Alzheimer's. Please don't ask us how much our video cost; that's a hell of an embarrassment. We definitely could have used some film student, who would've done just as good of a job.
