Krist Novoselic Gear Guide: Basses, Amps and Effects by Era

What did Krist Novoselic play, and when? This guide follows Krist’s basses, amps, effects and other instruments (yes, the accordion) era by era, from the first Nirvana rehearsals in Aberdeen through Sweet 75, Eyes Adrift, Flipper, Giants in the Trees and the Bona Fide Band. Every item links to the source we used. Where nobody has documented a model, we say so rather than guess.

For a closer look at the Nirvana-era rig, including Earnie Bailey’s notes on the HiWatt amps, see our Krist’s Equipment page. For the bands themselves, see Krist in Nirvana, Sweet 75, Eyes Adrift, Flipper and Giants in the Trees, or the full Krist Novoselic timeline.

At a glance

  • Signature basses: Ibanez Black Eagle (late 1980s onward), Gibson Ripper (Nevermind), Gibson RD (In Utero era, later his own signature model).
  • Classic amp: modified HiWatt heads used to record In Utero, later replaced by an Ampeg SVT rig.
  • Dirt: MXR Distortion+, then ProCo Rat and Boss DS-1.
  • Strings: Rotosound Swing Bass 66.
  • Other instruments: accordion (MTV Unplugged, Giants in the Trees, Rock Hall 2014, FireAid 2025), 12-string guitar (Sweet 75).

Early Nirvana and Bleach (1987-1990)

Krist started out playing a Fender Mustang guitar strung as a bass, then a borrowed Japanese bass, before buying a black Ibanez for $300. Instruments got broken a lot in these years.

Gear Type Where / when Source
Fender Mustang guitar strung as a bass Bass Krist's first 'bass' in the early band (1987-88) Bass Player (2011/12) via Guitar World
Borrowed 1960s Japanese bass + PMF amp Bass Borrowed after the Mustang; model not named (1987-88) (Verified (Krist quote); model unknown) Bass Player via Guitar World
Ibanez Roadster Bass Seen in a well-known very early photo (1987-88) LiveNirvana equipment guide (Earnie Bailey)
Ibanez Black Eagle 2609B (black) Bass Krist recalls buying 'a black Ibanez' for $300; had 3-4; toured throughout; 'Sliver' video; original on display at MoPOP (1987-94) LiveNirvana; Bass Player via Guitar World
Gibson Victory (silver) Bass Smashed at the Riverside, Newcastle upon Tyne, first night of 1989 European tour; Krist said it was the first time he played it, on a Trace Elliot amp (1989-90) LiveNirvana guide; Feb 1990 interview
Fender Precision basses Bass Borrowed '62 P from Kurt Danielson (TAD) at a Seattle Kennel Club show; smashed another P (1989-90) LiveNirvana guide
Unidentified P/J-style bass Bass Lent by Bruce Gordon (Rocktopus) at Lee's Palace, Toronto (1989) (Verified (secondary); model unknown) LiveNirvana guide
Laney Pro-Bass head Amp Bleach-era amp per Bailey (1989-90) LiveNirvana guide
Fender Pro Bass 400 with four 15-inch speakers Amp Krist's own description in Feb 1990 (may be same as Bailey's 'Fender BXR Dual Bass 400' backup) (1990) LiveNirvana Feb 1990 interview
Fender BXR Dual Bass 400 (backup) Amp Backup head (1989-90) LiveNirvana guide
Peavey 2×15 Cab Bleach-era cab (1989-90) LiveNirvana guide
MXR M-104 Distortion+ Effect Krist called it an 'early-'80s MXR Distortion' in 1990 (1989-90) LiveNirvana guide; Feb 1990 interview

Nevermind (1991-1992)

Krist recorded Nevermind on a blonde Gibson Ripper and says the bass went through a DI. On tour the rig grew to a wall of Marshall and Mesa cabinets.

Gear Type Where / when Source
Gibson Ripper (ebony, natural, sunburst) Bass Blonde Ripper on Nevermind per Krist; sunburst in 'Come As You Are' video; ebony in Sub Pop 'In Bloom' footage; two Rippers later stolen (1991-92) LiveNirvana; Bass Player via Guitar World
Gibson RD Artist (ebony, x2) Bass Toured heavily (1991-93) LiveNirvana guide
1960s Zen-On Bass 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' video; Bailey suspects a pawnshop prop (1991) LiveNirvana guide
Ampeg AEB-1 Bass Earnie Bailey's bass, lent for the 'In Bloom' video (1992) LiveNirvana guide
Warwick Dolphin Pro I Bass Studio loaner at the 2 Meter Sessie (Dutch radio) (1991) LiveNirvana guide
Gibson Thunderbird IV (sunburst, ebony) Bass Ebony one given to Matt Lukin (Mudhoney) in 1994 (1992-94) LiveNirvana guide
Ampeg SVT 400T Amp Early 1991; likely Nevermind-era (1991) LiveNirvana guide
Marshall 4×12 (x4), Mesa Road Ready 4×10 (x2), Mesa 2×15 (x2) Cab Nevermind tour rig (1991-92) LiveNirvana guide
Direct input (DI) Recording Krist says Nevermind bass used a DI; In Utero did not (1991) Bass Player via Guitar World (Giants feature)
ProCo Rat 2 Effect Distortion pedal (1992-93) LiveNirvana guide
Boss DS-1 Effect From late 1992 (late 1992-94) LiveNirvana guide

In Utero and MTV Unplugged (1993-1994)

The famous modified HiWatt heads were used to record In Utero. For MTV Unplugged (taped November 18, 1993) Krist played a rented Guild acoustic bass, a borrowed Gibson Hummingbird on the Meat Puppets songs, and Kurt’s accordion.

Gear Type Where / when Source
Gibson RD Standard (ebony) Bass 'Kristmas' gift from Bailey; Brazil festival shows Jan 1993 (1993) LiveNirvana guide
1960s Gibson EB-2 (Pelham Blue) Bass In Utero tour (1993-94) LiveNirvana guide
Guild B-30E acoustic bass Bass Rented from S.I.R. for MTV Unplugged (taped Nov 18, 1993) (1993) LiveNirvana guide
Gibson Hummingbird acoustic guitar Other Curt Kirkwood's, played on the Meat Puppets songs at Unplugged (1993) LiveNirvana guide
Dobren accordion Other Kurt's accordion, played by Krist at MTV Unplugged (1993) LiveNirvana guide
HiWatt Custom 100 / DR103 modified (KT90 tubes) by Andy Marshall (THD) Amp Used to record In Utero; Groove Tubes speaker emulator; Krist still had it with an 8×10 in 2011-12 (1993) LiveNirvana guide; Bass Player via Guitar World
Gallien-Krueger 800RB Amp In Utero tour (1993-94) LiveNirvana guide
Crest 4801 power amp Amp Listed by Bailey (Kurt's) (1993-94) LiveNirvana guide
1968 Marshall Super Lead (6550 tubes) Amp In Utero demos at Reciprocal; 1994 Robert Lang session (1992-94) LiveNirvana guide
Ampeg SVT cabs Cab In Utero tour (1993-94) LiveNirvana guide

Strings across the years

Gear Type Where / when Source
Rotosound RS66 Swing Bass Strings Listed by Bailey; still listed in 2018 Giants equipment box (1987-2018) LiveNirvana; Bass Player via Guitar World

Sweet 75 (1995-1997)

In Sweet 75 Krist and Yva Las Vegas switched instruments by song, and Krist moved to the 12-string guitar. We have not found a source that names the exact models.

Gear Type Where / when Source
Acoustic 12-string, then an electric 12-string (model not stated) Other Krist moved to 12-string guitar; bought the electric one in L.A. (1995-97) (Verified; model UNVERIFIED (Fender Electric XII claim not supported)) Reprinted interview on novoselic.com
Bass (model not documented) Bass Krist and Yva switched between bass and guitar by song (1995-97) (Instrument model unverified) novoselic.com Sweet 75 page

Eyes Adrift (2002-2003)

Talking to Guitar World in 2002, Krist mentioned recording with an old Ampeg flip-top amp and ribbon mics. We have not found a source naming his bass from this period.

Gear Type Where / when Source
Old Ampeg flip-top (Portaflex) Amp Krist mentions recording with an 'old Ampeg flip-top' and ribbon mics (2002-03) (Verified (Krist quote); exact model unverified) Guitar World interview reprint on novoselic.com
Bass (model not documented) Bass No fetched source names his bass (2002-03) (Unverified) No source found

Flipper (2006-2008)

Krist joined Flipper in late 2006 and played on the album Love. If you know what bass he used, let us know and send a source.

Gear Type Where / when Source
Bass (model not documented) Bass Joined Flipper Oct 2006; played on Love (2009) (2006-08) (Membership verified; instrument unverified) NME

Signature RD and the Dave Grohl sessions (2010-2012)

Gear Type Where / when Source
Gibson Krist Novoselic Signature RD Bass Bass Maple body/neck, obeche fingerboard, Seymour Duncan STK-J2 Hot Stack, Grover tuners, ebony nitro, MSRP $2,199; based on his RD Standard (2011) No Treble; Bass Player via Guitar World
Gibson Ripper + ProCo Rat Bass Foo Fighters 'I Should Have Known' (Wasting Light) (2010-12) Bass Player via Guitar World
Bass tuned down to D (model not documented) Bass 'Cut Me Some Slack' (Sound City); Equipboard claims Epiphone Jack Casady – not verified (2012) (Tuning verified; model unverified) Bass Player via Guitar World (Giants feature); Equipboard

Rock Hall induction (2014)

Gear Type Where / when Source
Accordion Other Played on 'All Apologies' with Lorde, Apr 10, 2014 (2014) (Verified; model unverified) Rolling Stone

Giants in the Trees (2017-2019)

With his HiWatt heads retired and donated to MoPOP, Krist moved to an Ampeg SVT through the same 8x10s. He plays bass or accordion in the band.

Gear Type Where / when Source
Epiphone acoustic bass Bass Given to him free after a show with Grohl, Smear and Beck; band started on it (2017-19) Bass Player via Guitar World
1970s Gibson RD Standard (refurbished by Gibson) Bass Main bass on the album (2017-19) Bass Player via Guitar World
Ibanez Black Eagle (tuned to D) Bass For the song 'Blue' (2017-19) Bass Player via Guitar World
Squier Gary Jarman Signature Bass Listed in equipment box (2017-19) Bass Player via Guitar World
Guild acoustic bass Bass Listed in equipment box (2017-19) Bass Player via Guitar World
Ampeg SVT-4PRO + SVT-810 cab Amp His HiWatt heads broke down and were donated to MoPOP; ran SVT through the same 8x10s plus rack distortion (2017-19) Bass Player via Guitar World
Boss DS-1 Effect Listed in equipment box (2017-19) Bass Player via Guitar World
Petosa Artista accordion Other Krist plays bass or accordion in the band (2017-19) Bass Player via Guitar World; KEXP

Bona Fide Band and recent shows (2024-2025)

Gear Type Where / when Source
Gibson Thunderbird (Alpine White) Bass Played at the band's June 2024 debut (Easy Street Records, Seattle) (2024) Guitar World
Accordion Other 'I also play a little accordion' (2024) (Verified (Krist quote); model unverified) The Comet (radarstationart.com)
Bass, then accordion on 'All Apologies' Bass / Other FireAid benefit, Jan 30, 2025; Kim Gordon took bass (2025) (Verified; models unverified) Consequence

What we could not verify

  • The model of Krist’s electric 12-string in Sweet 75 (some sites say Fender Electric XII; we found no first-hand source).
  • His basses in Sweet 75, Eyes Adrift and Flipper.
  • The bass on “Cut Me Some Slack” (2012). Equipboard says Epiphone Jack Casady; we found no first-hand source.
  • Equipboard also lists a Squier Hello Kitty Stratocaster and Dunlop Tortex .60 picks. These are community submissions we could not confirm.
  • Accordion models other than the Dobren (Unplugged) and Petosa Artista (Giants in the Trees).
  • Amp details for 1990: in a February 1990 interview Krist described a Fender Pro Bass 400 into four 15-inch speakers, while Earnie Bailey remembers a Laney Pro-Bass with a Peavey 2×15. Both may be right at different times.

Have a photo date, an interview or a liner note that settles one of these? Contact the webmaster.

Featured photo: Krist on a black Gibson RD bass with Giants in the Trees at the Sasquatch! Music Festival, The Gorge, George, Washington, May 25, 2018. Photo by David Lee, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Sources

The Krist Novoselic Dedication Page is an unofficial fan site and is not affiliated with Krist Novoselic, Nirvana or any manufacturer.