Plump by Hole (Riff · Distorted) — Guitar Tone

The Plump by Hole guitar tone is built on a Marshall JCM900, dialed in at gain 7.5/10, bass 6, mid 7, treble 6.5, presence 6 (community-researched baseline). Full breakdown below — then adapt every knob to your exact guitar and amp, free.

Amp settings (0–10)

Community-researched baseline. Your rig is different — GuitarToneAdapt re-dials every knob for your specific guitar, amp and pickups.

How these settings compare

Measured against the 540 rock tones in our researched catalog: Gain 7.5 sits well above the rock average (4.8) — a hotter, more saturated take than most rock tones; mids at 7 are right around average (6.2).

Guitar controls

Original gear

Guitar: Fender Stratocaster (likely 1970s or early 1990s Japanese or American, as used by Courtney Love in this era) · Amp: Marshall JCM900 (most commonly used by Courtney Love in the studio and live for 'Live Through This' era, including 'Plump')

Studio recording, 1993-1994, 'Live Through This' album sessions. No direct source confirms pedal use for 'Plump' riff; most sources reference amp distortion. No evidence of additional effects or pedals in the riff section.

Gear used on this tone

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Pickups

Bridge pickup

Signal chain

Fender Stratocaster (likely 1970s or early 1990s Japanese or American, as used by Courtney Love in this era) → Marshall JCM900 (most commonly used by Courtney Love in the studio and live for 'Live Through This' era, including 'Plump')

Effects

Fender Stratocaster → Marshall JCM900 (amp gain, spring reverb low)

Amp effects: Reverb (spring, level 2)

Tone character

thick and saturated, aggressive and crunchy, tight and percussive, mid-heavy punch, raw grunge texture, articulate pick attack, minimal ambience, no modulation or delay, slightly scooped but not thin, classic 90s alternative distortion

Recording context

studio

How it’s played

straight, fast tempo, loud dynamics · high-gain distortion. This shapes how hard the amp is pushed and where the EQ sits for the Plump sound.

Difficulty

2.5/5 · Riff

The riff requires fast, accurate power chord changes and tight palm muting, but uses straightforward rhythm and no advanced techniques.

Level: Beginner-friendly — see more easy guitar songs to play →

Worth knowing

• No direct source confirms exact amp or pedal settings for 'Plump' riff; settings estimated based on typical Marshall JCM900 usage in 1990s alternative rock.
• No evidence of pedals or effects used in the riff section; distortion is likely from amp only.
• Guitar model inferred from period photos and interviews; Courtney Love used Fender Stratocasters with Marshall amps during 'Live Through This' sessions.
• Pickup type and selector position inferred from typical grunge/alternative rhythm tones and live footage.
• Settings are estimated based on genre, era, and amp type; no explicit numeric values found in sources.
• Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Courtney Love's tone on 'Plump' is aggressive, mid-forward, and crunchy, typical of 90s alternative/grunge. She often used high gain Marshall amps (JCM800/900), with mids pushed, moderate bass, and not much reverb for a dry, punchy sound. The presence and treble are set to cut but not harsh, matching the era's production style.

Plump guitar tone — FAQ

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Sources

• Struggling to get a good heavy rock tone. Amp settings or gear issue?
• [QUESTION] How do you know what amp settings to use?????

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More like this

🎸 How to get Hole’s guitar tone →  ·  🎸 more Rock guitar tones →  ·  🎛️ best rock amp settings →  ·  🎸 more iconic guitar riffs →  ·  🎚️ Distortion tone guide →  ·  🎚️ Reverb tone guide →  ·  🎯 more scooped mids tones →  ·  📖 New to amp settings? What every knob does →

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