Kurt Cobain's Delay Pedal | Boss DM-2 | Nirvana Pedal History Episode 2

Taking an extensive look at Kurt Cobain's Pre-Bleach delay pedal, his Boss DM-2. Also discussing his little known wah-wah pedal, which was often used together with the DM-2.

Discussing every currently known recorded use of it, and recreating exactly how he used it.

0:00 - Introduction
1:25 - How do we know it's the Boss DM-2?
2:18 - May 1987 KAOS radio show performance
2:52 - Boss DM-2w overview
3:34 - My Pre-Bleach/Dale Demo tone set up
4:16 - Which songs the DM-2 was used on
5:05 - The mystery of Kurt's wah-wah pedal
5:24 - If You Must
7:19 - Every currently known recorded instance of Kurt using the DM-2
9:31 - Love Buzz
11:30 - What if Kurt kept the DM-2 long term?

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[saulgoodman]

Fun fact! Dave also used this pedal in Foo Fighters! Also the “double track” setting on the polychorus is basically just slap back delay, so Kurt actually did use delay on Scentless Apprentice!

[magraretsbane]

This’ll be interesting, I suspect it’ll piss some people off as well. I appreciate the time and effort you put into these historical videos, there isn’t a better source as far as I’m concerned

[EngineeredNonsense]

4:41 the sound there isn’t using a wah, I know it well. It’s what I call the “Graham Coxon flick”. You run the DM-2 by itself into full oscillation with the delay time + intensity maxed, and flick the time back to a lower speed. The pitch drops EXACTLY like the radio sound. You can hear the same effect in the intro to Blur’s ‘Cowboy Song’ (and a bunch of other songs, but “Cowboy” has it front and center in the mix). Brilliant video! I really appreciate seeing such a deep dive on that stuff.

[theshiningemerald]

HE NEVER MISSES!!! Also never knew he even HAD a delay nor wah, thank you very much for the information as always <3

[jakubtetour]

The fact you can find out what pedal KC used, just by the color on a low res picture from the 87 shows just how amazing boss's branding is

[matijamohenski]

Im just amazed how you keep finding such interesting information about Kurts gear. Excellent work as allways.

[alfiemcallister]

Man I love your work your actually one of the reasons i started to play guitar

[papigoku]

For the sound At 4:32 Kurt is most likely on the ground turning the repeat time knob on the DM-2 to get the oscillating noises. As apposed to using the wah

[Runkpocker]

Always fun to see other gear kurt used other than what is generally known. Loved the lat part!

[shanedingz]

Wow, man. I’ve been a huge Kurt/Nirvana fan since the ‘90s, and a guitarist, and I just learned something new. I’ve also had a vintage DM-2 on my board for years cause it’s my favourite.
This is going to be fun. Thank you.

[canofbutterfliesanddespair]

When recording Radio Kaos in 1987, Kurt Cobain used a 70s Univox Super Fuzz and an original DM2 with a BBD or Bucket Brigade chip. This chip allows for self-oscillation (instability in pitch, etc., and feedback). Kurt simply moves the knob (or perhaps two knobs) so that the delay significantly distorts the pitch, as well as creates feedback. But I'm not sure about the presence of this chip in the new revisions from WAZA

[pasi]

Never in my wildest dreams I would have thought that Kurt owned a Delay-Pedal! All your videos are just so amazing. And I got to say: "all apologies" would have sounded cool with a bit of delay.

[I_Ohio_Laws]

Keep up the hard work Eric we appreciate it!

[xs-xbih]

imagine if 1988 kurt cobain had a strymon timeline or any other multi effect pedal. he’d go crazy lol

[chanulet]

Wow, it's really cool to see these videos on the older "pre-Bleach" era of Nirvana, I have always heard this effect on If You Must but I had no idea what it was.. One thing I love about your videos is I almost always learn something new from them!
I think it would have been really interesting to hear how else he could've used this pedal, he really had a creative mind with the feedback stuff.. it sounded really cool when you used the delay on the Big Cheese solo.
These pedal history videos are really cool btw, funny seeing people try to argue with you about if he used the grunge pedal lol. i hope to see more!

[Luke_Dude]

Dang never been a fan of delay or delay pedals before but really dig the way Kurt used it. Also never knew Kurt owned one before as well as the wah pedal. Definitely will try these out with my multi-effects.

[ShaunM]

As always, great job! I am really looking forward to the pedal series.

[danielktdoranie]

Didn’t really nail the tone on Incesticide but you nailed how Kurt used the Boss DM-2 and Wah Wah, thank you

[StankyboyMarcus-gnch]

Love the videos keep up the good work!

[yesitsMayshing]

I really appreciate the effort put into these videos, your one of the main sources to get real information on kurts gear and i thank you for that.