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Fender Blues Junior IV settings

Smells Like Teen Spirit settings for Fender Blues Junior IV

Nirvana · adapted 4 times on ToneAdapt

To get the Nirvana "Smells Like Teen Spirit" riff tone on a Fender Blues Junior IV, set Gain 7, Volume 7, Master 5, Bass 5, Mid 7, Treble 6. Use the bridge pickup with your guitar's tone on 10 and volume on 10.

Riff settings

Adapted for a Squier Classic Vibe '60s Jazzmaster · updated 2026-10-14

Pickup
Bridge pickup
Guitar knobs
Tone 10 · Volume 10

Fender Blues Junior IV knobs

Gain
7
Volume
7
Master
5
Bass
5
Mid
7
Treble
6
Reverb
0
Fat switch
1

Playing tips

  • Use aggressive palm muting to accentuate the percussive attack.
  • Focus on tight, rhythmic strumming for power chords.
  • Experiment with dynamics; play some parts softer and others harder for contrast.

The original rig

What Nirvana used on the recording, for reference. ToneAdapt translates this to the controls your Fender Blues Junior IV actually has.

Guitar
Early-'90s Japanese Fender Stratocaster (rosewood neck, Seymour Duncan JB bridge humbucker)
Amp
Mesa/Boogie Studio Preamp (Rhythm channel) into Crown Power Base 2 power amp, Marshall 1960B 4x12 cabinet with Celestion G12T-75 speakers
Gain
7
Bass
4.5
Mid
6.5
Treble
6.5
Presence
3
Reverb
0
Full Smells Like Teen Spirit tone breakdown, effects and sources →

Different guitar or pedals? Get Smells Like Teen Spirit adapted to your exact rig

These settings were generated for the gear named above. ToneAdapt adapts Nirvana's tone to your own guitar, pickups, amp and pedals in seconds.

Frequently asked questions

What are the best Fender Blues Junior IV settings for Smells Like Teen Spirit?

Set Gain 7, Volume 7, Master 5, Bass 5, Mid 7, Treble 6.

Which pickup should I use for Smells Like Teen Spirit?

Bridge pickup, with the guitar's tone at 10 and volume at 10.

What gear did Nirvana use on Smells Like Teen Spirit?

Guitar: Early-'90s Japanese Fender Stratocaster (rosewood neck, Seymour Duncan JB bridge humbucker). Amp: Mesa/Boogie Studio Preamp (Rhythm channel) into Crown Power Base 2 power amp, Marshall 1960B 4x12 cabinet with Celestion G12T-75 speakers.

Will these settings work with my guitar?

These settings were adapted for a Squier Classic Vibe '60s Jazzmaster. Different pickups change how much gain and treble you need. ToneAdapt adapts the tone to your exact guitar, pickups, amp and pedals.

Popular songs on the Fender Blues Junior IV

All 25 songs for the Fender Blues Junior IV →

Settings are generated by ToneAdapt's tone adaptation for the gear named on this page and are a starting point — every amp, guitar and room is a little different.