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Joyo DC-15 settings

Smells Like Teen Spirit settings for Joyo DC-15

Nirvana · adapted 6 times on ToneAdapt

To get the Nirvana "Smells Like Teen Spirit" riff tone on a Joyo DC-15, set Gain 7, Bass 5, Mid 6, Treble 6. Use the bridge pickup with your guitar's tone on 10 and volume on 10.

Riff settings

Adapted for a Harley Benton ST-20 · updated 2026-11-04

Pickup
Bridge pickup
Guitar knobs
Tone 10 · Volume 10

Joyo DC-15 knobs

Gain
7
Bass
5
Mid
6
Treble
6

Playing tips

  • Use palm muting on power chords for a tight, percussive sound.
  • Strum aggressively to achieve a raw, saturated tone.
  • Focus on a strong attack to cut through the mix.

The original rig

What Nirvana used on the recording, for reference. ToneAdapt translates this to the controls your Joyo DC-15 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 Joyo DC-15 settings for Smells Like Teen Spirit?

Set Gain 7, Bass 5, Mid 6, 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 Harley Benton ST-20. 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 Joyo DC-15

All 20 songs for the Joyo DC-15 →

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.