Roland Cube 40GX settings
Smells Like Teen Spirit settings for Roland Cube 40GX
Nirvana · adapted 2 times on ToneAdapt
To get the Nirvana "Smells Like Teen Spirit" riff tone on a Roland Cube 40GX, select the Brit Combo preset, then set Gain 7, Bass 5, Mid 6, Treble 6, Reverb 0, Lead gain 7. Use the bridge pickup with your guitar's tone on 10 and volume on 10.
Riff settings
Adapted for a Fender Stratocaster · updated 2026-09-09
- Preset / mode
- Brit Combo
- Pickup
- Bridge pickup
- Guitar knobs
- Tone 10 · Volume 10
Roland Cube 40GX knobs
- Gain
- 7
- Bass
- 5
- Mid
- 6
- Treble
- 6
- Reverb
- 0
- Lead gain
- 7
- Tap tempo
- 0
- I cube link
- 0
- Lead volume
- 6
- Master volume
- 7
- Jc clean volume
- 0
Playing tips
- Use palm muting for a tight, percussive sound.
- Focus on aggressive strumming to achieve a raw, saturated tone.
- Experiment with picking dynamics to enhance the attack of the chords.
The original rig
What Nirvana used on the recording, for reference. ToneAdapt translates this to the controls your Roland Cube 40GX 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
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 preset should I use on the Roland Cube 40GX for Smells Like Teen Spirit?
Start from the Brit Combo preset, then set Gain 7, Bass 5, Mid 6, Treble 6, Reverb 0, Lead gain 7.
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 Fender Stratocaster. Different pickups change how much gain and treble you need. ToneAdapt adapts the tone to your exact guitar, pickups, amp and pedals.
Smells Like Teen Spirit on other amps
- Smells Like Teen Spirit on Fender Mustang LT25 · 447
- Smells Like Teen Spirit on Fender Frontman 10G · 208
- Smells Like Teen Spirit on Boss Katana · 186
- Smells Like Teen Spirit on Fender Frontman 15G · 80
- Smells Like Teen Spirit on Fender Champion II 25 · 66
- Smells Like Teen Spirit on Line 6 Helix Floor / LT / Rack · 61
- Smells Like Teen Spirit on Fender Champion 20 · 60
- Smells Like Teen Spirit on Fender Frontman 20G · 53
Popular songs on the Roland Cube 40GX
- Hotel California · Eagles
- Sultans of Swing · Dire Straits
- Sweet Child O' Mine · Guns N' Roses
- Master of Puppets · Metallica
- Before I Forget · Slipknot
- Enter Sandman · Metallica
- Knee Socks · Arctic Monkeys
- Crazy Train · Ozzy Osbourne
- Take Me Out · Franz Ferdinand
- Welcome to the Jungle · Guns N' Roses
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.