Yamaha THR5 settings
Smells Like Teen Spirit settings for Yamaha THR5
Nirvana · adapted 4 times on ToneAdapt
To get the Nirvana "Smells Like Teen Spirit" riff tone on a Yamaha THR5, select the Brit Hi preset, then set Gain 7, Reverb 0, Effect 0, Dly rev 0. Use the bridge pickup with your guitar's tone on 10 and volume on 10.
Riff settings
Adapted for a Ibanez GRG121DX · updated 2026-10-25
- Preset / mode
- Brit Hi
- Pickup
- Bridge pickup
- Guitar knobs
- Tone 10 · Volume 10
Yamaha THR5 knobs
- Gain
- 7
- Reverb
- 0
- Effect
- 0
- Dly rev
- 0
Playing tips
- Use palm muting for a tight, percussive sound.
- Focus on aggressive strumming to enhance the rawness of the tone.
- Experiment with dynamics to create a punchy attack.
The original rig
What Nirvana used on the recording, for reference. ToneAdapt translates this to the controls your Yamaha THR5 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 Yamaha THR5 for Smells Like Teen Spirit?
Start from the Brit Hi preset, then set Gain 7, Reverb 0, Effect 0, Dly rev 0.
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 Ibanez GRG121DX. 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 Yamaha THR5
- Enter Sandman · Metallica
- Sweet Child O' Mine · Guns N' Roses
- Master of Puppets · Metallica
- Holy Wars · Megadeth
- Hotel California · Eagles
- Walk · Pantera
- Whole Lotta Love · Led Zeppelin
- Welcome to the Jungle · Guns N' Roses
- It's Not a Fashion Statement It's a Deathwish · My Chemical Romance
- Plug In Baby · Muse
- Crazy Train · Ozzy Osbourne
- Kuroi Namida · ANNA TSUCHIYA inspi' NANA(BLACK STONES)
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.