Riff Tone

Breed

Nirvana

Guitarpunk1990s

Original Gear

GuitarFender Competition Mustang

AmpMesa/Boogie Studio Preamp into Crown Power Base 2 Poweramp (with Marshall 4x12 cab, Celestion G12T-75 speakers)

PickupsStock single-coil pickups (Fender Mustang, late 60s/early 70s type)

Amp Settings

gain0

bass6

mid6

treble6.5

reverb1

presence5

Effects & Signal Chain

No effects used for this tone

Notes

Studio recording for 'Nevermind' (1991); gear confirmed by producer Butch Vig and multiple sources for the album sessions. No evidence of alternate guitars or amps for clean sections. No pedalboard effects confirmed for clean sections.

Tone Character(10)

bright and glassyarticulate single-coil clarityslightly scooped midstight, percussive attackminimal breakupdynamic response to pickingsubtle amp reverbno audible modulationstudio-produced clarityno compression or sustain effects

Difficulty

The clean riff is straightforward but requires tight, fast strumming and dynamic control to keep the tone clean at tempo.

Sources

Kurt Cobain's Guitar Rig, Gear & Pedalboard | Equipboard Kurt Cobain's Guitar Rig, Gear & Pedalboard | Equipboard (Mesa/Boogie Studio Preamp)Kurt Cobain's Guitar Rig, Gear & Pedalboard | Equipboard (Marshall 4x12 cab)

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