Riff Tone

Jesus Doesn't Want Me for a Sunbeam (Live at The Paramount, 1991)

Nirvana

Guitarpunk1990s

Original Gear

GuitarFender Mustang MG69 (left-handed, 1991 Japanese reissue, as used by Kurt Cobain at Live at the Paramount 1991)

AmpMarshall JCM800 2203 head into Marshall 1960A 4x12 cabinet with Celestion G12T-75 speakers

PickupsSeymour Duncan JB SH-4 (bridge humbucker, as installed in Cobain's Mustang at the time)

Amp Settings

gain0

bass5

mid5.5

treble6

reverb1

presence5

Effects & Signal Chain

No effects used for this tone

Notes

Live performance, October 31, 1991, Seattle Paramount Theatre. Guitar confirmed by multiple sources and video evidence. Amp and cab confirmed by Equipboard and photos from the show. Settings are for the clean (riff/verse) section, not the distorted chorus. No evidence of additional preamps or alternate amps for the clean tone.

Tone Character(10)

clear and janglyslightly compressedwarm and roundedarticulate chord voicingsdynamic responsemodest amp reverbno audible breakupbridge pickup claritydistinct note separationunprocessed, direct amp sound

Difficulty

The riff is based on simple chord shapes with Cobain's unique voicing, played cleanly and dynamically. It requires attention to picking dynamics and chord clarity but is accessible to most players with basic barre chord skills.

Sources

How to Get Nirvana's 1991 'Paramount' Guitar Tone | Ultimate Guitar Kurt Cobain's Guitar Rig, Gear & Pedalboard | Equipboard Kurt Cobain's Guitar Rig, Gear & Pedalboard | Equipboard Nirvana – Live At The Paramount - Gear & Equipment Used on the ...

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