Riff Tone

Moist Vagina (2013 Mix)

Nirvana

Guitarpunk2010s+

Original Gear

Guitar1965 Fender Jaguar (modded with DiMarzio PAF neck and DiMarzio Super Distortion bridge)

AmpFender Quad Reverb (half-broken, only one power tube working)

PickupsDiMarzio Super Distortion (bridge), DiMarzio PAF (neck), both humbuckers

Amp Settings

gain7.5

bass6

mid6.5

treble7

reverb1

presence5.5

Effects & Signal Chain

distortionBoss Boss DS-2 Turbo Distortion

distortionTech 21 Tech 21 SansAmp Classic

Notes

Studio recording for 'In Utero' sessions, 2013 mix is a remaster of the original 1993 recording. Main amp was the Quad Reverb, not the Randall or Marshall. Guitar was the modded Jaguar, likely on bridge pickup for riff. Distortion from Tech 21 SansAmp and Boss DS-2 in series.

Tone Character(10)

very bitey and aggressiveraw and abrasive distortionpunchy, mid-forward attackfuzzy, saturated rhythmgritty, punk-inspired edgetight, compressed attackslightly loose low endminimal ambiencepresent upper midsnot scooped, but cutting

Difficulty

The riff is straightforward but requires aggressive picking and control over a noisy, high-gain tone. The main challenge is keeping the rhythm tight and managing feedback.

Sources

"It sounds exactly like the record" – guitarist nails Kurt Cobain's Nirvana In Utero distorted tones with two pedals, a Fender amp and some insider information | MusicRadar Kurt Cobain’s In Utero Guitars and Gear | Ground Guitar The Gear Used on Nirvana's In Utero | Guitar.com

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