Riff Tone

Sappy (2023 Remaster)

Nirvana

Guitarrock1990s

Original Gear

GuitarFender Jaguar (early 70s, likely stock single coils)

AmpFender Quad Reverb

PickupsFender Jaguar single coil pickups

Amp Settings

gain0

bass6

mid6.5

treble6.5

reverb3

presence5

Effects & Signal Chain

No effects used for this tone

Notes

Studio recording, 1993 In Utero sessions, used for clean sections; 2023 remaster is from these original sessions. No evidence of live gear or alternate amps for this section.

Tone Character(10)

bright and glassyclear single-coil articulationslightly scooped midsopen and uncompressedpercussive attacksubtle amp reverb adds spaceno audible modulationdistinct Fender cleanstudio claritydynamic response to picking

Difficulty

The riff is straightforward but requires clean, even picking and dynamic control to maintain clarity and avoid amp breakup.

Sources

What guitar/effects/amp were used on Sappy? : r/Nirvana "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

Create an account to adapt this tone to your gear

Create Free Account