Riff Tone
Smells like
Unknown Artist
Guitarrock1990s
Original Gear
GuitarFender Japan Jaguar (modded with Seymour Duncan JB bridge humbucker)
AmpMesa/Boogie Studio Preamp into Crown Power Base 2 power amp, Marshall 1960A 4x12 cabinets
PickupsSeymour Duncan JB bridge humbucker
Amp Settings
gain4.5
bass5.5
mid6
treble6.5
reverb1
presence5.5
Effects & Signal Chain
distortionBoss Boss DS-1 Distortion
Notes
Studio recording, 1991. Guitar World and other sources confirm this exact rig for the 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' riff. The amp was set clean and all distortion came from the Boss DS-1 pedal. No amp reverb or delay used. Chorus pedal not used in riff section, only in verse/solo.
Tone Character(10)
raspy, buzzy distortiontight, compressed power chord attackaggressive, percussive rhythmmid-forward, punchy soundnotably dry with little to no reverbslight top-end sizzlefull-bodied, thick wall of soundarticulate, not muddyno chorus or modulation in riffstudio clarity with minimal ambience
Difficulty
The riff requires tight, aggressive strumming with palm muting and dynamic accents, but uses simple power chords and no advanced techniques.
Sources
Create an account to adapt this tone to your gear
Create Free AccountGuitarrock1990s
Original Gear
GuitarFender Japan Jaguar (modded with Seymour Duncan JB bridge humbucker)
AmpMesa/Boogie Studio Preamp into Crown Power Base 2 power amp, Marshall 1960A 4x12 cabinets
PickupsSeymour Duncan JB bridge humbucker
Amp Settings
gain4.5
bass5.5
mid6
treble6.5
reverb1
presence5.5
Effects & Signal Chain
distortionBoss Boss DS-1 Distortion
Notes
Studio recording, 1991. Guitar World and other sources confirm this exact rig for the 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' riff. The amp was set clean and all distortion came from the Boss DS-1 pedal. No amp reverb or delay used. Chorus pedal not used in riff section, only in verse/solo.
Tone Character(10)
raspy, buzzy distortiontight, compressed power chord attackaggressive, percussive rhythmmid-forward, punchy soundnotably dry with little to no reverbslight top-end sizzlefull-bodied, thick wall of soundarticulate, not muddyno chorus or modulation in riffstudio clarity with minimal ambience
Difficulty
The riff requires tight, aggressive strumming with palm muting and dynamic accents, but uses simple power chords and no advanced techniques.
More Unknown Artist tones
- No more tears · riff
- спокойная ночь · solo
- emergency contact pierce the veil · solo
- Laid to rest · riff
- Stabwound · riff
- 5 Minutes Alone · riff
- cocoon catfish and the bottlemen · riff
- emergency contact pierce the veil · riff
- Hotel California solo · solo
- hysteria · riff