Solo Tone

smells Like teen spirit

Nirvana

Guitarrock1990s

Original Gear

GuitarEarly-'90s Japanese Fender Stratocaster

AmpMesa/Boogie Studio Preamp (Rhythm channel) into Crown Power Base 2 power amp and Marshall 1960B 4x12 cabinet

PickupsSeymour Duncan JB bridge humbucker

Amp Settings

gain6.5

bass4.5

mid6.5

treble6.5

reverb0.5

presence5

Effects & Signal Chain

distortionBoss Boss DS-1 Distortion

chorusElectro-Harmonix Electro-Harmonix Small Clone Chorus

Notes

Studio recording, 1991. Used for the solo and heavy sections of 'Smells Like Teen Spirit'. Guitar World and Equipboard confirm this exact setup for the Nevermind studio sessions. Chorus and distortion pedals were engaged for the solo.

Tone Character(10)

aggressive and saturatedmid-forward and cuttingswirling chorus texturecompressed sustainpronounced pick attackdry, no reverb ambiencegritty and raw distortionslightly scooped lowstight and focusedloud and in-your-face

Difficulty

The solo is straightforward, relying on melodic bends and slides with a strong, aggressive pick attack. No advanced techniques or fast passages are present, making it accessible to most players.

Sources

Kurt Cobain‘s guitar tone on Nirvana‘s Smells Like Teen Spirit: secrets behind the sound | Guitar World Kurt Cobain's Guitar Rig, Gear & Pedalboard | Equipboard Kurt Cobain's guitars, amps & pedals: the definitive guide | Guitar World

This tone has been researched 29 times by the community

Create an account to adapt this tone to your gear

Create Free Account