Riff Tone
Smells Like Teen Spirit (Live at Reading, 08/30/92)
Nirvana
Guitarrock1990s
Original Gear
GuitarEarly-'90s Japanese Fender Stratocaster (left-handed, rosewood neck, Seymour Duncan JB bridge humbucker)
AmpMesa/Boogie Studio Preamp (Rhythm channel) → Crown Power Base 2 power amp → Marshall 1960B 4x12 cabinet (Celestion G12T-75 speakers)
PickupsSeymour Duncan JB bridge humbucker
Amp Settings
gain6.5
bass4.5
mid7
treble6.5
reverb0
presence5.5
Effects & Signal Chain
distortionBoss Boss DS-1 Distortion
Notes
Live at Reading Festival, August 30, 1992. This is a live performance, not the studio recording. Cobain used the bridge humbucker for the heavy riff sections. Effects chain confirmed for live use in this era.
Tone Character(10)
raspy, biting distortionmid-heavy, cutting through the mixtight, punchy attackraw, uncompressed live soundminimal reverb for directnessbridge humbucker for maximum outputpercussive, driving rhythmaggressive, saturated power chordspalm-muted chugs and open chord stabsclassic grunge wall-of-sound
Difficulty
The riff is built on simple power chords but requires tight, aggressive strumming, fast chord changes, and dynamic control for the iconic grunge sound.
Sources
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Create Free AccountGuitarrock1990s
Original Gear
GuitarEarly-'90s Japanese Fender Stratocaster (left-handed, rosewood neck, Seymour Duncan JB bridge humbucker)
AmpMesa/Boogie Studio Preamp (Rhythm channel) → Crown Power Base 2 power amp → Marshall 1960B 4x12 cabinet (Celestion G12T-75 speakers)
PickupsSeymour Duncan JB bridge humbucker
Amp Settings
gain6.5
bass4.5
mid7
treble6.5
reverb0
presence5.5
Effects & Signal Chain
distortionBoss Boss DS-1 Distortion
Notes
Live at Reading Festival, August 30, 1992. This is a live performance, not the studio recording. Cobain used the bridge humbucker for the heavy riff sections. Effects chain confirmed for live use in this era.
Tone Character(10)
raspy, biting distortionmid-heavy, cutting through the mixtight, punchy attackraw, uncompressed live soundminimal reverb for directnessbridge humbucker for maximum outputpercussive, driving rhythmaggressive, saturated power chordspalm-muted chugs and open chord stabsclassic grunge wall-of-sound
Difficulty
The riff is built on simple power chords but requires tight, aggressive strumming, fast chord changes, and dynamic control for the iconic grunge sound.
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