Riff Tone

Smells Like Teen Spirit (Live In Los Angeles, Great Western Forum - December 30, 1993)

Nirvana

Guitarrock1990s

Original Gear

GuitarFender Mustang (likely 1969 Competition, left-handed, stock single coil bridge pickup)

AmpTech 21 SansAmp Classic (amp modeler, Mesa setting) into Crest 4801 Power Amp and Marshall 4x12 cabinets

PickupsStock Fender Mustang single coil (bridge position)

Amp Settings

gain4.5

bass5.5

mid5.5

treble6.5

reverb1.5

presence3

Effects & Signal Chain

chorusElectro-Harmonix Electro-Harmonix Small Clone

Notes

Live performance, December 30, 1993, Great Western Forum, Los Angeles. This is from the In Utero tour era. Kurt's 1993 live rig used the SansAmp Classic as the main preamp/amp sound, not a traditional tube amp. The clean tone for the riff/verse is achieved with the SansAmp set clean, bridge pickup, and chorus pedal. No evidence of a Fender Twin or Mesa/Boogie preamp for this specific live era.

Tone Character(10)

bright and cuttingwatery chorus shimmerslightly scooped midsarticulate highstight low endraw and unpolisheddynamic strumming attackpresent, focused cleanmodulation depthsubtle room ambience

Difficulty

The riff is rhythmically straightforward but requires tight strumming, clean muting, and timing with the chorus effect for the signature sound.

Sources

Nirvana – Live And Loud - Gear & Equipment Used on the Album | Equipboard Kurt's 1993 Touring Rig - includes guitars, amplification and signal ...Kurt Cobain's Guitar Rig, Gear & Pedalboard | Equipboard Kurt Cobain‘s guitar tone on Nirvana‘s Smells Like Teen Spirit: secrets behind the sound | Guitar World

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