Riff Tone
Verse Chorus Verse (Outtake)
Nirvana
Guitarrock1990s
Original Gear
GuitarFender Stratocaster (likely Japanese or Mexican, with Seymour Duncan JB bridge humbucker mod)
AmpMesa/Boogie Studio Preamp → Crown Power Base 2 power amp → Marshall 4x12 cabinets
PickupsSeymour Duncan JB (bridge humbucker), stock single coils (middle/neck)
Amp Settings
gain7
bass6
mid6.5
treble7
reverb1.5
presence5.5
Effects & Signal Chain
distortionBoss Boss DS-1 Distortion
Notes
Studio recording, 1991 Nevermind sessions; gear inferred from session documentation and interviews. No evidence of live-specific gear for this outtake. Guitar modded with Seymour Duncan JB in bridge. Used Boss DS-1 for distortion. No evidence of chorus or delay in the riff section for this song.
Tone Character(10)
aggressive and saturatedtight and punchymid-heavy and cuttingraw, unpolished grungepercussive palm mutingfocused attack from bridge humbuckerminimal ambiencedynamic and loudslightly compressed from pedalno modulation or delay in riff
Difficulty
The riff requires tight, aggressive power chord playing with palm muting and dynamic attack, but uses straightforward chord shapes and rhythm.
Sources
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Create Free AccountGuitarrock1990s
Original Gear
GuitarFender Stratocaster (likely Japanese or Mexican, with Seymour Duncan JB bridge humbucker mod)
AmpMesa/Boogie Studio Preamp → Crown Power Base 2 power amp → Marshall 4x12 cabinets
PickupsSeymour Duncan JB (bridge humbucker), stock single coils (middle/neck)
Amp Settings
gain7
bass6
mid6.5
treble7
reverb1.5
presence5.5
Effects & Signal Chain
distortionBoss Boss DS-1 Distortion
Notes
Studio recording, 1991 Nevermind sessions; gear inferred from session documentation and interviews. No evidence of live-specific gear for this outtake. Guitar modded with Seymour Duncan JB in bridge. Used Boss DS-1 for distortion. No evidence of chorus or delay in the riff section for this song.
Tone Character(10)
aggressive and saturatedtight and punchymid-heavy and cuttingraw, unpolished grungepercussive palm mutingfocused attack from bridge humbuckerminimal ambiencedynamic and loudslightly compressed from pedalno modulation or delay in riff
Difficulty
The riff requires tight, aggressive power chord playing with palm muting and dynamic attack, but uses straightforward chord shapes and rhythm.
Verse Chorus Verse (Outtake) settings for your amp
Exact settings ToneAdapt players use on these amps.
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