GuitarCleanRiff
Come As You Are Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Nirvana
Nirvana · 1990s · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Fender Kurt Cobain Signature Jaguar (1991 studio recording, but likely a Fender Mustang or Jaguar with single-coil pickups for the riff section; some sources mention a 1969 Fender Competition Mustang or a Fender Jaguar, but the most consistent evidence for the Nevermind studio session is a Fender Jaguar with DiMarzio PAF and Super Distortion pickups, though the riff is likely played on the neck pickup, which is a single-coil)
Pickups
Single-coil neck pickup (Fender Jaguar or Mustang, exact model debated, but single-coil for riff section)
Amp
Mesa/Boogie Studio .22 Preamp into Crown Power Amp (studio recording, Nevermind era)
Pickup Position
Neck pickup
Studio recording, 1991, Nevermind album. Guitar tuned down to D standard (DGCFAD). Effects chain includes Electro-Harmonix Small Clone chorus pedal. No evidence of amp reverb or delay. Pickup selector set to neck position for riff. No fuzz/distortion pedal used for the riff section; clean/modulated tone.
Amp Settings
Mids5.5
Bass6
Gain4
Reverb0
Treble6.5
Presence5.5
Effects Chain
- Electro-Harmonix Small Clone · chorus
Guitar → Electro-Harmonix Small Clone → Mesa/Boogie Studio .22 Preamp → Crown Power Amp
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Tone Character
- watery and swirling
- dark and brooding
- clean and modulated
- warm neck pickup sound
- slightly compressed
- lush chorus texture
- articulate single-note clarity
- no distortion or fuzz
- open, ringing notes
- subtle attack, not aggressive