GuitarCleanRiff
Rape Me Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Nirvana
Nirvana · 1990s · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Fender Stratocaster Left Handed (1992-1993, 'Lithium Stratocaster')
Pickups
Seymour Duncan Hot Rails (bridge), stock single coils (neck/middle)
Amp
Mesa Boogie Studio Preamp into Crown Power Base 2 or Crest Audio 4801 Poweramp (In Utero era studio setup)
Pickup Position
Neck pickup
Studio recording, 1993, In Utero sessions. Guitar is the white left-handed Stratocaster with Hot Rails bridge pickup, but clean sections likely used neck or middle pickup. No evidence of aluminum guitar or Mustang for clean riff. No pedal distortion for clean part.
Amp Settings
Mids7
Bass5.5
Gain0
Reverb1
Treble6.5
Presence5.5
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Tone Character
- bright and glassy
- clear note separation
- slightly compressed attack
- minimal breakup
- articulate and open
- dynamic response to picking
- subtle amp reverb
- unprocessed and raw
- classic 90s alternative clean
- no audible modulation