GuitarDistortedRiff
Serve the Servants Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Nirvana
Nirvana · 1990s · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Fender Mustang (early 70s, likely Competition Blue, as used on In Utero sessions)
Pickups
Stock single-coil pickups (Fender Mustang, 1970s era)
Amp
Fender Twin Reverb (Silverface, studio recording, 1993 In Utero sessions)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording, 1993, produced by Steve Albini at Pachyderm Studio. Cobain used his early 70s Fender Mustang for the main riff, plugged into a Fender Twin Reverb. No evidence of live/tour gear or alternate guitars for this section.
Amp Settings
Mids7
Bass6
Gain6.5
Reverb1.5
Treble6.5
Presence5
Effects Chain
- Boss DS-1 Distortion · distortion
Fender Mustang → Boss DS-1 Distortion → Fender Twin Reverb (spring reverb low)
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Tone Character
- cutting and raw
- mid-heavy punch
- grating and aggressive
- percussive attack
- minimal ambience
- slightly fuzzy
- tight and focused
- unpolished edge
- dynamic response to picking
- slight breakup on chord stabs