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Smells Like Teen Spirit — Nirvana1 / 2
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Smells Like Teen Spirit Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Nirvana

Nirvana · 1990s · rock

studio

Original Recording

Guitar
1965 Fender Jaguar (left-handed, with DiMarzio Super Distortion bridge and DiMarzio PAF neck pickups)
Pickups
DiMarzio PAF (neck), DiMarzio Super Distortion (bridge)
Amp
Mesa/Boogie Studio Preamp into Crown Power Base 2 power amp and Marshall 4x12 cabinets
Pickup Position
Neck pickup (DiMarzio PAF)

Studio recording, 1991, Nevermind album sessions at Sound City Studios. Clean tone for verse/riff section. Guitar and amp confirmed for this recording; settings inferred from sources and era.

Amp Settings

Mids
6.5
Bass
4.5
Gain
0
Reverb
1
Treble
7
Presence
5.5

Effects Chain

  • Electro-Harmonix Small Clone · chorus

Guitar → Electro-Harmonix Small Clone → Mesa/Boogie Studio Preamp → Crown Power Base 2 → Marshall 4x12 cabinets (with light spring reverb from amp)

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Tone Character

  • watery and modulated
  • bright and slightly scooped
  • articulate attack
  • percussive strumming
  • clear note separation
  • modulated shimmer
  • dynamic, not compressed
  • slightly glassy
  • chorus shimmer
  • open and airy

Notes & Caveats

  • ⚠️Gain adjusted to 0 for clean tone
  • ⚠️Exact amp knob settings for the clean section are not directly cited in sources; settings are estimated based on typical Mesa/Boogie Studio Preamp clean tones, Cobain's stated preference for 'all the midrange up', and period-appropriate EQ.
  • ⚠️Sources confirm the Electro-Harmonix Small Clone chorus was used for the clean/verse sections, but do not specify knob settings.
  • ⚠️Pickup choice inferred from typical Cobain usage and tone characteristics; some sources mention both Jaguar and Mustang, but Jaguar is most likely for the studio recording.
  • ⚠️Presence setting is estimated, as no direct source lists this value.
  • ⚠️Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Kurt Cobain used a high-gain, crunchy tone with moderate bass, slightly scooped mids, and bright but not harsh treble, typical of early 90s grunge. The amp (likely a Mesa/Boogie or similar) was set dry with no reverb, matching the raw, aggressive sound of the riff and the production style.

Sources