GuitarCleanRiff
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
Mids6.5
Bass4.5
Gain0
Reverb1
Treble7
Presence5.5
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