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Stay Away Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Nirvana
Nirvana · 1990s · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Fender Stratocaster with Seymour Duncan JB humbucker (bridge position)
Pickups
Seymour Duncan JB humbucker (bridge)
Amp
Mesa/Boogie Studio Preamp into Crown Power Base 2 power amp, Marshall 4x12 cabinets
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording for Nevermind (1991). Guitar is a Fender Stratocaster with a Seymour Duncan JB humbucker in the bridge. Amp is Mesa/Boogie Studio Preamp into Crown Power Base 2 and Marshall 4x12 cabs. Boss DS-1 Distortion pedal provides main distortion. No chorus or modulation effects used in the riff section of 'Stay Away'.
Amp Settings
Mids6.5
Bass6
Gain8
Reverb1
Treble7
Presence5.5
Effects Chain
- Boss DS-1 Distortion · distortion
Fender Stratocaster (bridge Seymour Duncan JB) → Boss DS-1 Distortion → Mesa/Boogie Studio Preamp → Crown Power Base 2 → Marshall 4x12 cabinets
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Tone Character
- aggressive and saturated
- tight and punchy
- mid-heavy and cutting
- raw and uncompressed
- percussive palm-muted chugs
- slightly scooped highs
- minimal ambience
- bridge pickup bite
- loud and dynamic
- gritty grunge texture
Notes & Caveats
- No direct source for 'Stay Away' specific amp knob settings; values estimated based on Nevermind-era studio rig and genre-typical settings.
- No evidence of chorus, flanger, phaser, or delay in the riff section of 'Stay Away'; only distortion pedal (Boss DS-1) is confirmed.
- Exact pickup selector position not documented for this song, but bridge humbucker is standard for Cobain's rhythm tones on Nevermind.
- Settings are inferred from similar Nevermind tracks and Cobain's known studio rig, not from a direct interview or session sheet for 'Stay Away'.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Kurt Cobain's 'Stay Away' riff uses a high-gain, mid-forward, raw tone typical of his late-80s/early-90s setup (DS-1/DS-2 into a cranked Marshall or Mesa), with moderate bass and treble for punch and clarity, neutral presence, and a completely dry signal as was standard for Nevermind's production.