lead guitar from “come as you are” by nirvana | ToneDB
come as you are
nirvana
lead guitar
Tone Profile
A dark, swirling, and slightly chorus-laden tone that's both haunting and iconic. The sound is watery and thick, with a subtle fuzz.
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The Story
Kurt Cobain achieved the signature swirling tone on "Come As You Are" using a Fender Stratocaster run through an Electro-Harmonix Small Clone chorus pedal into a Mesa/Boogie Studio .22 Preamp. The track was recorded at Sound City Studios with producer Butch Vig. The Small Clone's watery chorus effect was essential to the song's haunting character, while the Mesa/Boogie preamp provided the smooth, slightly fuzzy distortion that underpins the iconic riff.
Production Credits
Producer: Butch Vig
Engineer: n/a
Recorded at: Sound City Studios, Van Nuys, CA
Signal Chain
Instrument: Fender StratocasterShop on Reverb
Amp: Mesa/Boogie Studio .22 PreampShop on Reverb
Microphone: blankShop on Reverb
Processing: Electro-Harmonix Small CloneShop on Reverb
Other: blank
Recreation Tips
- Start with a Stratocaster-style guitar for the single-coil clarity and bite.
- Use an Electro-Harmonix Small Clone chorus pedal and adjust the rate and depth to match the original tone. Subtle adjustments are key.
- Employ a Mesa/Boogie amp or similar amp capable of producing a smooth, slightly fuzzy distortion.
- Adjust the amp's EQ to emphasize the midrange frequencies for a thick sound.
Original Gear
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Substitutions & Recommendations
Alternative to: Electro-Harmonix Small Clone chorus
Provides the same lush, analog chorus character as the original Small Clone with vintage CE-1 and CE-2 modes that nail the watery, detuned effect
Alternative to: Mesa/Boogie Studio .22 Preamp
Modern Mesa amp with the same smooth, singing distortion character and midrange focus as the vintage Studio .22
Alternative to: Electro-Harmonix Small Clone chorus
Budget option with Small Clone emulation mode that captures the essential watery chorus texture at a fraction of the cost
Alternative to: Complete signal chain
Includes high-quality chorus effects and amp models that can recreate the smooth, chorused grunge tone with precise control
Alternative to: Fender Stratocaster
Provides authentic single-coil Strat pickups and tone at a budget-friendly price point for that essential bite and clarity
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