TONEDB

lead guitar from “come as you are” by nirvana | ToneDB

come as you are

nirvana

lead guitar

AI generatedv1.0

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.

Gear

Fender Stratocasterinstrument
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Mesa/Boogie Studio .22 Preampamp
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blankmicrophone
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Electro-Harmonix Small Cloneprocessing
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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 Stratocaster

Amp: Mesa/Boogie Studio .22 Preamp

Microphone: blank

Processing: Electro-Harmonix Small Clone

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

  • Fender Stratocaster(guitar)
  • Electro-Harmonix Small Clone(pedal)
  • Mesa/Boogie Studio .22 Preamp(amp)

Substitutions & Recommendations

Boss CE-2W Waza Craft Chorus$180-$220

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

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Mesa/Boogie Mark Five: 25$1,200-$1,400

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

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TC Electronic Corona Chorus$80-$120

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

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Neural DSP Archetype Plini$100-$130

Alternative to: Complete signal chain

Includes high-quality chorus effects and amp models that can recreate the smooth, chorused grunge tone with precise control

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Squier Classic Vibe 60s Stratocaster$400-$500

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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Sources

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