What guitar did Kurt Cobain use on Come As You Are?

Kurt Cobain used a Fender Jaguar on "Come As You Are." The Jaguar's unique pickup switching and shorter scale length contributed to the song's distinctive darker guitar tone.

What chorus pedal did Nirvana use on Come As You Are?

Nirvana used an Electro-Harmonix Small Clone chorus pedal to create the swirling, hypnotic effect on "Come As You Are." This pedal was a staple of Kurt Cobain's setup throughout the Nevermind era.

How to get Kurt Cobain's tone on Come As You Are?

To recreate Kurt's tone, use a Fender Jaguar or similar offset guitar through a clean-to-slightly-driven amp like a Mesa/Boogie, and add heavy chorus with an Electro-Harmonix Small Clone. The chorus effect should be prominent and set to create that characteristic swirling sound.

What amp did Kurt Cobain use on Nevermind?

Kurt Cobain primarily used a Mesa/Boogie Studio .22 Preamp during the Nevermind sessions at Sound City Studios. This preamp was known for its clean headroom and ability to go from pristine cleans to slightly overdriven tones.

Where was Come As You Are recorded?

"Come As You Are" was recorded at Sound City Studios in Van Nuys, California during the Nevermind album sessions in 1991. The album was produced by Butch Vig, who also handled engineering duties.

rhythm guitar from "come as you are" by nirvana

come as you are

nirvana

rhythm guitar

85% ai confidence

Tone Profile

A dark and swirling chorus-drenched rhythm guitar, with a slightly fuzzy edge. The tone is thick and syrupy, creating a hypnotic and unsettling atmosphere.

Shop This Rig

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Fender Jaguar(instrument)
Mesa/Boogie Studio .22 Preamp(amp)
Shure SM57(microphone)
Electro-Harmonix Small Clone(processing)

The Story

Kurt Cobain's rhythm guitar on "Come As You Are" was recorded using a Fender Jaguar through a Mesa/Boogie Studio .22 Preamp, with the distinctive swirling sound created by an Electro-Harmonix Small Clone chorus pedal. The track was recorded at Sound City Studios during the Nevermind sessions with producer Butch Vig. The guitar was captured using a close-miked Shure SM57 microphone, and the prominent chorus effect gives the riff its characteristic dark, hypnotic quality.

Production Credits

Producer: Butch Vig

Engineer: Butch Vig

Recorded at: Sound City Studios

Signal Chain

Instrument: Fender JaguarShop on Reverb

Amp: Mesa/Boogie Studio .22 PreampShop on Reverb

Microphone: Shure SM57Shop on Reverb

Processing: Electro-Harmonix Small CloneShop on Reverb

Recreation Tips

Start with a Fender Jaguar or similar guitar with humbucker pickups.
Use a Mesa/Boogie Studio .22 Preamp or similar amplifier known for its clean and slightly crunchy tones.
Apply a generous amount of chorus using an Electro-Harmonix Small Clone or similar chorus pedal.
Experiment with the depth and rate of the chorus to match the swirling effect in the original recording.
Use an SM57 close to the speaker, adjusting placement to capture the amp's tone and avoid excessive harshness.
Consider double-tracking the guitar part and panning each track slightly to enhance the thickness and width of the sound.

Original Gear

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Fender JaguarShop on Reverb(guitar)
Mesa/Boogie Studio .22 PreampShop on Reverb(amp)
Electro-Harmonix Small CloneShop on Reverb(pedal)
Shure SM57Shop on Reverb(mic)

Substitutions & Recommendations

Squier Classic Vibe '60s JaguarShop on Reverb$400-450

Alternative to: Fender Jaguar

Delivers the Jaguar's unique pickup configuration and switching options that contribute to the darker tone on this track

Mesa/Boogie Mark Five: 25Shop on Reverb$1400-1600

Alternative to: Mesa/Boogie Studio .22 Preamp

Modern Mesa preamp section with similar clean-to-edge-of-breakup tones that defined the original Studio .22

Orange Crush Pro 60Shop on Reverb$300-400

Alternative to: Mesa/Boogie Studio .22 Preamp

Budget option that provides clean headroom and slight compression similar to the Studio .22's character

Electro-Harmonix Small CloneShop on Reverb$70-90

Alternative to: Electro-Harmonix Small Clone

The exact same chorus pedal used on the original recording, still manufactured today

Neural DSP Archetype: Kurt CobainPlugin Boutique$100-120

Alternative to: Complete signal chain

Plugin specifically modeled after Kurt's entire rig including the Small Clone chorus and amp tones

Sources

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