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.

Production Credits

Signal Chain

Recording Notes

• Kurt Cobain's guitar sound on "Come As You Are" is characterized by a prominent chorus effect, achieved using an Electro-Harmonix Small Clone. The amp was likely recorded with a close mic'd SM57.
• The guitars were recorded at Sound City Studios.

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.

Recommended Gear

• Fender Jaguar(guitar)
• Mesa/Boogie Studio .22 Preamp(amp)
• Electro-Harmonix Small Clone(pedal)
• Shure SM57(mic)