rhythm guitar from “drain you” by nirvana | ToneDB
drain you
nirvana
rhythm guitar
Tone Profile
A raw, aggressive, and heavily distorted grunge rhythm guitar tone. It's characterized by its thick, fuzzy sound and prominent mid-range frequencies, perfect for driving the energy of the song.
Shop This Rig
ToneDB may earn a commission from purchases made through these links.
The Story
Kurt Cobain's rhythm guitar tone on "Drain You" was recorded at Sound City Studios with producer Butch Vig using a Fender Jaguar through a Mesa Boogie Studio .22 amplifier. The distinctive sound comes from stacking a Boss DS-1 Distortion and Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi fuzz pedal, creating a thick wall of distortion that became a signature of Nirvana's sound. The guitar was captured with a Shure SM57 microphone positioned close to the amp's speaker, and multiple guitar tracks were layered to achieve the dense, aggressive texture heard on the recording.
Production Credits
Producer: Butch Vig
Engineer: Butch Vig
Recorded at: Sound City Studios, Van Nuys, CA
Signal Chain
Instrument: Fender JaguarShop on Reverb
Amp: Mesa Boogie Studio .22Shop on Reverb
Microphone: Shure SM57Shop on Reverb
Processing: Boss DS-1Shop on Reverb, Electro-Harmonix Big Muff PiShop on Reverb
Recreation Tips
- Use a guitar with single-coil pickups for a brighter, more aggressive starting point.
- Experiment with stacking the Boss DS-1 and Big Muff Pi to find the right balance of distortion and fuzz.
- Adjust the EQ on your amplifier to emphasize the mid-range frequencies.
- Consider using a tape emulation plugin to add warmth and saturation to your signal.
Original Gear
ToneDB may earn a commission from purchases made through these links.
Substitutions & Recommendations
Alternative to: Boss DS-1 Distortion
The exact same pedal Kurt used - still in production and provides that signature midrange-heavy distortion that cuts through the mix
Alternative to: Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi
The original fuzz pedal is still made today and provides the thick, sustaining fuzz that blends with the DS-1 for that Nirvana wall-of-sound
Alternative to: Mesa Boogie Studio .22
Offers excellent pedal response and clean headroom similar to the Studio .22, allowing the stacked pedals to shine without additional amp distortion
Alternative to: Fender Jaguar
Delivers the same single-coil pickup brightness and shorter scale length as Kurt's Jaguar at a more accessible price point
Alternative to: Mesa Boogie Studio .22 + pedal stack
Includes excellent fuzz and distortion models that can be stacked digitally, plus tape saturation effects to emulate the analog recording chain
Frequently Asked Questions
Community Insights
No community insights yet. Be the first to contribute!