Tone Profile

A raw, aggressive, and slightly muddy guitar tone with a strong fuzz/distortion character. It's grunge in a box, perfect for rhythm parts that need to cut through the mix.

Production Credits

Signal Chain

Recording Notes

• Kurt Cobain often layered multiple guitar tracks to achieve a thick, wall-of-sound effect.
• The recorded sound may have been further processed with console EQ and compression during mixing.
• Room ambience was likely minimal, favoring a tight, focused sound.

Recreation Tips

• Start with a Stratocaster-style guitar and dial in a moderate amount of overdrive from the Pro Co RAT.
• Add a subtle chorus effect from the EH Small Clone to thicken the sound.
• Use a Mesa/Boogie amp for the foundation, adjusting the EQ for a slightly scooped mid-range.
• Experiment with mic placement on the amp to find the sweet spot, focusing on a close-mic technique for clarity.

Recommended Gear

• Fender Stratocaster(guitar)
• Mesa/Boogie Studio .22(amp)
• Shure SM57(mic)
• Electro-Harmonix Small Clone(pedal)
• Pro Co RAT(pedal)