What guitar did Kurt Cobain use on Rape Me?

Kurt Cobain used a Fender Jaguar for the rhythm guitar parts on "Rape Me." The Jaguar's short-scale neck and single-coil pickups contributed to the song's distinctive aggressive tone when paired with his distortion setup.

What distortion pedal did Kurt Cobain use on In Utero?

Kurt Cobain used a Pro Co RAT distortion pedal extensively during the In Utero sessions, including on "Rape Me." The RAT was a signature part of his sound, providing the fuzzy, aggressive midrange distortion heard throughout the album.

How to get Kurt Cobain's guitar tone on Rape Me?

Start with a Fender Jaguar or similar guitar with single-coil pickups, run it through a Pro Co RAT distortion pedal into a clean amp like a Mesa/Boogie Studio .22. Record with an SM57 microphone close to the speaker and blend with a direct input signal for clarity.

What amp did Nirvana use on In Utero?

Nirvana primarily used Mesa/Boogie Studio .22 amplifiers during the In Utero sessions at Pachyderm Studio. These compact amps provided a clean foundation that worked well with Kurt's distortion pedals and were easy to mic in the studio environment.

Who produced Nirvana In Utero album?

In Utero was produced by Butch Vig and engineered by Andy Wallace. The album was recorded at Pachyderm Studio in Cannon Falls, Minnesota, and their production approach emphasized the raw, aggressive sound that defined the record.

rhythm guitar from "rape me" by nirvana

rape me

nirvana

rhythm guitar

85% ai confidence

Tone Profile

Aggressive and raw rhythm guitar tone with a distorted and slightly scooped sound, characteristic of Nirvana's grunge aesthetic. It's abrasive and in-your-face, cutting through the mix with a sense of urgency.

Shop This Rig

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Fender Jaguar(instrument)
Mesa/Boogie Studio .22(amp)
Shure SM57(microphone)
Pro Co RAT(processing)

The Story

Kurt Cobain's rhythm guitar tone on "Rape Me" was recorded at Pachyderm Studio using his typical setup of a Fender Jaguar through a Pro Co RAT distortion pedal into a Mesa/Boogie Studio .22 amplifier. The guitar was recorded with a Shure SM57 microphone, and producer Butch Vig and engineer Andy Wallace likely blended the mic'd signal with a direct input for added clarity and punch in the mix.

Production Credits

Producer: Butch Vig

Engineer: Andy Wallace

Recorded at: Pachyderm Studio, Cannon Falls, Minnesota

Signal Chain

Instrument: Fender JaguarShop on Reverb

Amp: Mesa/Boogie Studio .22Shop on Reverb

Microphone: Shure SM57Shop on Reverb

Processing: Pro Co RATShop on Reverb

Recreation Tips

Start with a Fender Jaguar or similar guitar with single-coil pickups.
Use a Mesa/Boogie Studio .22 amplifier or a similar amp with a good clean tone.
Introduce a Pro Co RAT distortion pedal, adjusting the gain to achieve the desired level of distortion.
Place a Shure SM57 microphone close to the speaker cone of the amplifier.
Experiment with blending a direct input signal with the mic'd amplifier signal to add clarity and definition.

Original Gear

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Fender JaguarShop on Reverb(guitar)
Mesa/Boogie Studio .22Shop on Reverb(amp)
Pro Co RATShop on Reverb(pedal)
Shure SM57Shop on Reverb(mic)

Substitutions & Recommendations

Pro Co RAT 2Shop on Reverb$70-$90

Alternative to: Pro Co RAT distortion pedal

Current production version of Kurt's exact distortion pedal, providing the same aggressive midrange bite and fuzzy saturation

Boss Katana 50 MkIIShop on Reverb$230-$280

Alternative to: Mesa/Boogie Studio .22

Clean platform amp that takes pedals well and has built-in recording features, suitable for recreating the Studio .22's clean foundation

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

Alternative to: Fender Jaguar

Affordable version with the same short-scale neck and single-coil pickups that give the Jaguar its distinctive bite and attack

Neural DSP Archetype PliniPlugin Boutique$100-$130

Alternative to: Mesa/Boogie Studio .22 amp tone

Contains clean amp models that respond well to RAT-style distortion plugins for home recording setups

Shure SM57Shop on Reverb$100-$120

Alternative to: Shure SM57 microphone

Same microphone model used on the original recording, still the industry standard for guitar amp recording

Sources

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rhythm guitar from “rape me” by nirvana | ToneDB