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.

Production Credits

Signal Chain

Recording Notes

• Kurt Cobain often used a Mesa/Boogie Studio .22 amp, known for its versatility and ability to produce both clean and high-gain tones.
• A Pro Co RAT distortion pedal was a staple in Cobain's rig for achieving his signature distorted sound.
• The Shure SM57 microphone is a common choice for recording guitar amplifiers due to its durability and ability to capture the amp's sound accurately.
• The original recording likely involved blending the direct input signal with the mic'd amplifier to achieve the final tone.

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.

Recommended Gear

• Fender Jaguar(guitar)
• Mesa/Boogie Studio .22(amp)
• Pro Co RAT(pedal)
• Shure SM57(mic)