Tone Profile

A raw and aggressive grunge sound, characterized by a thick, distorted tone with a slight chorus effect, creating a swirling, powerful presence. It's a sound that's both chaotic and iconic, defining the grunge era.

Production Credits

Signal Chain

Recording Notes

• The guitar sound was achieved by running a Fender Stratocaster into a Boss DS-1 distortion pedal for the main distortion.
• An Electro-Harmonix Small Clone chorus pedal was used to add depth and a swirling effect to the distorted tone.
• The signal was then fed into a Mesa/Boogie Studio .22 Preamp. A Shure SM57 was used to capture the amp's sound.

Recreation Tips

• Start with a Fender Stratocaster and a Mesa/Boogie Studio .22 Preamp.
• Use a Boss DS-1 distortion pedal with the gain set relatively high to get the core distortion sound.
• Add an Electro-Harmonix Small Clone chorus pedal to thicken the sound and create the signature swirling effect.
• Experiment with microphone placement on the Mesa Boogie to dial in the final tone. An SM57 is a great starting point.

Recommended Gear

• Fender Stratocaster(guitar)
• Boss DS-1(pedal)
• Electro-Harmonix Small Clone(pedal)
• Mesa/Boogie Studio .22 Preamp(amp)
• Shure SM57(mic)