Does anyone know how to get your guitar to sound like Nirvana?

[Matt]

I like to play some Nirvana songs and I use a lot of chorus but it still doesn't dound right. Does anyone know how to get that Nirvana sound?

[computer_steve]

THe old Nirvana question. First and foremost I would like to start with the distortion. Use an Electro Harmonix Big Muff, not the boss ds-2. I have been jamming to Nirvana for years and the Muff just sounds better. The guitar you use doesn't really matter. Set the amp on something stupid like treble 10, middle 0 and bass 10. I know this sounds dumb but hey, it works. What type of chorus are you using.

[Matt]

I use an ADA digital delay but I can make it sound like a chorus. I am planning on getting a stompbox soon, though.

[GrungeGod]

Uh, Big Muff has no sustain, it wont do.
Get a DS-1/DS-2.....ah forget it just go to this site
www.kurtsequipment.com

[Matt]

Thanx ya'll!

[johnny]

i believe that kurt used just a lone ds1 distortion for a long time before going to a turbo distortion later on, don't quote me on the turbo distortion though

[jacobhimself]

youll need a real chorus pedal too.... i have found that all chorus pedals will work for nirvana as long as they dont color your tone too much. heres a cool site for nirvana equipment ive read many a time. the http://www.kurtsequipment.com/ site kicks ass

[The User]

Turn down all the treble. Turn up all the mids.


If anyone (alive) knows how to sound like nirvana its Butch Vig. He produced the album Nevermind, the Smashing Pumpkins, and currently plays guitar for garbage.
He says this.
'You want to sound like Nirvana? Write songs as good as Kurt Cobain.'

[Ice age coming]

Originally posted by computer_steve
THe old Nirvana question. First and foremost I would like to start with the distortion. Use an Electro Harmonix Big Muff, not the boss ds-2. I have been jamming to Nirvana for years and the Muff just sounds better. The guitar you use doesn't really matter. Set the amp on something stupid like treble 10, middle 0 and bass 10. I know this sounds dumb but hey, it works. What type of chorus are you using.


I totally agree with you with the BIG MUFF issue, i have a BIG MUFF and you can nail the nirvana sound perfectly. I tried the DS-2 in a music store and i thought it sounded **** i've never liked BOSS DIST. pedals anyway but the sound on it was far away from nirvana

[wihaga83]

mmm... sounds like kurt cobain....

easy, a humbucker (HOT output) equipped guitars -> good Distortion pedals -> CHorus -> a Very loud amp

nah, there you go !!!

[motorcycle loop]

For one thing, the way you should eq your amp should be something like: T-6 M-10 B-7, straight outta his mouth. Next, high output humbuckers. He used quite a few fuzzboxes, it depends on the song, so for a Lithium tone use a Big Muff( other things he used were Boss DS-1's/DS-2, Univox Superfuzz, possibly
used a RAT, since I know Krist used one). Any amp will do, but you need to play loud, and with feeling. Other effects would be a chorus pedal, some flanging... ah, hell, find a polychorus and be done with it.

[Gondo]

Go to your local outdoor power equipement store. Buy yourself a Stihl 26C chainsaw. Drop by Walmart on your way home and pick up a Fenwick fly fishing rod and reel. Hack up your guitar, throw it into the river, fish it out.

Go to your local private surgeon and get your tonsels? and vocal chords cut off.

Plug in test out your newly aquired Nirvana sound.