ToneAdapt

Loading...

Back to Community

Riff Tone

Rape Me

Nirvana

Guitarpunk1990s

Original Gear

GuitarFender Stratocaster (Left-Handed, likely with Seymour Duncan Hot Rails bridge pickup, 'Lithium Stratocaster')
AmpMesa Boogie Studio Preamp into Crown Power Base 2 or Crest Audio 4801 Poweramp (In Utero era studio rig)

Amp Settings

gain7
bass6

Create an account to see all tone details

Create Free Account

Effects & Signal Chain

Notes

Studio recording, 1993 (In Utero). Guitar is the white left-handed Stratocaster with Hot Rails bridge pickup, used for rhythm/riff. Amp is Mesa Boogie Studio Preamp with rack power amp, as confirmed for In Utero sessions. No evidence of modulation or time-based effects on the riff section; distortion is from pedals and/or preamp. Settings estimated due to lack of direct numeric data.

Tone Character(10)
aggressive midrange punchraw, biting attackslightly scooped but not hollowtight, percussive rhythmgrainy, saturated distortionclear note separationminimal sustainno audible modulationdynamic response to pickingslight amp room ambience

Difficulty

The riff is built on straightforward power chords and aggressive strumming, with little technical complexity beyond maintaining energy and tightness.

Create an account to adapt this tone to your gear

Create Free Account