Tone library / Nirvana / Breed

Breed amp settings — Donner DA 10

The Nirvana guitar tone for “Breed”, dialed in for a Donner DA 10 with a Fender American Ultra Stratocaster. Studio recording, Nevermind (1991) - Main Riff / Rhythm

Original rig

Fender Mustang / Strat with bridge humbucker -> ProCo Rat / Boss DS-1 -> Mesa/Boogie Studio Preamp + Crown Power Base 2 into Marshall 4x12 cab

Raw, raspy, mid-heavy punk distortion with aggressive pick attack
Amp settings — Donner DA 10
CHANNELDistortion / DriveBOOSToff
GAIN 8 BASS 6 TREBLE 7 REVERB 0 MASTER 6
KnobSetting (0–10)
Gain8
Bass6
Treble7
Reverb0
Master6
Don’t have a Donner DA 10? See this song on other amps → Match your own rig →
Guitar
PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10
Signal chain

01ProCo Rat 2 or Boss DS-1

RECOMMENDED — not currently owned; with pedal, switch DA 10 to Clean channel and set amp gain to 2

Distortion 7 · Filter / Tone 6 · Volume 7
Why these settings

The Donner DA 10 is a small practice amp featuring a 2-band EQ (no dedicated mid or presence controls), so mid-bite must be coaxed by pushing the drive channel gain to 8 and keeping treble lively at 7. On your Stratocaster, roll tone fully open on the bridge single-coil to capture Kurt's aggressive, cutting pick attack. When you acquire a DS-1 or Rat pedal, run the amp on the clean channel with low gain to let the stompbox handle the primary clipping.

PRO TIPDig in hard near the bridge with a medium-heavy pick, hitting the downstrokes aggressively on the low strings to replicate the gritty percussive bite of the main riff.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Donner DA 10. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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