Tone library / Nirvana / Come as you are

Come as you are amp settings — Harley Benton HR-20R

The Nirvana guitar tone for “Come as you are”, dialed in for a Harley Benton HR-20R with a Harley Benton BS-20BK. Studio version, Nevermind (1991) — iconic watery clean intro riff

Original rig

1965 Fender Jaguar / 1969 Mustang (single-coil neck) -> EHX Small Clone chorus -> Mesa/Boogie Studio Preamp / Vox AC30 (clean)

Warm, watery modulated clean with slight low-end depth and lush detuned chorus

Amp settings — Harley Benton HR-20R

CHANNELCleanBOOSToff

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	2
Bass	6
Mid	5
Treble	5
Reverb	2
Master	4

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Guitar

PICKUPneck TONE8 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01Electro-Harmonix Small Clone (Chorus)

RECOMMENDED — not currently owned; essential for the watery signature modulation

Rate 6 · Depth Switch (0=Down, 10=Up) 10

Why these settings

Set the HR-20R to the Clean channel with low gain to keep the tone pristine and round. The humbuckers on the BS-20BK are darker and hotter than Cobain's single-coil Mustang, so roll tone back slightly to 8 while keeping amp mids neutral to prevent muddiness. Chorus is the defining element of this riff; adding a Small Clone or basic analog chorus pedal in front of the amp will nail the exact watery warble. Distorted chorus/solo section: engage the amp's Overdrive channel switch.

PRO TIPKurt tuned down a full D-standard (D-G-C-F-A-D) for this track and used very light pick attack near the neck pickup to keep the open-string drone warm and blooming.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Harley Benton HR-20R. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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Song, artist and gear names are used to identify the tone being matched; ToneAdapt is not affiliated with or endorsed by the artists or manufacturers mentioned. Settings are AI-generated starting points — trust your ears.