Come As You Are amp settings — Marshall DSL40CR
The Nirvana guitar tone for “Come As You Are”, dialed in for a Marshall DSL40CR with a Epiphone Les Paul Classic. Studio version, Nevermind (1991)
1965 Fender Jaguar (neck DiMarzio PAF) → EH Small Clone chorus → Boss DS-1 → Mesa/Boogie Studio .22 preamp (clean) → Crown Power Base 2 → Marshall 4x12
| Knob | Setting (0–10) |
|---|---|
| Gain | 3 |
| Bass | 4 |
| Mid | 6 |
| Treble | 5 |
| Presence | 4 |
| Reverb | 2 |
| Master | 5 |
01Electro-Harmonix Small Clone
RECOMMENDED — not currently owned. This is THE defining sound of the song. Depth switch to 'Deep' position (full), Rate at 10-11 o'clock. Leave on for entire song.
02Boss DS-1
RECOMMENDED — not currently owned. Kick on for chorus sections only. Cobain ran distortion maxed with level at 3 o'clock.
The original used a single-coil Jaguar neck pickup into a clean Mesa platform — your Les Paul humbuckers are hotter and warmer, so I dropped treble -1 from the original's 6 and pulled bass -1 to avoid mud. The DSL's Classic Gain channel with low gain approximates the Mesa's clean-ish foundation. Without the Small Clone chorus, you cannot replicate this tone — it is non-negotiable for the watery riff sound.
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These settings are for a Marshall DSL40CR. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.
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