Tone library / Nirvana / Come As You Are

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 Ibanez RG550. Studio version, Nevermind (1991) — iconic clean intro and main riff

Original rig

1965 Fender Jaguar (neck pickup, tuned D standard) -> Electro-Harmonix Small Clone chorus -> Mesa/Boogie Studio Preamp -> Crown Power Amp -> Marshall 4x12 cab

Warm, watery, dark clean tone with deep chorus modulation

Amp settings — Marshall DSL40CR

CHANNELClassic Gain (Clean mode)BOOSToff

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	3
Bass	6
Mid	5
Treble	4
Presence	3
Reverb	2
Master	5

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Guitar

PICKUPneck TONE7 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01Electro-Harmonix Small Clone Chorus

RECOMMENDED — not currently owned (run direct into amp input)

Rate 5 · Depth Switch 10

Why these settings

The DSL40CR's Classic Gain Clean channel provides the necessary headroom, but its EL34 power section is naturally brighter than Cobain's dark Mesa Studio Preamp. Treble and presence are dialed down to tame top-end bite and smooth out the Ibanez V7 neck pickup. To replicate the heavy chorus modulation from the record, adding an EHX Small Clone in front of the clean channel is essential. Distorted chorus section: switch to the Ultra Gain (OD1) channel at gain 6 with tone knob up.

PRO TIPTune the guitar down one full step to D Standard (D-G-C-F-A-D) to get the loose string tension and low-end sag essential to this riff's feel.

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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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