Tone library / Nirvana / Come As You Are

Come As You Are amp settings — Marshall MG15CDR

The Nirvana guitar tone for “Come As You Are”, dialed in for a Marshall MG15CDR with a Fender Squier Debut Collection Telecaster 0379670554. Studio version, Nevermind (1991) — iconic watery clean intro riff

Original rig

1965 Fender Jaguar / 1969 Mustang (neck pickup) -> Electro-Harmonix 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 — Marshall MG15CDR
CHANNELCleanBOOSToff
GAIN 2 BASS 6 MID 5 TREBLE 4 REVERB 3 MASTER 5
KnobSetting (0–10)
Gain2
Bass6
Mid5
Treble4
Reverb3
Master5
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Guitar
PICKUPneck TONE8 VOLUME10
Signal chain

01Electro-Harmonix Small Clone Chorus

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

Rate 6 · Depth Switch 10
Why these settings

The MG15CDR clean channel provides an uncolored solid-state platform with built-in spring reverb to capture the ambient space of Sound City Studios. Treble is dialed down to 4 and the Telecaster tone knob rolled back to 8 to tame the single-coil bridge bite and mimic Kurt's darker, warmer short-scale Mustang neck pickup. The amp lacks an onboard chorus, so getting an EHX Small Clone (or clone) in front is required for the iconic watery detune effect.

PRO TIPPick the intro riff with medium-soft downstrokes right over the neck pickup area to get a rounded, bass-heavy fundamental without harsh string attack.

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These settings are for a Marshall MG15CDR. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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