Drain you amp settings — Fender Blues Junior IV
The Nirvana guitar tone for “Drain you”, dialed in for a Fender Blues Junior IV with a Jet Stratocaster. Studio version, Nevermind (1991) — composite of Mesa Boogie and Fender Bassman overdubs
Fender Mustang (stock single-coils) / Fender Stratocaster → Boss DS-1 → Mesa Boogie Studio Preamp + Crown Power Base 2 (verses) / Fender Bassman with ProCo Rat (choruses) → Marshall 4x12
| Knob | Setting (0–10) |
|---|---|
| Gain | 3 |
| Bass | 5 |
| Mid | 7 |
| Treble | 5 |
| Reverb | 0 |
| Master | 6 |
01Boss DS-1 Distortion
Cobain's DS-1 had tone around 10 o'clock, distortion at 4, level maxed. This is your primary gain source.
02Boss MD-2 Mega Distortion
Use INSTEAD of DS-1 for the 'super grunge' chorus sections — approximates the Rat-into-Bassman saturation. Do not stack with DS-1.
03EHX Small Clone
Engage only for clean intro/bridge wobbly passages. Depth switch OFF (shallow). Bypass for distorted sections.
Your Blues Junior is a clean-platform amp — it won't crunch like the Bassman or Mesa at gig volume, so the DS-1 must provide all the gain. I dropped amp gain to 3 and pushed mids to 7 to compensate for the Fender's natural mid-scoop versus Cobain's mid-forward Mesa/Bassman blend. Treble pulled to 5 because your Strat's single-coils are brighter than his stock Mustang pickups; the original's treble sat around 6-6.5 on warmer amps.
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These settings are for a Fender Blues Junior IV. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.
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