Tone library / nirvana / polly

polly amp settings — cort cm15R

The nirvana guitar tone for “polly”, dialed in for a cort cm15R with a ibanez grg121DX. Studio version, Nevermind (1991)

Original rig

Stella 12-string acoustic (strung with 5 dead nylon strings, tuned down ~1.5 steps) mic'd with an AKG C414

Dry, warm, woody, dead-acoustic strum with prominent low-mids and muted top end
Amp settings — cort cm15R
CHANNELCleanBOOSToff
GAIN 2 BASS 6 TREBLE 4 REVERB 1 MASTER 4
KnobSetting (0–10)
Gain2
Bass6
Treble4
Reverb1
Master4
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Guitar
PICKUPneck TONE6 VOLUME9
Why these settings

The original recording is a 5-string acoustic guitar mic'd directly with no amplifier. To emulate that warm, percussive acoustic body on an electric guitar through a Cort CM15R (which lacks a mid control), use the Clean channel with low gain, push the bass slightly for body, roll treble back to avoid piezo-like harshness, and keep reverb almost off. Selecting your Ibanez's neck humbucker with the tone rolled down to 6 rounds off the electric attack.

PRO TIPStrum with a medium-soft downstroke dynamic close to the neck joint rather than near the bridge, and use a loose grip on a thin pick to replicate the floppy, dull percussive thud of Kurt's unvarnished Stella acoustic.

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These settings are for a cort cm15R. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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