Rape me amp settings — Fender Deluxe Reverb

The Nirvana guitar tone for “Rape me”, dialed in for a Fender Deluxe Reverb with a Donner Lp-335. Studio version, In Utero (1993) — iconic loud chorus distortion

Original rig

Univox Hi-Flier Phase 2 / Fender Jaguar -> Tech 21 SansAmp Classic / Boss DS-2 -> 1970s Fender Quad Reverb

Abrasive, mid-focused, raw grunge distortion with jagged attack

Amp settings — Fender Deluxe Reverb

CHANNELNormalBRIGHToff

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Bass	4
Treble	6
Reverb	0
Master	4

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Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01Boss DS-1 Distortion

Primary gain source; run into clean amp input

Tone 6 · Level 8 · Dist 9

02Boss GE-7 Equalizer

Post-distortion mid-push around 800Hz-1.6kHz to replicate the abrasive SansAmp/Quad Reverb midrange bark

100Hz 5 · 200Hz 5 · 400Hz 6 · 800Hz 7 · 1.6kHz 7 · 3.2kHz 5 · 6.4kHz 4 · Level 6

Why these settings

The Fender Deluxe Reverb has a scooped analog voice with no dedicated mid or presence knob on the faceplate, so the DS-1 handles the entire distortion load while running into the low-volume clean channel. The Boss GE-7 is engaged directly after the DS-1 to boost the 800Hz and 1.6kHz bands, replacing the natural mid-scoop of the Deluxe Reverb with the raw, nasal bark of Cobain's SansAmp tone. For the quiet verses, simply step on the DS-1 and GE-7 to drop back to the raw clean tone.

PRO TIPCobain picked aggressively near the bridge with heavy downstrokes; dig in hard with a thin-to-medium pick right above the bridge pickup to get the percussive string clatter heard on the In Utero tracking.

Get this tone on your amp

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

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More tones for the Fender Deluxe Reverb

ParanoidBlack Sabbath Night terrorDream theater MASTER OF PUPPETSMASTER OF PUPPETS Tunnel of LoveDire Straits No More TearsOzzy Osbourne MagbalikCallalily

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Song, artist and gear names are used to identify the tone being matched; ToneAdapt is not affiliated with or endorsed by the artists or manufacturers mentioned. Settings are AI-generated starting points — trust your ears.