Tone library / Nirvana / Smells like a teen spirit

Smells like a teen spirit amp settings — Marshall Mg15g

The Nirvana guitar tone for “Smells like a teen spirit”, dialed in for a Marshall Mg15g with a ESP LTD EC-1000. Main riff and chorus, Studio version, Nevermind (1991)

Original rig

Mesa/Boogie Studio .22+ preamp (Rhythm channel, Bright on), Crown Power Base 2 power amp, Marshall 1960B 4x12, Fender Stratocaster (Seymour Duncan JB humbucker), Boss DS-1 Distortion, Electro-Harmonix Small Clone

Explosive mid-forward grunge distortion with aggressive upper-mid bite and tight low-end

Amp settings — Marshall Mg15g

CHANNELOverdrive (OD)

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	7
Bass	6
Treble	7
Reverb	0
Master	5

Don’t have a Marshall Mg15g? See this song on other amps → Match your own rig →

Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01Boss DS-1 Distortion

RECOMMENDED — not currently owned

Tone 6 · Level 7 · Dist 8

02Electro-Harmonix Small Clone

RECOMMENDED — not currently owned

Rate 4 · Depth 10

Why these settings

The Marshall MG15G has a single Contour control instead of a mid knob (Contour is set to 4 for mid-forward crunch) and lacks presence, so the Overdrive channel carries the distortion. Because the high-output bridge pickup on your EC-1000 pushes hard, amp gain at 7 delivers the heavy chorus saturation directly from the amp. Clean verse: switch to the Clean channel with gain at 3.

PRO TIPHit all four muted string scratches on the intro riff with heavy, aggressive down-up strokes across the lower four strings while clamping your fretting hand flat across the fretboard to prevent ringing.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Marshall Mg15g. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

Get ToneAdapt on Google Play

More tones for the Marshall Mg15g

Drag The watersPantera Master of puppetsMetallica Led to the Chamber / Liquified200 Stab Wounds LithiumNirvana do i wanna knowarctic monkeys DualitySlipknot

Find your amp

Browse

Marshall Mg15g settingsALL SONGS FOR THIS AMP Smells like a teen spirit on other ampsSAME SONG, YOUR AMP Nirvana tonesALL SONGS Nirvana on the Marshall Mg15gSAME ARTIST, SAME AMP ESP LTD EC-1000 tonesSAME GUITAR Tone libraryEVERYTHING

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.