Tone library / Nirvana / Smells like teen spirit

Smells like teen spirit amp settings — Fender Champion 50XL

The Nirvana guitar tone for “Smells like teen spirit”, dialed in for a Fender Champion 50XL with a Ibanez GIO GRG170DX. Studio version, Nevermind (1991) — Main riff and chorus

Original rig

Fender Stratocaster (Seymour Duncan JB bridge humbucker) -> Boss DS-1 -> Mesa/Boogie Studio Preamp (Clean/Rhythm channel) -> Crown Power Base 2 -> Marshall 1960B 4x12 cab

Aggressive, abrasive grunge distortion with punchy upper mids and tight low end

Amp settings — Fender Champion 50XL

CHANNELClean channel (Voice: Clean / Blackface Voice 1)BRIGHToffBOOSToff

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	2
Bass	6
Treble	6
Reverb	0
Master	5

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Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01Boss DS-2 Turbo Distortion

Primary gain source. Keep Turbo mode set to I (standard DS-1 voicing).

Level 10 · Tone 4 · Dist 8 · Turbo 1

02Electro-Harmonix Small Clone

Set Depth switch to UP. Keep bypassed for the main riff/chorus, kick on for the clean verse and solo.

Rate 5

Why these settings

Because your Boss DS-2 is the primary distortion engine just like Cobain's DS-1 into a clean preamp, the Champion 50XL is set to its clean channel with gain low to prevent muddy double-gain stacking. The Champion 50XL lacks a dedicated Mid knob, so Treble is kept around 6 and Bass at 6 to replicate the Studio Preamp's balanced rhythm foundation while letting the DS-2 supply the aggressive grunge bite. Clean verse: bypass the DS-2 and engage the Small Clone with guitar volume at 10.

PRO TIPDig in hard with a medium-thin pick near the bridge while aggressively muting between the chord stabs on the 4-measure main riff pattern to get that signature percussive 'chug'.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Fender Champion 50XL. 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 Champion 50XL

MIRROR TUNEZUTOMAYO Nothing Is foreverCaliban Sweet Child O' MineGuns N' Roses The WagonDinosaur Jr.Smeel teen spiritNirvana Cemetary GatesPantera

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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.