Tone library / Nirvana / Smells Like Teen Spirit

Smells Like Teen Spirit amp settings — Marshall MG30CFX

The Nirvana guitar tone for “Smells Like Teen Spirit”, dialed in for a Marshall MG30CFX with a Squier HSS. Studio version, Nevermind (1991) — Main Riff & Chorus

Original rig

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

Aggressive, scooped-grunge saturation with sharp pick bite and explosive low-end crunch

Amp settings — Marshall MG30CFX

CHANNELOD-2

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	7
Bass	7
Mid	4
Treble	7
Reverb	0
Master	5

Don’t have a Marshall MG30CFX? 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

Why these settings

Because you do not own a DS-1, use the MG30CFX's high-gain OD-2 channel with gain at 7 to capture the heavy chorus crunch directly from the amp. The MG series is naturally mid-forward, so mid is pulled down to 4 with bass and treble pushed to replicate the scooped Mesa Studio Preamp graphic EQ. Clean verse: tap the footswitch to the Clean channel with tone wide open.

PRO TIPDig in hard with the edge of a heavy pick right near the bridge to accentuate the percussive fret clatter on the four muted string-scratches between riff chords.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Marshall MG30CFX. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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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.