Tone library / Nirvana / Smells like teen spirit

Smells like teen spirit amp settings — Squier SP-10

The Nirvana guitar tone for “Smells like teen spirit”, dialed in for a Squier SP-10 with a Freedom S-Style. 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 — Squier SP-10

CHANNELOverdrive (OD switch in)

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

Don’t have a Squier SP-10? 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 5 · Level 7 · Dist 8

Why these settings

The Squier SP-10 faceplate features only Volume, Gain, Treble, and Bass with an Overdrive push-button, so mid, presence, and reverb are omitted. Because you own no pedals, engage the onboard Overdrive switch with gain at 7 to capture the heavy chorus crunch directly from the amp; keep bass moderate at 5 to prevent the small 6-inch speaker from farting out. Clean verse: disengage the amp's Overdrive push-button and switch your guitar to the neck-and-middle pickup.

PRO TIPDig in hard with a thick pick near the bridge on the raked 16th-note muting between chords; the percussive fret slap is essential to Cobain's explosive rhythm attack.

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These settings are for a Squier SP-10. 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.