Tone library / Nirvana / Smells like teen spirit

Smells like teen spirit amp settings — Yamaha THR10II

The Nirvana guitar tone for “Smells like teen spirit”, dialed in for a Yamaha THR10II with a Fender Player Stratocaster. Studio version, Nevermind (1991) — main riff and chorus distortion

Original rig

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

Raw, aggressive pedal-driven grunge distortion with punchy upper-mid bite

Amp settings — Yamaha THR10II

CHANNELLEAD (Modern British style)

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

Don’t have a Yamaha THR10II? See this song on other amps → Match your own rig →

Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01Boss DS-1 Distortion

RECOMMENDED — not currently owned; with pedal, run into CLEAN amp model with gain at 2

Tone 6 · Level 8 · Dist 8

Why these settings

Because you don't own a DS-1 distortion pedal, use the THR10II's onboard 'LEAD' amp model to deliver the aggressive crunch directly from the amp. A stock Player Strat single-coil has less low-mid thickness than Kurt's Seymour Duncan JB humbucker, so keep bass at 6 and gain at 7 to compensate for the lower pickup output. Keep onboard reverb off as the studio rhythm track is punchy and dry.

PRO TIPHit the muted 16th-note chucks in the main riff aggressively across all six strings with a heavy down-up motion, relying on your fretting hand to firmly deaden the unplayed strings.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Yamaha THR10II. 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.