Tone library / Nirvana / Stay Away

Stay Away amp settings — Fender Mustang LT25

The Nirvana guitar tone for “Stay Away”, dialed in for a Fender Mustang LT25 with a Fender Mustang. Studio version, Nevermind (1991)

Original rig

1969 Fender Mustang / 1965 Jaguar with DiMarzio humbuckers, Boss DS-1 / ProCo Rat, Fender Bassman / Mesa Studio Preamp into Crown Power Base 2 and Marshall 4x12 cab

Aggressive, abrasive punk-grunge distortion with sharp treble bite and tight low end
Amp settings — Fender Mustang LT25
CHANNELFender Clean ('65 Twin Clean voice)BRIGHToffBOOSToff
GAIN 2 BASS 6 TREBLE 5 REVERB 0 MASTER 6
KnobSetting (0–10)
Gain2
Bass6
Treble5
Reverb0
Master6
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Guitar
PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10
Signal chain

01Boss DS-1 Distortion

Gain source — run straight into amp front input

Tone 4 · Level 9 · Dist 8
Why these settings

Because you own a real Boss DS-1, it serves as your primary distortion source, requiring the Mustang LT25 to be set to a clean amp voice with amp gain kept low (2) to prevent muddy double-gain stacking. The Mustang LT25 lacks mid and presence controls, so the DS-1 Tone knob is dialed back slightly to 4 to balance your Mustang guitar's bright single-coil bridge pickup and avoid harsh treble fizz. Keep the CH-1 bypassed for this track as the guitars are direct, aggressive, and bone-dry.

PRO TIPUse heavy downstrokes near the bridge with an aggressive attack to get the scratchy, percussive bite heard on the record's main riff.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Fender Mustang LT25. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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