Tone library / Nirvana / The Man Who Sold The World electrico

The Man Who Sold The World electrico amp settings — Line 6 Pod Go

The Nirvana guitar tone for “The Man Who Sold The World electrico”, dialed in for a Line 6 Pod Go with a Epiphone Les Paul Studio. MTV Unplugged in New York (November 18, 1993) — the iconic acoustic-electric performance

Original rig

Martin D-18E acoustic-electric with Bartolini 3AV pickup, Boss DS-2 Turbo Distortion (used on acoustic for grit), Electro-Harmonix Small Clone chorus, Fender Twin Reverb (as monitor/DI). Signal: guitar → DS-2 → Small Clone → Twin Reverb.

Warm, slightly overdriven acoustic-electric tone with subtle chorus shimmer — intimate, raw, and haunting with low-gain grit on the verses and a touch of modulation throughout

Amp settings — Line 6 Pod Go

CHANNELUS Deluxe Nrm (Fender Deluxe Reverb model) — closest to the clean Twin Reverb platform Cobain usedBRIGHToffBOOSToff

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	3
Bass	5
Mid	6
Treble	5
Presence	4
Reverb	2

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Guitar

PICKUPneck TONE6 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01Scream 808 block (Tube Screamer model — approximates DS-2 low-gain grit on acoustic-electric)

DS-2 was used at low gain for subtle grit, not heavy distortion. TS-style at minimum drive approximates this warmth.

Drive 2 · Tone 5 · Level 6

02Gray Flanger block (set for chorus duty — approximates Small Clone)

Small Clone is a simple chorus with Rate/Depth only. Use flanger with zero regen or the 70s Chorus block if available. Subtle shimmer, not heavy warble.

Speed 3 · Depth 4 · Regen 0 · Mix 5

Why these settings

Original was acoustic-electric through a clean Twin with mild DS-2 grit and Small Clone chorus. Your Les Paul humbuckers are hotter and warmer than the Martin's piezo/magnetic pickup — roll tone to 6 to soften the attack, use neck pickup for warmth. Gain stays low (3) because the DS-2 was providing only subtle edge, not distortion. The 808 Scream at drive 2 adds that hint of grit without mud.

PRO TIPCobain played this with a very light touch and let notes ring — don't dig in hard. The haunting quality comes from dynamics and space, not volume. Try fingerpicking or hybrid picking to capture the delicate attack of the original acoustic performance.

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These settings are for a Line 6 Pod Go. 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.