Three Ways to Get the Smells Like Teen Spirit Sound: Plugins, Budget Setup, or Studio Gear
Nail the tone, play the legendary riff like Kurt!
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Three Ways to Get the Smells Like Teen Spirit Sound: Plugins, Budget Setup, or Studio Gear · Source: Pictorial Press Ltd / Alamy
The Smells Like Teen Spirit Sound: How can you achieve it and not break the bank? What is the most convenient way? And what do you need to get as close as possible? We’ll show you three ways to achieve Kurt Cobain’s guitar sound on Nirvana’s biggest hit: with plugins, with affordable beginner pedals, and as close to the original as possible!
Our Guide to Get the Grunge Sound!
The Smells Like Teen Spirit Sound: What Kurt Cobain Used
Kurt mostly played a left-handed “Jag-Stang,” a hybrid of a Jaguar and a Mustang, during the Nevermind sessions, with a preference for a Seymour Duncan humbucker in the bridge position. Cobain also frequently played Mustangs and Jaguars alongside various Stratocaster models. The 60s Fender Mustang in Lake Placid Blue is often associated with Kurt.
As far as the mells Like Teen Spirit sound is concerned, there are three different timbres in the song: the clean, rather strummy intro and the clean sounds in the verses; the heavily distorted version of the intro riff in the chorus, and the washed-out solo with a chorus effect.
Nirvana used two types of amps in the studio. For clean sounds, Kurt switched between a Fender Bassman and a Vox AC30. If he wanted a more powerful, riffy sound, Cobain used a rig consisting of a Mesa/Boogie studio preamp, a Crown Power Base 2 power amp, and several Marshall 4×12 speakers.
Software: Use These Plugins To Achieve the Smells Like Teen Spirit Sound!
Let me preface the easiest and cheapest way to achieve the Smells Like Teen Spirit sound with one important detail: While there are loads of virtual amps and pedals, the guitar itself, let alone Cobain’s style, needs to be there already, in physical form! There is no “Cobain-Plugin”, that plays a virtual guitar. This is about a solution where you already own a guitar, a DAW, and an interface (and cables!).
There are several software alternatives for the Boss DS-1. Plugin Alliance offers the VST “bx_distorange” as a free download (after registration). For those who are looking for a little more variety and are fans of modded DS-1s, there is also the Audiority Distortion-1, which comes with eight optional mods for a modest $20.
As for the chorus effect for the solo, there is a free plugin called TAL Chorus LX. While it is based on the chorus of a Juno synthesizer, not a Small Clone, it will definitely get you in the ballpark. If you prefer something more versatile and analog, take a closer look at the D16 Group Syntorus2*. And if you’re looking for a pedal, amp, and chorus in one package, check out IK Multimedia Amplitube 5* with the Mesa/Boogie expansion* (and maybe wait for one of IK Multimedia’s many sales).
Budget Gear for the Smells Like Teen Spirit Sound
If you’re looking for a hardware solution, including a guitar, to get that Smells Like Teen Spirit sound, there are quite a few affordable beginner options. When it comes to guitars, the Harley Benton JA-60SB* comes surprisingly close to the original Mustang in terms of looks and sound. Regarding the DS-1, it’s tough to recommend any cheaper alternative, as Boss’ classic is already so affordable.
Take a closer look at the Mooer Ultra Drive Mk II* pedal here. As for an alternative to the EHX Small Clone, Cobain’s preferred chorus effect, you can’t go wrong with the analog Afterglow Chorus from TC Electronic*. As a versatile clean amp that sounds great and offers a whole range of other amp sounds, the Line 6 Catalyst* is a good entry-level model.
Get Close to the Smells Like Teen Spirit Sound with This Gear!
Let’s get down to business: our mission here is to get as close as possible to the sound of Kurt’s guitar on Smells Like Teen Spirit, with budget being (almost) irrelevant. Of course, the first thing we need is a genuine Fender Kurt Cobain Jaguar*. This signature model also comes with high-gain pickups that deliver the crunchy grunge sound we’re after in terms of output.
When it comes to pedals, it’s obvious: you need a genuine Boss DS-1* for distortion and a genuine EHX Small Clone* for chorus. For the amp, aim for a tube-driven clean sound, and you can’t go far wrong with a genuine (albeit newer) Vox AC30*. Now all you have to do is play the riff as funky as Cobain did!
Conclusion
Now it’s your turn! Which plugins, which affordable gear, which legendary premium pedals and amps do you use to get close to the Smells Like Teen Spirit sound? What other tips do you have for playing the song as good as possible?
Let us know in the comments!
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One response to “Three Ways to Get the Smells Like Teen Spirit Sound: Plugins, Budget Setup, or Studio Gear”
I wanted to like this article, but there are so many inaccuracies and obvious signs of either lack of actual research or AI that it cannot be taken seriously. Everything from the erroneous mention of the Jagstang (which was not produced until after “Nevermind” was released) to the suggestion of a Line6 amp instead of a Fender Champion series amp for a basic clean tone (which literally has a Bassman emulation built in) just all seems uninformed and kinda lazy. For those interested, Kurt’s main guitars during those sessions were a mostly stock Mustang and a heavily modified Jaguar (previously owned by Cliff Richard’s guitarist), and a few other odds and ends.