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Smells Like Teen Spirit (Nirvana) bass tone and bass amp settings

Smells Like Teen Spirit bass tone on a Fender Rumble 40 V3: medium gain (Gain 6), forward low-mids (Low Mid 2), forward high-mids (High Mid 2), neck P pickup.

Tuning: E standard

Settings for your amp

Pick a reference amp

Smells Like Teen Spirit settings on a Fender Rumble 40 V3

Fender Rumble 40 V3 settings for every song

AmpFender Rumble 40 V3

Gain6
BrightOff
ContourOff
VintageOn
OverdriveOff
Bass+1
Low Mid+2
High Mid+2
Treble0
Set to your roomMaster

BassPassive P/J bass

Neck Volume (P)10Keep the punchy P pickup dominant; blend in bridge definition.
Bridge Volume (J)6Adds growl and note edge without thinning the foundation.
Tone7
The same settings in text

Amp

Gain
6
Bright
Off
Contour
Off
Vintage
On
Overdrive
Off
Bass
+1
Low Mid
+2
High Mid
+2
Treble
0
Master
Set to your room

Passive P/J bass

Neck Volume (P)
10
Bridge Volume (J)
6
Tone
7

Smells Like Teen Spirit settings on an Ampeg Rocket Bass RB-108

Ampeg Rocket Bass RB-108 settings for every song

AmpAmpeg Rocket Bass RB-108

SGTOff
Set to your roomVolume
Bass+1
Midrange+2
Treble+1

BassPassive P/J bass

Neck Volume (P)10Full P pickup gives the blend a round, punchy foundation.
Bridge Volume (J)5Adds some bridge bite without thinning the P pickup.
Tone7.5Keeps enough attack while smoothing excess brightness.
The same settings in text

Amp

SGT
Off
Volume
Set to your room
Bass
+1
Midrange
+2
Treble
+1

Passive P/J bass

Neck Volume (P)
10
Bridge Volume (J)
5
Tone
7.5

Smells Like Teen Spirit settings on any bass amp with Bass, Mid, Treble, Drive

Amp

Bass6
Mid7
Treble6
Drive4

BassPassive P/J bass

Neck Volume (P)8Keeps the punchy low-mid foundation prominent.
Bridge Volume (J)6Adds growl and definition without overpowering the P pickup.
Tone8
The same settings in text

Amp

Bass
6
Mid
7
Treble
6
Drive
4

Passive P/J bass

Neck Volume (P)
8
Bridge Volume (J)
6
Tone
8
The control panel of a vintage guitar amplifier, close up

Why it sounds like that

Guitar strings over the frets, close up

Krist Novoselic played a blonde Gibson Ripper on Nevermind, through an Ampeg SVT amp. The bass was recorded with a direct box and a microphone: a FET 47 and a Sennheiser RE20 were placed on it, and only the 47 was used. On this song he locks the verse riff tight to the drums and never takes his fingers off the strings, bending with his left thumb, adding vibrato and sliding between the notes.

  • Put a couple of microphones on the bass, and expect to use only one of them.
  • Lock the verse riff tight to the drums and keep your fingers on the strings.

What amp did Krist Novoselic use on Smells Like Teen Spirit?

A guitarist’s pedalboard, a dozen pedals cabled together

Krist Novoselic

Bass
Gibson Ripper[1]
Amp
Ampeg SVT[3]
  • Novoselic played a blonde Gibson Ripper on Nevermind; he had two, and the blonde one sounded different from his black one. (on the album Nevermind)[1]
  • Krist Novoselic said: ‘I didn't use a DI, but I did on Nevermind.’ (on the album Nevermind)[2][3]
  • Vig said Novoselic's bass went through an Ampeg SVT amp on Nevermind. (on the album Nevermind)[3]
  • Vig said he uses a customised Tech 21 Sansamp as a bass DI, with a live split, because it produces more of an amp sound. (in a later era)[3]
  • Vig placed a FET 47 and a Sennheiser RE20 on the bass on Nevermind and used only the 47. (on the album Nevermind)[3]
  • Vig said he usually put a couple of mics on the bass and ended up using only one. (in a later era)[3]
  • Novoselic said he uses his left thumb a lot for bending, adds vibrato on the notes, and slides between notes. (in a later era)[2]
  • Verse: Novoselic said he tries to lock the verse bass riff of Smells Like Teen Spirit tight to the drums and never takes his fingers off the strings. (on this song)[2]
  • Guitar World's gear list gives the strings and tuning as standard. (on this song)[4]

Questions

What amp did Krist Novoselic use on Smells Like Teen Spirit?

The sources on this page document Krist Novoselic's gear on Smells Like Teen Spirit by Nirvana: bass, Gibson Ripper [1]; amp, Ampeg SVT [3]. Each value cites the numbered source it comes from, listed at the foot of the page.

What are the Smells Like Teen Spirit settings on a Fender Rumble 40 V3?

For the Smells Like Teen Spirit bass tone on a Fender Rumble 40 V3, set Gain 6, Vintage On, Bass +1, Low Mid +2, High Mid +2, Treble 0; on the passive P/J bass, Neck Volume (P) 10, Bridge Volume (J) 6, Tone 7. Set Master to your room. They are AI-assisted starting points; adjust them by ear on your own amp.

What are the Smells Like Teen Spirit settings on an Ampeg Rocket Bass RB-108?

For the Smells Like Teen Spirit bass tone on an Ampeg Rocket Bass RB-108, set Bass +1, Midrange +2, Treble +1; on the passive P/J bass, Neck Volume (P) 10, Bridge Volume (J) 5, Tone 7.5. Set Volume to your room. They are AI-assisted starting points; adjust them by ear on your own amp.

What tuning is Smells Like Teen Spirit in?

Smells Like Teen Spirit by Nirvana is played in E standard, according to the cited source [4]. Tune to it before you set the amp, or the riff will not sit right against the record.

Can I get the Smells Like Teen Spirit tone on my own amp?

Yes. The settings above cover 2 reference amps and any amp with the basic controls. For your exact rig, KnobMaster, an iPhone app, sets every knob of your own amp, bass and pedals for Smells Like Teen Spirit, using only the controls your gear has.

Get it for your exact rig

KnobMaster sets every knob of your own amp, bass and pedals for this song.

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