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Independent research by truerecs. Not affiliated with, endorsed or verified by Nirvana. Every item links to its public source.
29 items · Last checked

What guitar does Nirvana play?

Kurt Cobain was seen with Fender Mustangs, Jaguars, a Boss DS-1 and an Electro-Harmonix Small Clone. Krist Novoselic said he played a blonde Gibson Ripper on Nevermind and later a Gibson RD. Dave Grohl was seen using a Tama Granstar kit with Ludwig Black Beauty and Tama Bell Brass snares.

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AllTop 5Kurt CobainKrist NovoselicDave GrohlRecording Nevermind
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What gear Nirvana uses: a sourced gear guide

Independent research by truerecs: every item links to the public source it comes from.

Kurt Cobain

15 items

Krist Novoselic

5 items

Dave Grohl

3 items

Recording Nevermind

6 items
Questions

About Nirvana's gear.

What guitars did Nirvana use?

Kurt Cobain played left-handed Fender Mustangs, a modified 1965 Jaguar, Japanese Stratocasters and the Jag-Stang he designed, plus a 1959 Martin D-18E on MTV Unplugged.

What bass did Krist Novoselic play?

He told Bass Player he played a blonde Gibson Ripper on Nevermind and stuck with Gibson basses because they are so dense. Gibson later made his signature RD bass with Seymour Duncan Hot Stack pickups.

What drums did Dave Grohl play in Nirvana?

MusicRadar reports he recorded Nevermind on a Tama Granstar kit, with a Ludwig Black Beauty snare and a Tama Mastercraft Bell Brass snare rented from Drum Doctors.

What pedals did Kurt Cobain use?

A Boss DS-1 and an Electro-Harmonix Small Clone on Nevermind, and a Boss DS-2, Electro-Harmonix Polychorus and Tech 21 SansAmp on In Utero.

What microphones were used on Nevermind?

Butch Vig told MusicRadar he used an AKG D12 on the kick, an SM57 on the snare, Sennheiser 421s on the toms, AKG 414 overheads and Neumann U87 room mics at Sound City.

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Nirvana
About this guide · Last checked

Nirvana were the Aberdeen, Washington trio of Kurt Cobain, Krist Novoselic and Dave Grohl behind Nevermind, In Utero and MTV Unplugged in New York. This guide covers the whole band: Cobain's guitars, amps and pedals, Novoselic's Gibson basses, Grohl's Tama drums and snares, and the microphones and console used to record Nevermind.

truerecs put this guide together from public videos, interviews and posts. Each item says how we know and links to the source. Nirvana didn't write it or choose anything on it. How we source gear guides.

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truerecs gear guides are independent research from public sources, not made or approved by the artist. Store buttons on this page may be affiliate links: truerecs may earn a commission when you buy through them, at no extra cost to you. Nirvana isn't paid for them. Report an error or ask for removal. Full disclosure.