one of the few videos on the internet that shows exactly how these pedals sound, not glorified at all through some vintage gear, this is just what they actually sound like, which is an achievement for sure man well done
I hate to break it to you but these pedals sound different on nearly every guitar and amp type out there. This is just how they sound with THESE particular pieces of equipment. The similarity of their sounds on different rigs are rather minimal.
@@blakemcnamara9105 that might be true, but we are talking minutiae here, this gives a really solid representation of what the pedal will sound like as, a clean ss pedal platform amp wont be doing much of the tone shaping here. i have a good few amps (tube and ss from a whole range of brands) and guitars with different pickups and in the room, this is really what they sound like
Man. I want a DS2 now! It wasn't the perfect fit for every riff but overall to my ear it had the best sound. Thanks for these videos. I grew up a Kurt fanatic and always tried to mimic is tone and never could!
Thank you for the kind words and for watching 🙂 I think if someone wanted 1 pedal to get close to his tone, I’d recommend the DS2! Like you said wasn’t perfect for everything but it nails his famous late 91 tone
Buy a ds-2. I've never been so happy with a distortion pedal. It does everything a ds-1 does, plus the glory of the turbo mode with everything dimed... it's the best.
Yes but I was thinking, the DS-1 maybe would let the voice and other instruments sit better in the mix maybe. The DS-2 sounded more like a hi fi fat mix, the DS-1 sounded very Nirvana and dirty, loved it. Well, loved all of the pedals, for different mixes :)
Completely agree! This is why I included all 3 eras, the pedals react differently/have different strengths when it comes to what amp settings are being used
@@strat_1880 well we know for sure that the DS1 & DS2 have buffers. You might have to play each one individually and then put the DS1 & DS2 last and then try them first and compare
I remember an early 90's interview, probably RIP magazine, where he was talking about gear. They wrote down DF-1 not DS-1. Spent so much time looking for a non existing DF-1 pedal. Now everything is so documented & tested.
For me the DS1 and 2 are the sound when I think of Nirvana, especially live. They have that almost ‘fizzy’ punchy distortion. When you played Floyd The Barber, that just had Live @ the Paramount written all over it. The Rat….well I can see why he didn’t use it much. I wasn’t overly keen on the SansAmp either, but I know it’s capable of much more than just the settings Kurt used. Nice video, I appreciate the dedication!
For the Rat..He's using it wrong, Filter Knob is the opposite of Tone Knob, instead of twist the filter knob the same as DS-1 (which might be 9-10 o'clock) twist it to 3 o'clock. Tone Knob adds more Treble (and Mids in some cases) while Proco Rat's filter knob adds more bass.
I've sold 3 ds-1 pedals and I always come back, they do a cool OD thing too. The turbo distortion I never liked too heavy and not heavy enough at the same time. the rat and poly chorus!! That's awesome sounding! Actually kind of sounds like a trapped rat . The rat and sans amp double tracking a part would be very close to in utero tone. Cool video duder
dude this is such a killer video, the ds-2 is the clear winner, but as someone who owns all the pedals above, i can say when some mods are done to the ds-1 that can take you to a whole nother level
@@Gatchi i took out some things to give it more fuzz and less buzz, the big one though is i ripped the diodes out and put them on switches with a few other options, its all on the first page of Google
@@NirvanaGuitars get a pre 2016 ds-1, you do this by checking the serial number, take out the diodes and change some stuff around to make it less, ya know, tinny and more angry
Ds-1 for Bleach songs, Ds-2 for Nevermind and Incesticide and Sans Amp for In Utero. If i could chose only one, Ds-2 for the overall consistency. I am a little frustated though because some years ago i bought a Ds-1, you should have done this vídeo earlier 😂. Great work man, superb tone, great channel!
DS2 is the winner, but I have DS1, DS2 and a RAT, in a normal band situation the Rat is the one better sounding, it pops you out of the mix, especially with 2 guitars, with the DS1 you tend to disappear
@@mysterymac38 there are cheap copies around the sound identical to mine, the mooer for example but even the Chinese copies, the rat is not to difficult to clone
Wow this sound bring back my good memories listening nirvana when i'm on elementary school... this is exactly the distortion that Kurt used. Good videos! 🔥
Don’t forget: for Territorial Pissings, Kurt plugged his guitar straight into the console, hence why the distortion sounds so fuzzy. He wanted to emulate the production of early punk bands for that song. Killer vid!
2:05 that picture was taken at my local college (9 minute drive from where I live) I actually met a guy at the guitar center here who actually went to that concert and saw him on the day and place where that picture was taken.
I love my rat. It’s got nice buzz and tone settings that will wave or drone. I think it sounds most like Sansamp. But I’m gonna say for this test overall the turbo distortion sounds fullest , maybe not always most like Kurt’s but it’s still the best sounding option in this experience
One of the few videos that closely demonstrates how Kurt's guitars sound in every song. I really love the sound of the SansAmp and it really captures Kurt's sound during their In Utero tour. I enjoyed this video a lot. Thanks for sharing! Lifelong Nirvana fan here since '91... so I just subscribed 'man! 🤘⭐💯🍺🎸
Great video! each pedal demonstration definitely has its own unique sound, as i own a majority of these pedals i can now dial in more accurately! Also the polychorus sounds so much different compared to the one I own which is a more recent reissue!
Yeah I remember some Guitar World interview where he talks about turning the mids all the way up. It was probably pertly a reaction against the scooped-mids sound of the metal of the day, and it ended up being his signature sound
Where as Kurt did have a DS-2 in Fall of 91 (as evidenced by the Halloween show), based on information out there from roadies/techs/producers/etc, the DS-1 is still what was on a vast majority of the tracks and outtakes from Nevermind (as well as Bleach and Incesticide), and the DS-2 didn’t take it’s place over the DS-1 until February of ‘92 when the DS-1 fully died in Hawaii.
Yes the DS1 was certainly used in studio on Bleach, Nevermind and Incesticide as those were recorded before fall 91 (with the exception of a few Incesticide tracks). But from what I’ve seen, the DS1 isn’t seen onstage anymore after we start seeing the DS2 in fall 91. I could be wrong though! It’d be interesting if there was a DS1 live pic after fall 91
@@NirvanaGuitars I’ll look for a picture and link you if I find it, but I remember reading a guitar tech of his speaking about the ds-1 giving up the ghost in Hawaii in ‘92 (this if the tech is accurate meaning one of the shows at Pink’s garage). I’ll start there and work my way back best I can to confirm what the tech (Not Bailey, but can’t remember the name) went on record with.
@@NirvanaGuitars the “clearest” DS-1 photos I found from post Paramount Halloween show are from the November 20th show in Italy. It’s blurry as all get out, but it looks like three knobs instead of four, and no orange caps on the knobs seemingly. Post November 20th the sheer amount of photos cut off at the ankles or with monitors perfectly in the way is absolutely maddening! There are a good number of shows with very visible DS-2s, and quite a few where it’s too grainy and/or blurry to tell anything or it’s just bad angles or crops for seeing pedals. The closest that could be DS-1s are January 11, 92 at MTV (specifically the photos from the dress rehearsal) and one Japan show from Feb 19, 1992. I couldn’t quite tell, but I think these could be ds-1 appearances as I don’t see four knobs. Although the knobs from the Japanese show look off for a ds-1 as well and the MTV dress rehearsal photos are in the vein of the November 20, but even worse for detail. I know I said links, but mobile was being dumb. My apologies. All the shows I mentioned as possible contenders are all on livenirvana.com with the Japan show photo with the best view being towards the last of the photos. Again, I wouldn’t say definitely DS-1 for any of them, but strong possibilities. In the mean time I’ll keep looking. Also, I found the tech quote that was quoted in an issue of Guitar World magazine: “Nick Close, Cobain's guitar tech from September 1991 until March 1992, recalls that Cobain's rig was basically the same as the one used to record Nevermind-the Mesa/Boogie Studio preamp, a Crown poweramp, a Boss DS1 and the Small Clone.” Later in the interview he said, “Kurt didn't seem to be too happy with it [the DS-2] at first, but he put it in his rig after he broke his DS1 in Hawaii”.
Don't forget that the amp that you use is going to play a huge part in the tone! Kurt later used Boogies and Marshall Cabs and they sound very different from a Twin Reverb. I got a Boss DS-1decades ago and played it through a Vox and hated it at first... Then I tried it through a JCM 800 and it was awesome.
Any of these are good - just make sure you have a good Humbucker and a decent loud clean amp and you're good to go. Also - you can get some pretty Nirvanaish tones and similar artists through any variety of Big Muff pedals.
My favorite is probably still the black Russian. It's a nice middle ground between distortion and fuzz, really easy to get whatever tone you're looking for, and oh man does it sound nice
I think they all worked for their appropiate eras, which makes sense, perfect tone. (And for the RAT, yeah I guess I can see it being used for territorial pissings)
Have seen a lot of videos! Great job. One question, do you use your Small Clone before DS2? Kurt was the other way, I think. Why did you end up with that signal chain. Thank youu
Excellent video I like how you set it up showing all necessary information at once with the little windows and pedal highlight. As for the pedals the SansAmp won by miles for me in the In Utero part while all the other parts the DS2 was best. The DS1 I absolutely dislike with its thinner and very fizzy sound. Great video
Thank you for the feedback! A part of me was worried there was too much going on with the pedals, window, amp settings and guitar pic all being shown at once. But I wanted to somehow present all that info haha! The DS2 and Sansamp are my favorites, so I completely understand 👏🏻
I honestly thought the DS-1 sounded best for Bleach era, DS-2 for Nevermind and Rat for In Utero. And the Sansamp... Never sounded good haha. But thank you so much for this video, I know understand why I never manage to make my Rat work for my songs! On my way to buy a DS-2 I guess haha
Man, you are living my 14 year old self's dreams! I ended up with a Jag-Stang, but I always wanted the HH Jaguar and an LPB Mustang. I dont listen to Nirvana much anymore, but offsets are still some of my favorite guitars.
When your really break it down to basic circuitry there are only 7 or 8 different dirtboxes but the little differences and features in each “new” dirtbox that comes out to this day can sound so different from each other. You can either have a fuzzface, big muff, rat, mxr, ds1, dod250, tubescreamer or bluesdriver and every other pedal is just a variation of those pedals with tweaks and options. For me, I have 4 drives on the board. Rat, Big Muff, SD1 and an EHX Hot Tubes. This video is making me think of adding a DS1 to that collection.
It's trippy how standout the Boss distortions are. I like how raw the DS-1 sounded but I think the slight compression from the 2 made for the best overall tone, even if it wasn't the best fit for the chuggier riffs. The Rat doesn't really sound Kurt to my ears at all, which is super interesting. But the Sansamp is straight up In Utero in a box. It's interesting to see how over time Kurt enjoyed more compressed type of distortions. Makes me wonder if that would have translated over to a preference of something like combo amps entirely had he kept going. Super well made video, and pretty thought provoking too! Keep that shit up man you're one of the most consistent small channels, you deserve soo much more attention!
Most of these the ds-1 and ds-2 nail the tone. There were a few that the rat and sans amp shined. I honestly don’t care much for the rat though. I have to wonder if they layered multiple tracks for the studio recordings using the different pedals to get a fuller sound.
Even though he apparently barely used it, the Pro Co Rat sounds the best to me! I'll have to bust mine out again, could never quite get the sound I wanted out of it, but you helped change my mind! Even sounds a bit like the Sans Amp, albeit a lot cheaper.
Anyone who’s looking to use looking to use the ds-1 extensively, Or use as a Jack of all trades distortion, (which you definitely can) I would recommend the ds2 definitely. I have the ds-1 and love it. And I’m happy with only having the ds-1’s capability’s rather than the extra stuff from the ds2 as I wouldn’t be using it to its full potential.
The Rat/Sansamp (sound pretty similar) are the best sounding for In Utero stuff for me, but everything else just sounds better with the DS2, no contest
DS2’s the best for me across the board. But, the best individual one, I’d say is the 93/94 In Utero RAT. Absolutely crushing, and absolutely AMAZING. The best balance is still the DS2, though. Would definitely buy it.
For his tone heard on most Nirvana records... I would go with DS-1 as the recording sessions were mostly during 1987-1991 era (Bleach/Nevermind/Incesticide). Not much Music recorded after they blew out big ... except the In Utero and few B-Sides. In Utero is mostly Sans Amp... maybe DS-2 on some 1992-1993 B-sides.
I love how fuckin simple his mindset was. Plug in his 1 distortion pedal into the amp and just play some power chords. Writes like 10 hit songs just with that technique alone. It's all in the songwriting.
@@NirvanaGuitars Breed is also a Big Muff, so are the chorus parts of Heart Shaped Box. It's quite a distinctive sludgy sound that none of the others achieve. There's also a bit of mixing different tones on the albums. But yeah, he never used it live to my knowledge.
I'm amazed how similar the RAT and Sansamp do sound (Sampamp having a nicer mid hump IMHO)! When I started playing guitar in 1996 I was soooo much into Nirvana (and I kind of learned how to play guitar, by learning Nirvana's songs). Back then the live album "From the Muddy Banks of the Wishkah" came out, and I was so after that sounds that by looking in the booklet I saw a picture with Kurt and a Boss pedal with 4 knobs, which I mistakenly though was the OD2r Turbo Overdrive (which btw is another all Boss gem from that era)! So I got that OD2r and to be honest loved the sound I was getting out of it with my Fender Strat and a Fender 25w transistor amp. Only few month later I discovered Kurt was using the DS2! So I sold the OD2r and got the DS2, and used that extensively for many years. My sound to go was the Kurt Cobain setting but with Turbo 2 mode (and often with a switch pedal to switch between mod 1 &2)!
All great pedals! The only thing ive never been able to find is Kurt's Big Muff setting.. i always assumed he just cranked it and backed the tone off a bit (much like his boss pedals). Great content though dude! 👍👍👍
Awesome video.. I would just buy a Tube twin reverb. I had the tone Master, while It's great clean, I really sounds different with distortion pedals. It's too scooped.. If you buy a silverface twin reverb (not really expensive), you'll get the closest tone of K. Cobain on the whole internet. Amazing!
The boss pedals are definitely the Nirvana sound, but the sansamp sounds right for In Utero. I don't think the rat is really necessary though if you're going to emulate Kurt's tone
when we jam Nirvana, Pat uses a DS-1, and usually a classic vibe 70's squire jaguar which sounds amazing :)... i use a TC electronic Dark matter for the bass where as i don't own a Rat and i personally like the dirt it makes .
I have a DS-1 myself and like different things about it and the DS-2. I'd probably place the Sansamp and RAT on a lower tier, but it's just a personal preference. I did recently purchase a Small Clone as well and am really looking forward to experimenting with it once it arrives.
@crunchyappetizer3000 I personally prefer the DS-1 to be honest. I'd try them both out to pick the one you like best, but honestly I never touched the turbo option on the DS-2. Cobain himself set the DS-2 to sound like the DS-1, so I don't see the point of purchasing the DS-2 unless you truly prefer its tone. But honestly, I think you'd be happy with either. For my money, some of the best distortion pedals ever made.
Your neighbours must love you for blasting a Twin like that! 😉👍 For me the best is the DS-1, it just sounds the most appealing to me. ps maybe the DS-2 just edges ahead from Nevermind onwards
1993 dead on sound is DS2 with the Vintage Sans and the Clone. I run it through a 1972 Twin Reverb with Utahs. I have a 74 Univox Hi Flier Phase 3. I don't seriously think the guitar matters that much other than it looks really cool. I have Jaguars. I modified a Mustang with the Duncan pickup. Kurt makes it pretty clear in the Heart shaped box video and SNL in September 93 that the Mustang wasn't that important. He went back to the Univox, maybe just for spite. ..My 2 cents, but also I'm not nearly as cool as he was so there is that.
I know Pat had used the RAT alot as his main distortion. Apparently Kurt had given him a Sansamp and wasn't digging the sound at all so he went back to the RAT.
I didnt think there was a difference between ds 1 and ds 2 in mode 1. The DS's definitely have more treble/the thinner Kurt sound. Thats why Kurts sound was so perfect. It wasnt a fat sound with much bass it was more of a thin sound spiced up with tons of distortion.
DS2 sounds better almost all the songs, while Rat something shitty. Sansamp and Rat fit better as OD for songs like About a girl, Come as you are, Serve the servants or Pennyroyal tea. However, Kurt sometimes recorded several guitar tracks for a song, especially on In utero, so more than one pedal would fit in many cases.
Don't you think Boss pedals are more compressed sound and because of that sound dirtyer? Rat and sampsan sound louder but with brighter and harmonic sound Edited because my smartphone keyboard is in spanish and, i modified one word that was changed
While the Rat sounded the less "Nirvanesque" of the four I'm surprised how grungy sounded overall anyway, I might get one someday lol it sounds like a pedal Melvins, Mudhoney or Soundgarden would use
I have owned all of those pedals except the SansAmp, and my DS-2 is my favorite distortion pedal I've ever owned. I love it even more than my Russian Big Muff.
one of the few videos on the internet that shows exactly how these pedals sound, not glorified at all through some vintage gear, this is just what they actually sound like, which is an achievement for sure man well done
Thank you so much!! 🙏 I'm trying to make the type of the videos I wish I could've found when I first started learning guitar and getting Nirvana gear
which is why this channel is ome of the best 🤘
I hate to break it to you but these pedals sound different on nearly every guitar and amp type out there. This is just how they sound with THESE particular pieces of equipment. The similarity of their sounds on different rigs are rather minimal.
@@blakemcnamara9105 that might be true, but we are talking minutiae here, this gives a really solid representation of what the pedal will sound like as, a clean ss pedal platform amp wont be doing much of the tone shaping here. i have a good few amps (tube and ss from a whole range of brands) and guitars with different pickups and in the room, this is really what they sound like
@@kyleanderson9713 Amen to that!
I'm really surprised how similar the rat and sansamp sound to each other. I've always held the sansamp in way higher regard
Yeah but the sans amp has a little brighter distortion.
Completely agree! I never had a Rat before this video, was very surprised how similar it can sound to the sansamp
They sound similar here, but the SansAmp is much more versatile
I can see why despite the Rat being basically not used, it's still so associated with him! Time and again, the Rat gets underestimated
I have a rat on the same settings and it just sounds like Bleach. Probably because my amp sounds like a dumpster fire.
Man. I want a DS2 now! It wasn't the perfect fit for every riff but overall to my ear it had the best sound.
Thanks for these videos. I grew up a Kurt fanatic and always tried to mimic is tone and never could!
Thank you for the kind words and for watching 🙂 I think if someone wanted 1 pedal to get close to his tone, I’d recommend the DS2! Like you said wasn’t perfect for everything but it nails his famous late 91 tone
Buy a ds-2. I've never been so happy with a distortion pedal. It does everything a ds-1 does, plus the glory of the turbo mode with everything dimed... it's the best.
It's funny you say that, I came away wanting a DS1.
The Ds2 sounds the best to me. The most balanced distortion and thicker sounding than the ds1
Yes but I was thinking, the DS-1 maybe would let the voice and other instruments sit better in the mix maybe. The DS-2 sounded more like a hi fi fat mix, the DS-1 sounded very Nirvana and dirty, loved it. Well, loved all of the pedals, for different mixes :)
thats what i thought too!
Yes. More heavy. I like it too
for me the proco rat is better, it has much more body.
i thought that too until i actually owned one, worst pedal i've ever owned. ds-1 is much better imo
For me the Ds1 nailed the 91/92 tone and sansamp just work perfectly for in utero
Completely agree! This is why I included all 3 eras, the pedals react differently/have different strengths when it comes to what amp settings are being used
@@strat_1880 well we know for sure that the DS1 & DS2 have buffers. You might have to play each one individually and then put the DS1 & DS2 last and then try them first and compare
@@strat_1880 if you made a video on it i’d watch it
I remember an early 90's interview, probably RIP magazine, where he was talking about gear. They wrote down DF-1 not DS-1. Spent so much time looking for a non existing DF-1 pedal. Now everything is so documented & tested.
😅
They were so close, since the DF-2 exists
The sound of the RAT improved dramatically with the 1993/1994 Live Amp Settings. DS2 wins for consistency, though.
It really did; it doesn't sound very good at all with the previous settings but really came alive with 93-94 settings!
For me the DS1 and 2 are the sound when I think of Nirvana, especially live. They have that almost ‘fizzy’ punchy distortion. When you played Floyd The Barber, that just had Live @ the Paramount written all over it. The Rat….well I can see why he didn’t use it much. I wasn’t overly keen on the SansAmp either, but I know it’s capable of much more than just the settings Kurt used. Nice video, I appreciate the dedication!
For the Rat..He's using it wrong, Filter Knob is the opposite of Tone Knob, instead of twist the filter knob the same as DS-1 (which might be 9-10 o'clock) twist it to 3 o'clock. Tone Knob adds more Treble (and Mids in some cases) while Proco Rat's filter knob adds more bass.
This is one of the coolest videos you have put out, I'm a huge fan of Kurt's pedals and this had just made my day!
Thank you so much! That really means a lot, so happy you enjoyed it 🙏
I've sold 3 ds-1 pedals and I always come back, they do a cool OD thing too. The turbo distortion I never liked too heavy and not heavy enough at the same time. the rat and poly chorus!! That's awesome sounding! Actually kind of sounds like a trapped rat .
The rat and sans amp double tracking a part would be very close to in utero tone. Cool video duder
dude this is such a killer video, the ds-2 is the clear winner, but as someone who owns all the pedals above, i can say when some mods are done to the ds-1 that can take you to a whole nother level
Thank you! I've heard that modding a DS1 can make a huge difference, I have yet to try it though!
what mods are you suggesting doing to the DS-1??
@@Gatchi i took out some things to give it more fuzz and less buzz, the big one though is i ripped the diodes out and put them on switches with a few other options, its all on the first page of Google
@@NirvanaGuitars get a pre 2016 ds-1, you do this by checking the serial number, take out the diodes and change some stuff around to make it less, ya know, tinny and more angry
@@kyleanderson9713 can we hear what this sounds like?
Ds-1 for Bleach songs, Ds-2 for Nevermind and Incesticide and Sans Amp for In Utero. If i could chose only one, Ds-2 for the overall consistency. I am a little frustated though because some years ago i bought a Ds-1, you should have done this vídeo earlier 😂. Great work man, superb tone, great channel!
I appreciate the thoroughness of your videos. I can't believe Kurt had the treble and mids dimed out on the amp, but it sounds accurate.
DS2 is the winner, but I have DS1, DS2 and a RAT, in a normal band situation the Rat is the one better sounding, it pops you out of the mix, especially with 2 guitars, with the DS1 you tend to disappear
I loved using the Rat box. I let my friend borrow it and he broke it. :(
@@mysterymac38 there are cheap copies around the sound identical to mine, the mooer for example but even the Chinese copies, the rat is not to difficult to clone
thing that changes a lot if you use the modified version of the ds1, with the Keeley Mod.
Wow this sound bring back my good memories listening nirvana when i'm on elementary school... this is exactly the distortion that Kurt used. Good videos! 🔥
Thank you!
It’s highlight of my week when you drop a video. This was awesome
Can't tell you how much that means to me 🙏 Thank you so much for the support!
I run a ds1 in my band and I love it, it's so easy to get those really sheer in your face distortion sounds and pretty decently priced would recommend
Don’t forget: for Territorial Pissings, Kurt plugged his guitar straight into the console, hence why the distortion sounds so fuzzy. He wanted to emulate the production of early punk bands for that song. Killer vid!
2:05 that picture was taken at my local college (9 minute drive from where I live) I actually met a guy at the guitar center here who actually went to that concert and saw him on the day and place where that picture was taken.
That is super cool! That's one of my favorite live pics, I love that we clearly see the two choruses pedals
I love my rat. It’s got nice buzz and tone settings that will wave or drone. I think it sounds most like Sansamp. But I’m gonna say for this test overall the turbo distortion sounds fullest , maybe not always most like Kurt’s but it’s still the best sounding option in this experience
imo the DS2 sounds the most familiar, for obvious reasons.
One of the few videos that closely demonstrates how Kurt's guitars sound in every song. I really love the sound of the SansAmp and it really captures Kurt's sound during their In Utero tour. I enjoyed this video a lot. Thanks for sharing! Lifelong Nirvana fan here since '91... so I just subscribed 'man! 🤘⭐💯🍺🎸
Great video! each pedal demonstration definitely has its own unique sound, as i own a majority of these pedals i can now dial in more accurately! Also the polychorus sounds so much different compared to the one I own which is a more recent reissue!
Happy my video is able to help! 😁
this video gives me a completely different view on the ds-1,, love it!
Thank you Andrew!! 🙏🏻
ive been using the DS-2 for years, highly recommend
I’ve been using the Boss DS-1 for almost 20 years. My absolute favorite distortion pedal.
The DS-1 sounds the most like Nirvanas tone than the others.
The DS1 is by far my favorite distortion pedal. I still use it with a strat.
Great video. much appreciated. I love it when the cheaper pedals that go way back and are very accessible have the better sound in my opinion.
This was super sick!! Thank you!
This is weird because I thought Kurt's tone was usually low on the mids but you crank them up and match his tone really well.
I have found that cranking the mids really helps to get close to this tone
Yeah I remember some Guitar World interview where he talks about turning the mids all the way up. It was probably pertly a reaction against the scooped-mids sound of the metal of the day, and it ended up being his signature sound
@@TomDavidMcCauley I just don’t understand mids that well I guess then.
@@Timbiscuit12 More mids = More open and noticeable sound.
Less mids= bigger but less noticeable sound (harder to listen in the mix).
Kurt cranked the mids on the amp. But the ds-1 and ds-2 mode 1 are scooped so it balances out
Where as Kurt did have a DS-2 in Fall of 91 (as evidenced by the Halloween show), based on information out there from roadies/techs/producers/etc, the DS-1 is still what was on a vast majority of the tracks and outtakes from Nevermind (as well as Bleach and Incesticide), and the DS-2 didn’t take it’s place over the DS-1 until February of ‘92 when the DS-1 fully died in Hawaii.
Yes the DS1 was certainly used in studio on Bleach, Nevermind and Incesticide as those were recorded before fall 91 (with the exception of a few Incesticide tracks). But from what I’ve seen, the DS1 isn’t seen onstage anymore after we start seeing the DS2 in fall 91. I could be wrong though! It’d be interesting if there was a DS1 live pic after fall 91
@@NirvanaGuitars I’ll look for a picture and link you if I find it, but I remember reading a guitar tech of his speaking about the ds-1 giving up the ghost in Hawaii in ‘92 (this if the tech is accurate meaning one of the shows at Pink’s garage). I’ll start there and work my way back best I can to confirm what the tech (Not Bailey, but can’t remember the name) went on record with.
@@NirvanaGuitars the “clearest” DS-1 photos I found from post Paramount Halloween show are from the November 20th show in Italy. It’s blurry as all get out, but it looks like three knobs instead of four, and no orange caps on the knobs seemingly.
Post November 20th the sheer amount of photos cut off at the ankles or with monitors perfectly in the way is absolutely maddening! There are a good number of shows with very visible DS-2s, and quite a few where it’s too grainy and/or blurry to tell anything or it’s just bad angles or crops for seeing pedals. The closest that could be DS-1s are January 11, 92 at MTV (specifically the photos from the dress rehearsal) and one Japan show from Feb 19, 1992. I couldn’t quite tell, but I think these could be ds-1 appearances as I don’t see four knobs. Although the knobs from the Japanese show look off for a ds-1 as well and the MTV dress rehearsal photos are in the vein of the November 20, but even worse for detail.
I know I said links, but mobile was being dumb. My apologies. All the shows I mentioned as possible contenders are all on livenirvana.com with the Japan show photo with the best view being towards the last of the photos.
Again, I wouldn’t say definitely DS-1 for any of them, but strong possibilities. In the mean time I’ll keep looking. Also, I found the tech quote that was quoted in an issue of Guitar World magazine: “Nick Close, Cobain's guitar tech from September 1991 until March 1992, recalls that Cobain's rig was basically the same as the one used to record Nevermind-the Mesa/Boogie Studio preamp, a Crown poweramp, a Boss DS1 and the Small Clone.” Later in the interview he said, “Kurt didn't seem to be too happy with it [the DS-2] at first, but he put it in his rig after he broke his DS1 in Hawaii”.
0:27 i have and Use the Boss DS2 its sound really good, almost identical.
But hey the other tones shown here sound really good as well!! 👍
The boss DS2 is a great pedal! Completely Nails the late 91 sound, does really well with in Utero tour settings too
Don't forget that the amp that you use is going to play a huge part in the tone! Kurt later used Boogies and Marshall Cabs and they sound very different from a Twin Reverb.
I got a Boss DS-1decades ago and played it through a Vox and hated it at first... Then I tried it through a JCM 800 and it was awesome.
Yeah… I play thru a VOX and I can’t get that tone(even though I love xox amps). I had a JCM800 and it was stolen on a tour. . Killer amps.
@@pentastarr666 Sorry to hear that! My Les Paul - which was first good guitar I bought - was stolen about 10 years ago, I still can't get over it -_-
@@firewitch9531 I had a 72 LP and times were rough and I had to sell it… still haven’t gotten over it
Any of these are good - just make sure you have a good Humbucker and a decent loud clean amp and you're good to go. Also - you can get some pretty Nirvanaish tones and similar artists through any variety of Big Muff pedals.
Agreed with those points, and I've been wanting to try a big muff!
@@NirvanaGuitars Once you put a big muff on your board, there's a good chance it'll never leave
My favorite is probably still the black Russian. It's a nice middle ground between distortion and fuzz, really easy to get whatever tone you're looking for, and oh man does it sound nice
Yeah think he used a big muff pedal on Lithium
@@dave-jk6enhe did
i think the boss ds1 is like more clear then all of them and it sounds amazing
Can see why Kurt used it for so long! Does really well especially with the Bleach settings I think
@@NirvanaGuitars yes your amp settings sounded so good they sounded like the actual song
@@brandonflroes4025 Thank you so much!
I wonder if he used the DS1 on the show in Detroit in 91 because that is by far my favorite concert and sound he ever had. His best singing too!
I think they all worked for their appropiate eras, which makes sense, perfect tone. (And for the RAT, yeah I guess I can see it being used for territorial pissings)
I got my DS-1 last week, I love it so much
Congrats! It’s definitely a great pedal
thats crazy! I got a ds1 last week too! its a life changer compared to my old beat up Daddy O overdrive pedal 😂😂😂
Have seen a lot of videos! Great job. One question, do you use your Small Clone before DS2? Kurt was the other way, I think. Why did you end up with that signal chain. Thank youu
Excellent video I like how you set it up showing all necessary information at once with the little windows and pedal highlight.
As for the pedals the SansAmp won by miles for me in the In Utero part while all the other parts the DS2 was best. The DS1 I absolutely dislike with its thinner and very fizzy sound.
Great video
Thank you for the feedback! A part of me was worried there was too much going on with the pedals, window, amp settings and guitar pic all being shown at once. But I wanted to somehow present all that info haha!
The DS2 and Sansamp are my favorites, so I completely understand 👏🏻
this video took so much work. thank you so much dude! this was sick!!
I believe I've read somewhere that no bass distortion pedal was used on the Nevermind version of Breed. They just overloaded the whole Neve board!
I honestly thought the DS-1 sounded best for Bleach era, DS-2 for Nevermind and Rat for In Utero. And the Sansamp... Never sounded good haha. But thank you so much for this video, I know understand why I never manage to make my Rat work for my songs! On my way to buy a DS-2 I guess haha
Man, you are living my 14 year old self's dreams! I ended up with a Jag-Stang, but I always wanted the HH Jaguar and an LPB Mustang.
I dont listen to Nirvana much anymore, but offsets are still some of my favorite guitars.
When your really break it down to basic circuitry there are only 7 or 8 different dirtboxes but the little differences and features in each “new” dirtbox that comes out to this day can sound so different from each other. You can either have a fuzzface, big muff, rat, mxr, ds1, dod250, tubescreamer or bluesdriver and every other pedal is just a variation of those pedals with tweaks and options. For me, I have 4 drives on the board. Rat, Big Muff, SD1 and an EHX Hot Tubes. This video is making me think of adding a DS1 to that collection.
It's trippy how standout the Boss distortions are. I like how raw the DS-1 sounded but I think the slight compression from the 2 made for the best overall tone, even if it wasn't the best fit for the chuggier riffs. The Rat doesn't really sound Kurt to my ears at all, which is super interesting. But the Sansamp is straight up In Utero in a box. It's interesting to see how over time Kurt enjoyed more compressed type of distortions. Makes me wonder if that would have translated over to a preference of something like combo amps entirely had he kept going. Super well made video, and pretty thought provoking too! Keep that shit up man you're one of the most consistent small channels, you deserve soo much more attention!
I have the DS-1
Dude this is such a cool video
Rat, and DS-2 for me.. but Sans amp hit hard with heart shaped box
@NirvanaGuitars You make good videos, this was very good & simple
Thank you so much!
He did so much in such a short career. Phenomenal!
Most of these the ds-1 and ds-2 nail the tone. There were a few that the rat and sans amp shined. I honestly don’t care much for the rat though.
I have to wonder if they layered multiple tracks for the studio recordings using the different pedals to get a fuller sound.
Even though he apparently barely used it, the Pro Co Rat sounds the best to me! I'll have to bust mine out again, could never quite get the sound I wanted out of it, but you helped change my mind! Even sounds a bit like the Sans Amp, albeit a lot cheaper.
Nice video demonstration, really got me engaged 👍🏻
The sansamp is so articulate with distortion. No wonder he liked it so much.
Cool bro! Thank you for your history work and for your video.
Anyone who’s looking to use looking to use the ds-1 extensively, Or use as a Jack of all trades distortion, (which you definitely can) I would recommend the ds2 definitely. I have the ds-1 and love it. And I’m happy with only having the ds-1’s capability’s rather than the extra stuff from the ds2 as I wouldn’t be using it to its full potential.
just got a ds-2 because it sounds amazing with most of the eras, thanks!
This shit is so freaking cool. Thanks for putting in the work to figure this stuff out for the guys who don’t have a clue lol.
I own a Digitech Grunge and it's is doing a great job too !
I wish someone would do a video on "The Priest They Called Him" tone.
It's sounds like a bomb inside of a bomb.
The DS-1 has that gritty and crunchy distortion that every Nirvana song has. Def the best pedal
just bought the ds2 off my guitar teacher at it sounds awesome. thanks for doing this video.
The Rat/Sansamp (sound pretty similar) are the best sounding for In Utero stuff for me, but everything else just sounds better with the DS2, no contest
The rat and sansamp sound really close
I know right? I was really surprised how similar they can sound
Absolutely brilliant video, thank you so much
DS2’s the best for me across the board. But, the best individual one, I’d say is the 93/94 In Utero RAT. Absolutely crushing, and absolutely AMAZING. The best balance is still the DS2, though. Would definitely buy it.
Качественное видео !
Nice vid bro, such quality work
For his tone heard on most Nirvana records... I would go with DS-1 as the recording sessions were mostly during 1987-1991 era (Bleach/Nevermind/Incesticide). Not much Music recorded after they blew out big ... except the In Utero and few B-Sides. In Utero is mostly Sans Amp... maybe DS-2 on some 1992-1993 B-sides.
Great analyzation 🙂
Overall, I think the DS-1 is probably the best
awesome work!
Now i know how he create a legendary sound )
Thank you!
Great job, man! SansAmp sounds gorgeous
Incredible how it sounds really the same as the albums. Nice vid.
Your vids are so underrated
Thank you so much!
Excellent video , simple and effective explanation !!! Thank you sir 👍
I love how fuckin simple his mindset was. Plug in his 1 distortion pedal into the amp and just play some power chords. Writes like 10 hit songs just with that technique alone. It's all in the songwriting.
Kurt also used a big muff for songs like lithium
As far as I know he only used it for that song and never live
@@NirvanaGuitars Breed is also a Big Muff, so are the chorus parts of Heart Shaped Box. It's quite a distinctive sludgy sound that none of the others achieve. There's also a bit of mixing different tones on the albums.
But yeah, he never used it live to my knowledge.
@@NirvanaGuitars Early versions of In Bloom could also be a Big Muff as well. The Nevermind version is DS1 though
Very helpful video! Thanks for sharing!
Glad it was helpful!
Dude, awesome video!!
I'd guess that he ran the rat before DS-2, for extra crazy gain for certain songs/ sections / wanted loads of feedback at times.
Mestre! Sensacional! Algo perfeccionista! Parabéns!
I'm amazed how similar the RAT and Sansamp do sound (Sampamp having a nicer mid hump IMHO)!
When I started playing guitar in 1996 I was soooo much into Nirvana (and I kind of learned how to play guitar, by learning Nirvana's songs). Back then the live album "From the Muddy Banks of the Wishkah" came out, and I was so after that sounds that by looking in the booklet I saw a picture with Kurt and a Boss pedal with 4 knobs, which I mistakenly though was the OD2r Turbo Overdrive (which btw is another all Boss gem from that era)!
So I got that OD2r and to be honest loved the sound I was getting out of it with my Fender Strat and a Fender 25w transistor amp. Only few month later I discovered Kurt was using the DS2! So I sold the OD2r and got the DS2, and used that extensively for many years. My sound to go was the Kurt Cobain setting but with Turbo 2 mode (and often with a switch pedal to switch between mod 1 &2)!
All great pedals! The only thing ive never been able to find is Kurt's Big Muff setting.. i always assumed he just cranked it and backed the tone off a bit (much like his boss pedals). Great content though dude! 👍👍👍
Awesome video.. I would just buy a Tube twin reverb. I had the tone Master, while It's great clean, I really sounds different with distortion pedals. It's too scooped.. If you buy a silverface twin reverb (not really expensive), you'll get the closest tone of K. Cobain on the whole internet. Amazing!
some of those Twin Reverbs are ice-pick shrill. my guitar pedals (like the SansAmp) sounded horrible through certain Twin Reverbs
I like all four but I own the Boss DS-2 and thats my preferance.
The boss pedals are definitely the Nirvana sound, but the sansamp sounds right for In Utero. I don't think the rat is really necessary though if you're going to emulate Kurt's tone
when we jam Nirvana, Pat uses a DS-1, and usually a classic vibe 70's squire jaguar which sounds amazing :)... i use a TC electronic Dark matter for the bass where as i don't own a Rat and i personally like the dirt it makes .
Hey man great presentation. enjoyed the vid !
I have a DS-1 myself and like different things about it and the DS-2. I'd probably place the Sansamp and RAT on a lower tier, but it's just a personal preference. I did recently purchase a Small Clone as well and am really looking forward to experimenting with it once it arrives.
Would you recommend the DS-1 or the DS-2?
@crunchyappetizer3000 I personally prefer the DS-1 to be honest. I'd try them both out to pick the one you like best, but honestly I never touched the turbo option on the DS-2. Cobain himself set the DS-2 to sound like the DS-1, so I don't see the point of purchasing the DS-2 unless you truly prefer its tone. But honestly, I think you'd be happy with either. For my money, some of the best distortion pedals ever made.
Your neighbours must love you for blasting a Twin like that! 😉👍
For me the best is the DS-1, it just sounds the most appealing to me.
ps maybe the DS-2 just edges ahead from Nevermind onwards
1993 dead on sound is DS2 with the Vintage Sans and the Clone. I run it through a 1972 Twin Reverb with Utahs. I have a 74 Univox Hi Flier Phase 3. I don't seriously think the guitar matters that much other than it looks really cool. I have Jaguars. I modified a Mustang with the Duncan pickup. Kurt makes it pretty clear in the Heart shaped box video and SNL in September 93 that the Mustang wasn't that important. He went back to the Univox, maybe just for spite. ..My 2 cents, but also I'm not nearly as cool as he was so there is that.
I know Pat had used the RAT alot as his main distortion. Apparently Kurt had given him a Sansamp and wasn't digging the sound at all so he went back to the RAT.
Brilliant work thank you! Really appreciate your hard work
Thank you for watching! 🙏🏻
I didnt think there was a difference between ds 1 and ds 2 in mode 1. The DS's definitely have more treble/the thinner Kurt sound. Thats why Kurts sound was so perfect. It wasnt a fat sound with much bass it was more of a thin sound spiced up with tons of distortion.
The DS1 and DS2 definitely have some similarities
DS2 sounds better almost all the songs, while Rat something shitty. Sansamp and Rat fit better as OD for songs like About a girl, Come as you are, Serve the servants or Pennyroyal tea. However, Kurt sometimes recorded several guitar tracks for a song, especially on In utero, so more than one pedal would fit in many cases.
DS1 is 100% bleach era tone fr, DS2 nails 91/92 especially in combo w the small clone, sansamp 93/94. Just like how they were used
Don't you think Boss pedals are more compressed sound and because of that sound dirtyer? Rat and sampsan sound louder but with brighter and harmonic sound
Edited because my smartphone keyboard is in spanish and, i modified one word that was changed
While the Rat sounded the less "Nirvanesque" of the four I'm surprised how grungy sounded overall anyway, I might get one someday lol it sounds like a pedal Melvins, Mudhoney or Soundgarden would use
i own a DS-2 yet am in love with the DS-1s thinner sound
I have owned all of those pedals except the SansAmp, and my DS-2 is my favorite distortion pedal I've ever owned. I love it even more than my Russian Big Muff.