Last Updated: March 30th, 2026
So, you want to know: what pedal did Kurt Cobain use? The answer is a few. But don’t worry. We have it summed up here, short but sweet, and we’ve even got a video for you.
Kurt Cobain, the late frontman of the iconic grunge band Nirvana, was known for his distinctive guitar sound that helped define the sound of an entire era. A key component of that sound was Kurt’s use of effects pedals, which he used to create some unique tones that quickly became his signature sound.
Watch: Kurt Cobain’s Small Clone Chorus Explained
Before we dive in, Jack and Joe from Analog Alien break it all down in Episode 9 of The fuzzZone, recorded live at Cloud 9 Recording Studio. They cover the Small Clone in detail, how Kurt used it on “Come As You Are,” and the studio secret behind the final record that most people don’t know about.
Watch The fuzzZone Ep. 9:
Kurt Cobain’s Small Clone Chorus and Studio Secrets | Analog Alien
In this episode, Jack and Joe dig into what makes the Small Clone so unforgettable, spotlight exactly how Kurt used it on “Come As You Are,” and reveal the studio magic behind the final record, including how engineer Andy Wallace enhanced the chorus texture using the Yamaha SPX90 to add even more movement and shimmer. They also preview upcoming fuzzZone episodes and discuss the latest addition to the Analog Alien pedal collection.
The Electro-Harmonix Small Clone: Cobain’s Most Iconic Pedal
One of the most famous pedals that Cobain used was the Electro-Harmonix Small Clone chorus pedal. This pedal was a crucial part of Cobain’s sound, particularly on “Come As You Are,” where he used it to create a shimmering, watery effect on his guitar that became one of the most recognizable intros in rock history.
The Small Clone is a simple, easy-to-use pedal that provides a warm, lush chorus effect, subtle or intense depending on how it’s set. It has just two controls: a rate knob for the speed of the chorus effect and a depth switch. That simplicity is exactly what makes it so powerful. You don’t need to overthink it to nail those tones.
Bonus studio fact: As Jack and Joe cover in The fuzzZone Ep. 9, famed engineer Andy Wallace is often credited with enhancing the chorus texture on the final recording of “Come As You Are” using the Yamaha SPX90, adding extra movement and shimmer that helped make the track sound even bigger and more immersive than what the Small Clone alone produced.
Other Modulation Pedals Cobain Used
Kurt didn’t stop at the Small Clone. Other chorus and modulation effects that made their way into his rig included:
- Electro-Harmonix EH-1311 Echoflanger
- Electro-Harmonix EH-7700 Polychorus, heard on songs like “Heart-Shaped Box”
Kurt Cobain’s Distortion and Fuzz Pedals
Cobain also used a variety of distortion pedals throughout his career to create the fuzzy, distorted guitar tones that became the hallmark of the grunge sound. Key distortion and fuzz pedals in his rig included:
- ProCo Rat
- Boss DS-1
- Electro-Harmonix Big Muff
These are mostly 3-knob pedals covering distortion, filter, and volume (labeled differently depending on the pedal, but that’s what they do), meaning you can dial in those tones quickly and easily.
Kurt Cobain’s Live Rig: DOD and Tech 21
Live, Nirvana’s guitar tones were often courtesy of DOD and Tech 21. The legendary DOD FX69 Grunge and the Tech 21 SansAmp Preamp can both be spotted on the floor during live recordings. These gave Kurt the raw, aggressive edge that translated to large venues without losing the grit that defined Nirvana’s live sound.
Get Those Tones Today: The Analog Alien Bucket Seat
The Analog Alien Bucket Seat wasn’t around when Nirvana was. But it produces these tones and much more with ease, and yes, it’s still only 3 knobs. If you’re chasing that classic grunge sound without building out a full vintage pedal board, the Bucket Seat is worth a serious look.
Kurt Cobain’s Sound Was More Than One Pedal
While the Small Clone may have been one of Cobain’s most famous pedals, his sound was far more complex than any single effect. Cobain was a master at blending multiple effects together, and his use of pedals was just one part of a larger sonic tapestry. The combination of chorus, fuzz, distortion, and the studio engineering behind those records is what made Nirvana’s guitar tones so iconic and so difficult to replicate with a single pedal.
FAQ: Kurt Cobain Guitar Pedals
Kurt Cobain used the Electro-Harmonix Small Clone chorus pedal on “Come As You Are.” The pedal’s lush, watery chorus effect creates the shimmering, swirling riff that opens the song. As detailed in The fuzzZone Ep. 9, engineer Andy Wallace also used the Yamaha SPX90 during mixing to enhance the chorus texture on the final recording.
Kurt Cobain used several distortion pedals throughout his career, including the ProCo Rat, the Boss DS-1, and the Electro-Harmonix Big Muff. For live shows, the DOD FX69 Grunge and Tech 21 SansAmp Preamp were also key parts of his rig.
The Electro-Harmonix Small Clone was Kurt Cobain’s primary chorus pedal and arguably his most famous effect. He also used the Electro-Harmonix EH-1311 Echoflanger and the EH-7700 Polychorus on various recordings.
Kurt Cobain used quite a few pedals across his studio and live work. His rig included the Small Clone chorus, the Electro-Harmonix Big Muff, the ProCo Rat, the Boss DS-1, the DOD FX69 Grunge, the Tech 21 SansAmp, and various Electro-Harmonix modulation units. The exact setup varied by song and era.
Yes. The Analog Alien Bucket Seat is a 3-knob pedal built to cover the kinds of tones Kurt used, from fuzzy grunge distortion to warm overdrive, in a single unit. It won’t replicate the exact signal chain, but it gives you the essential character of that era’s sound in a simple, giggable package.
What did engineer Andy Wallace use on “Come As You Are”?
During mixing, engineer Andy Wallace is credited with using the Yamaha SPX90 to enhance the chorus effect on “Come As You Are,” adding extra movement and shimmer on top of the Small Clone’s signal. This is one of the key studio secrets behind why that track sounds even bigger than a raw Small Clone recording. Jack and Joe cover this in detail in The fuzzZone Ep. 9.
The Electro-Harmonix Small Clone chorus pedal was one of the key components of Kurt Cobain’s signature guitar sound, particularly on “Come As You Are.” But his use of pedals was just one part of a larger musical vision that helped define the sound of an entire generation. From the Rat to the Big Muff to the live SansAmp rig, Cobain’s board was a carefully crafted tool for sonic storytelling.
Want to hear it all broken down in detail? Watch The fuzzZone Ep. 9 with Jack and Joe, recorded at Cloud 9 Recording Studio.