How to Get The 90s Sound On Guitar - 90s Grunge & Alt-Rock Guitar Tones

[@latergator915]

"Im playing too bluesy, I need to find a way to..." ... just randomly play perfect grunge era rock. Legend Dagan.

[@themadkraken1912]

I really think the 90's sound was defined by one thing: -Whatever shit you had lying around that could make noise. Kurt Cobain pretty much exclusively used crap he found lying around for a few bucks in pawn shops.

[@matt926uk1]

I think kurt cared about his tone more than people give him credit for, especially in the studio. Why else would he put Seymour Duncan jb's in his guitars.

[@benjaminfowler4513]

@@matt926uk1 thought he used dmarzio distortions?

[@matt926uk1]

@@benjaminfowler4513 he used both according to the internet. Anyway, whatever he used he still sought out better tone by changing them.

[@fpsknifer9906]

I think it was a mix of the two things. He did use cheap Boss distortion pedals, but he also used weird & relatively expensive stuff like Echoflanger and Polychorus pedals. Half his gear was easily replaceable stuff, the other half was hard to find and had to be babied by his guitar tech between shows. He was also supposedly picky regarding his Small Clone pedals, so he was always hunting for vintage units with the old chip. I think his nonchalance regarding gear is overstated and not quite accurate.

[@pahwraith]

@@matt926uk1 and he hired steve albini. He definitely cared about the sound of his guitar.

[@skylineXpert]

I am born in 92' Nirvana came to my home country that year. and the rest is history

[@burriedabove]

Sure buddy.

[@kombat1988]

@@burriedabove mhm

[@cpsbBXCX]

@@burriedabove yes i agree, it's hard to believe nirvana went to someone's country in 1992. i honestly don't even know how OP thought they could get away with this

[@aBunnyThatWillChewOnYourCables]

@@cpsbBXCX nah, the joke is that OP's father is one of the Nirvana members. He was conceived on the day Nirvana came to his country 😂

[@pd1jdw630]

I was born in the early 80’s and lived my teenage life through the 90’s. Somehow I miss the 90’s. Gosh durn it. We took what we could buy for the money we had. As long it made enough noise.

[@aaronchilds4279]

Dagan was born in the 90's? Holy crap I'm old!

[@estranged85]

You just gave me anxiety 🤣

[@benjaminfowler4513]

Do one on 60s garage and psychedelic pleeeaaasse??!!!

[@sue2850]

yesss omg!!!

[@Paul_Warren_Wolfe]

I lived in Seattle & I bought a Mustang in 1980 with a Princeton Reverb amp for $210 total for both. THAT is why grunge players used them - they were affordable. Stone Gossard played Les Pauls because he could afford one. Pedals? Whatever you could afford... Amps? Ditto. People who weren't there tend to overanalyze this stuff.

[@Bellocks1]

This is so true. Kids these days who get into guitar because they like Nirvana feel as if they need to buy the signature Jag with a Sansamp, Mesa and so on.... it goes against the entire deal to seek out bespoke gear. I use an Epi Les Paul Gothic (because it was the only one in the shop, and the matte black looked cool, and I love the Alnico humbuckers in it), with a RAT clone (Mooer Black Secret) into a cheap small Carlsbro amp, that I bought only for £16 (about $20-25 maybe?). And I love it. I can get a great Bleach tone on it, or some Mudhoney stuff. I just want a reverb and chorus pedal. Or if the price is right for a small Fender Champion 20 or 40. And I'm pretty done for gear. No sig guitars, no overpriced pre amps or pedals, nothing.

[@URNSMF]

You’d be a lovely captain jack sparrow for another pirates of the Caribbean.

[@KhyrisEidan]

There is only one Captain Jack Sparrow.

[@brandonjackson5865]

@@KhyrisEidan aye, but you’ve heard of him .

[@fridayupdates26]

jack crow

[@mikereiss4216]

He actually reminds me a little bit of Russell Brand. Anyone else see that?

[@brandonjackson5865]

@@mikereiss4216 uncanny resemblance ye savvy ?

[@johnsguitarmusicanddemos]

The 90s was the era I was in a successful band doing gigs and small New England tours. Definitely a great video doing their tone! Beautifully done!

[@mattsutton4211]

In the 90's I was going the cheap route! lol I was using a Crate GX212 for an amp with a Fender Squier Strat (still own and play the guitar). It wasn't too bad!

[@davidjameschamberlain]

I feel like the first half was based predominantly around Kurt's sound and gear taste as sort of a be all end all for grunge in general, which would make sense considering the amount of bands that came into existence as Nirvana clones. Kurt and and the fine folks of Mudhoney were the only real predominant Mustang users during that period, (at least that I can think of). There were a lot of Gibson and Gibson Style instruments as well Buzz Osbourne used a Les Paul, as did James Iha, Kim Thayil used a Guild S100, Tad Doyle used SGs when not using a humbucker loaded Jazzmaster, Mike McCready was also using a lot of Gibson stuff as well, L7 had Donita on a Flying V and Suzi Gardner on a modified Melody Maker) I'd say the Proco Rat deserved at least an honorable mention. Used by The Melvins, Tad, Nirvana (Pat's main distortion), L7, Hole (Eric Erlandson), and maybe AIC, though I've never seen it visually confirmed As for amps, Silverface Fenders were a big thing, the clean/distortion dynamic was huge. Marshalls never really went away, though the walls of dummy stacks were typically reduced to maybe a half stack or two at the most (there are exceptions, J Mascis for example as well as Nirvana's copious amount of taped label cabs) Preamp and poweramp setups were still a thing at this time, ADAs and Marshall JMP1s were still used a shit ton at the time (Gish was all ADA, Mellon Collie was JMP1) Late 90s was pretty dead on, though there was a lot more in the way of textural effects starting to pop up as well, albeit in a very different fashion to the 80s processing

[@IamtheFerryMan]

Mike McCready was and still is predominantly a Strat player. Though he did use an LP on occasion. Stone can be seen with an LP much more than Mike.

[@llll-lk2mm]

I'd like to see a video of you talking about this man, you know a lot

[@caio_simoneti]

Great video! I think when it comes to technique one could also suggest playing around with Drop D tuning. It was quite popular with Soundgarden, Alice in Chains, Tool, and Nirvana

[@PMTVUK]

Great suggestion!

[@Ryno133]

This and also Eb and drop C# something about that half step down just gives you a different feel.

[@davidpggarrett]

True. Actually, I'm constantly in E# and drop C# now, especially for Alice in Chains.

[@Ruinz410]

Alice In Chains is Eb and Drop C#.

[@JimijaymesProductions]

@@davidpggarrett Yeah I think drop C# is pretty much half the heavy stuff from the 90s to mid 2000s,

[@kjl3080]

90 guitar tone is literally whatever you have on hand, it’s like bootstrap

[@JACOBO2068]

Great Dagan as always!

[@RW3871]

"I was born in the 90s.' Good lord you look and sound like you've been rocking since the 70s!

[@Jbrink22]

Been waiting for you guys to put this video together. Thanks for the effort. Great job!

[@berenddejong3615]

Oh i hope they do 2000s emo/punk rock next

[@SerDezBlackfyre]

Yes!!! That’s the one!!

[@puccipower]

Uhh..these pedals were...

[@JG-3-17]

Gotta include the girl jeans too😂😂

[@idontcare2851]

@@JG-3-17 low rise old navy for life

[@kcdr4482]

notice this one dagan

[@Latexi_LMX]

I love the 90´s I am born in the 70´s so was teenager at 90´s, good times! Best decade!

[@Brad_Genesis]

Miss those times and the authentic music

[@clownose2831]

Flippeneck 😁I thought you were older dude! I remember 90s music well,I was in my 20s,and in UK it was mostly chart dance, Manchester indie,trip hop,rap,and yes American alt🇺🇸

[@eeshsinger]

Nice thanks for this how to Dagan sounds amazing

[@aaronchilds4279]

Another great current production guitar for 90's sounds IMHO is the Fender Duo Sonic HS. Found mine in a pawn shop practically unused and for half the retail price. Just needed a good cleaning.

[@GGMattt]

That POG sounds so good! I have a bunch of effects on my Blackstar ID Core 10 v2 but I don't actually use them that much besides for reverb

[@bindiblacher2272]

Perfect! Thanks for that- really helpful in clarifying what I can add to my kit. Love the 90's!!

[@llll-lk2mm]

the first string you played with that clone pedal I thought of come as you are. iconic

[@judasbarnet8604]

I started playing guitar in the 90s and did have that crappy sound but it was only fun fot about a week. But along came the mighty Hellacopters and made it sound fantasic

[@deadlegs187]

Look up Butch Vigs studio techniques if ya wanna nail the sound

[@greg6162]

*DOD Grunge pedal* 🤘Bought one brand new for like $185 in 1996 and works for grunge and it’s great for metal too

[@JoelLovesLife]

You’re comment is exactly what I needed

[@kenminerva]

I love Nirvana and their music 🤘🏿🥴🤘🏿

[@DaveTaste]

Love Alison Chains. Probably my favourite arist.

[@TheDeedeeFiles]

Sounds great man.

[@waynebridger4998]

One of my favourite amps, was an original all valve Ashdown Fallen Angel 40 before they went with DSP stuff on them

[@jackwatson441]

My favorite 90s amp is peavey USA amps

[@kimcarrim351]

One distinction...pro’s may have been discovering Mesa Boogie and PRS, but teenagers were making do with a Marshall Valvestate and an Arion effects pedal (Boss was really expensive back then)...gear is much better and affordable nowadays if you’re on a budget

[@comotuabogada]

I LOVED this video❤

[@mylesbetter8978]

My 90’s set up included a MIJ Squire strat, an Epiphone explorer and Peavey bandit with an Ibinez chorus and Jim Dunlop wah

[@dipanjanbose4989]

Please do separate video on Alice in chains

[@brandonwhite8935]

You guys should do a gear video for how to sound like Prince

[@iamryanman]

Boss pedals , Mesa amps

[@wolfvanhooydonck5476]

The constant clinging sound of his chains in the mic hahaha

[@StaggaLags]

Maybe I'm a weirdo and don't listen to the same 90s bands everyone else does, but I've never stopped wanting a Univox Hi-Flier (phase 2, gimme p90s and a trem!) and a Sunn Concert Lead amp head. Justin Trosper of Unwound played that, or an Ampeg Dan Armstrong, or an Epiphone ET-270 (where the neck pickup literally disintegrated during a gig and the bridge was replaced with some sort of humbucker), or a crazy Pleasant greenburst pawn shop type guitar (looks like a Teisco, built in Matsumoko, sounds like a box of rabid mice). I actually wish Epiphone would reissue the ET-270. Looks like a Fender Lead but has a tremolo and crazy cool dark red/black colorway.

[@alexdjents6145]

Early 00s pop punk next?

[@PMTVUK]

You know it!!!!

[@jaycid9929]

90's amp's & two pedals.... Mesa rectifier, peavey 5150, peavey xxx, peavey xxL , marshall JCM2000 , marshall valstate 100. Tube screamer, boss hyper Fuzz and rack gear...

[@Cosmic_Nomad]

I love this guy but I was looking for something besides grunge. I look up 90s rock and it’s always Killing in the name , Green Day, Nirvana, and a Foo Fighters song. Good video though As always.

[@gamebuildcolor1673]

“That is a fact, i found it on Wikipedia!” 😂 not sure if that was meant to be funny but it was

[@JackSanderson.MP3]

I can tell this man likes Nirvana’s song - Breed, most of the times when he played he used the start riff and changed it up a little ahaha 🤣

[@brostoevsky22]

Boss DS2 has a grungy / Weezer sound. It's probably better than the DS1, which is still good.

[@JDStone20]

Awesome video!!!!!!!

[@goodnightmr5892]

6:07 big muff indeed, was popular back in the day. 😂

[@vibecheck4581]

I have all those fx sound in my Fender mustang V2

[@danielcastillo5525]

Please make one about Britpop Sound (Oasis/Blur/Suede)

[@evil1st]

make an american guitar tone, then turn the mids up and the treble down, your welcome

[@realmoistproductions763]

Vary helpful thank you

[@TheJoker-wr1cp]

Very helpful thank you

[@jgame1944]

Dagan: it was such a fun time to be alive Me born in 2010: well shit

[@brownsound69]

this was insightful

[@Grungebaby82]

informative video thanks!

[@Brad_Genesis]

Good video

[@kayacarmen]

YOU'RE SO COOL THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@andrewpappas9311]

I grew up at the tail end of the 90s (January '99) and I still love 90s grunge and alternative, Nirvana and the Pumpkins are two of my favourite bands and I bought a Big Muff because I wanted to get Billy Corgan's tone on Siamese Dream (also my band was playing Today at the time I got the pedal so I wanted to try and be more "authentic") and it's still one of my favourite pedals that I still use

[@PMTVUK]

You'll love this review of the Op Amp big muff then! kzbin.info/www/bejne/aoXIqoJ9bruFmbs

[@d1yon]

Awesome video, Do you think an Epiphone Les Paul Muse would be good for grunge because I like the way single coils sound but I don't like the hum, I've checked out the P-90 pickups too.

[@Malum09]

I identify the 90’s rock sound as either grunge or Nu Metal chugs

[@PMTVUK]

Maybe we should do a whole video on Korn?

[@Malum09]

@@PMTVUK yeah!

[@cacogenicist]

The 80s were also _Scratch Acid_ and _The Melvins_ and _Pixies,_ etc -- and Nirvana released their first album in 1989.

[@kiko3228]

he’s talking about the mainstream

[@evil1st]

also nobody *genuinely* likes punk, pop punk and skatepunk, this goes for the melvins, nofx, suicidal tendencies, ramones, etc. Basically because all they do is talk about politics and whine about "the system". Nirvana were really just some guys having fun and thats *real music* .

[@rebelfriend6660]

@@evil1st cringe

[@honeyfrost3355]

@@evil1st The Ramones hardly sang about politics.

[@pabloa6855]

You should do a post punk one

[@jasontaylor4799]

Should do a video on punk rock from the 80s till now ….. I hear nofx is calling it a day next year , sad times, they where there through it all

[@benland8702]

Thats accurate and the sound his huge . you can see your passion for music in that video . IMO Grunge ( specially Nirvana ) brought back the garage side of music to the mainstream , it kills the 80s hair bands era that was getting to a ridiculous point anyway at the end of the 80s ( over the top hairs , make up , neon pink guitars ) . the 80s was " larger than life " lifestyle , the grunge era brought back a simplier lifestyle . Come as you are , dont accesorize too much , just be yourself , ripped jeans , flannels , simple riffs , no over the top shredding and solo . Vintage instrument like fender jaguar , mustang , etc... were once again cool to own . Thats what grunge his IMO . While i loved the 80s music ( best musical decade IMO ) , what Nirvana brought is simplicity , because frankly , the end of the 80s fashion / lifestyle /trends was getting ridiculous at some point . Hair metal had his glory years and it was time for something else .. and grunge was it . Anyway hair metal itself was getting way too mainstream with every bands writing power ballads to get on MTV at the end of the 80s .

[@ryanpierce5460]

I'm a heavy metal guitarist and was born in the 80s. My play style period is 1987 to 1992 maybe 1991. I love 90s rock but my influence stopped in the early 90s

[@davidbrockett1]

The 90s still had pantera though thank god 🤘

[@KhyrisEidan]

Which multi-effects pedal would be good for 90's, Early 2000's music? (Mainly for Korn, Linkin Park, etc.)

[@AndrewStonerock]

Do this again, but with a modeller

[@henzbeats]

the best 90´s amplifier is peavey 5150

[@MichaelScottGuitar]

If you have a noise gate on your pedal board, in the 90s, you're doing it all wrong! Glad there isn't one here :)

[@gibby3767]

Whats a noise gate?

[@badcontent2197]

me, who has a 90's american setting on my amp: *I'm 4 parallel universes ahead of you.*

[@benswallow5869]

Could u do sort of oasis sound please

[@elijahs4785]

Can you do like a progressive Radiohead type sound

[@deadlegs187]

Look for an Ed O'Brien interview. He has loads of pedal board interviews that should see you right

[@elijahs4785]

@@deadlegs187 I was thinking like mostly affordable delays and reverbs but I’ll look into it

[@deadlegs187]

@@elijahs4785 they use a memory man for delay I think. The ehx canyon is a excellent delay and 30£ second hand. Behringer have great delay too, it's about 20£ :)

[@edcollins9377]

Although I like 80's glam rock it got to be way too technical and you had to be a superfast shredder which took years to master. With Nirvana & Grunge, you could be a brand new beginner and learn those songs in a few hours easy peesy.

[@djay6651]

Oddly enough, I'm finding the DOD reissue Gonkulator to be a stupidly versatile pedal for punky/grungy/alt rock.

[@edcollins9377]

which version of the DS-1 did he use? what ic chip was in it?

[@PhantomLoco13]

That's one Sexy PRS !

[@benedekgabor.]

How to get QOTSA like tones please? 😅

[@PMTVUK]

Stay tuned....

[@shaneross6242]

What tuning are you using

[@jordanking2488]

pog 👀

[@Caleb-fv5fp]

The 90s was the last great decade, the 2000s was good, the 2010s where ok and the 2020s are terrible

[@thestickmanproject2527]

I didn't know Captain Jack Sparrow do some demo reviews

[@gavinmalone8186]

I only watched to 7:32 so far, but I can already tell you. The Digitech Element XP has all of these pedal sounds on it, and only for a hundred bucks. Plus, it has the Digitech Grunge Distortion, which sounds more like Nu Metal tone when I use it.

[@toyotacamry7640]

What’s a good guitar to play creep?

[@scottdavidson6066]

Any electric you have access to.

[@harry5993]

could you do one for britpop?

[@evil1st]

make an american guitar tone, then turn the mids up and the treble down, your welcome

[@christianmorera4127]

He was born in the 90s!? I always thought he was a young looking 30 something year old lol.

[@elton28.20]

I know we are not supposed to talk about Floyd Rose equipped guitars when speaking about that decade but... what’s that Superstrat hanging on the wall between the EVH and the Toronado???

[@juneau.bandca]

It looks like a Kramer

[@DaganWilkin]

My old ‘87 Kramer Pacer Custom 2

[@elton28.20]

@@juneau.bandca good nickname 😄

[@elton28.20]

@@DaganWilkin thanks!! Did it appear in any previous video I might got missed?

[@bmjames]

What's a fun little pedal to have in Your Arsenal?

[@Ron-hv5qy]

Whatever Jim root used in 1999

[@rwm4738]

The DS-1 isn't budget friendly?

[@honeyfrost3355]

He probably wanted to showcase other cheaper distortion pedals.

[@basslinger]

You were born in the 90s? Jesus.

[@GornGornStudios]

every time i see a video about guitar pedals my wallet cries

[@brandonproctor3639]

Love the PRS. That satin finish is sexy Sorry but the Blackstar amp is very uninspiring

[@giovannibrunengo1839]

does anyone know a really cheap grungy guitar?

[@MCman-rz6pd]

“…so people in the crowd fought, had a great time” dude

[@gibby3767]

I love alot of the SOUNDS of 90's songs but a majority of them im like "wtf are these lyrics, they must have been fucked up righting some shit like this😂" and then you look it up and they were 😭

[@musicwired1]

prs was rare if ever used on 1990 stuff so expensive defeated the point a bit

[@PedroMachadoBorges]

Sponsored by blackstar. "i didnt want to use the boss ds1"... right... :p

[@matthewkennedy7283]

Guys do not play a current model ds1 through single coils, use humbuckers

[@musicwired1]

new gear to show old school weird