a similar orange box of distortion with a
wider range of gain and tone options. He
also began using a Tech 21 Sansamp Classic
for some distortion tones in later years, at
least in a live context.
The only other effects Kurt used with
any regularity were modulation effects,
primarily chorus, via the Electro-Harmonix
Small Clone. The Small Clone was used all
over Nevermind, and as such, has become
very closely associated with Nirvana and its
idiosyncratic guitarist. He also used an EHX
Polychorus along with the Small Clone in
later years (because one just can't have too
many chorus pedals, I guess). For In Utero,
Cobain is also said to have employed the
lush vibrato built into his Fender Twin,
particularly for the "Heart-Shaped Box"
solo section, where its distinctive warble
can be readily detected.
Nirvana's influence on modern music and
popular culture is unquestionable, and no
band working today can claim to have had
such a lasting, and utterly transformative,
effect on the music business in general,
and on rock n’ roll specifically. For
guitarists, Kurt Cobain's influence is just as
lasting and powerful, despite the fact that
the late guitarist was notoriously apathetic
in regards to normal guitar player concerns
like technique and tone. He deserves
much of the credit (or blame, if you prefer)
for sparking the commercial resurgence
of stompboxes, pawn shop guitars, and
especially, Fender offset models. His
influence extends to just about any postNirvana guitarist that has ever stepped
on a Boss DS-1 to rock out a big chorus,
a category which probably contains most
of us.
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