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Hysteria — Muse1 / 2
Original RigYour Adaptation
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Hysteria Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Muse

Muse · 2000s · rock

studio

Original Recording

Guitar
Manson MB-1 (custom, built for Matt Bellamy)
Pickups
Seymour Duncan Hot Rails (bridge), custom Manson neck single coil
Amp
Diezel VH4
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup (Seymour Duncan Hot Rails)

Studio recording, 2003 (Absolution album). Gear confirmed for studio use on 'Hysteria' riff. Manson MB-1 with Hot Rails bridge pickup into Diezel VH4 amp. No evidence of live rig or alternate guitars for this section. Fuzz/drive pedals used for heavy riff tone.

Amp Settings

Mids
7
Bass
6
Gain
7.5
Reverb
1.5
Treble
7
Presence
6.5

Effects Chain

  • fOXX Fuzz Wah Volume · fuzz

Manson MB-1 (bridge pickup) → fOXX Fuzz Wah Volume → Diezel VH4 (light digital reverb)

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Tone Character

  • tight and aggressive
  • fuzzy and saturated
  • articulate note separation
  • compressed and punchy
  • slightly scooped mids
  • clear pick attack
  • sustained power chords
  • modern alternative rock fuzz
  • no audible modulation
  • studio double-tracked for width

Notes & Caveats

  • ⚠️No official amp knob settings for 'Hysteria' studio recording found; amp and pedal choices confirmed, settings estimated based on genre, amp, and era.
  • ⚠️Pedal models inferred from era and artist's known studio board; exact pedal settings not available.
  • ⚠️No evidence of time-based or modulation effects in the riff section; fuzz/distortion is the primary effect.
  • ⚠️Some sources discuss live gear or other Muse songs—only studio Absolution-era gear included.
  • ⚠️Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Matt Bellamy's 'Hysteria' tone is high-gain but tight, with pronounced mids and upper mids for clarity and aggression, moderate bass to avoid muddiness, and minimal reverb for a dry, punchy sound. These settings reflect his typical use of a Diezel or Marshall amp with a fuzz or distortion pedal, and match the song's focused, modern rock tone.

Sources