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Kill Or Be Killed — Muse1 / 2
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Kill Or Be Killed Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Muse

Muse · 2010s+ · metal

studio

Original Recording

Guitar
Manson Oryx 6-string (custom, drop B tuning)
Pickups
Manson PF-1 Matthew Bellamy Signature Humbucker
Amp
Diezel VH4
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup

Studio recording, 2022. Guitar confirmed as Manson Oryx with PF-1 pickup for this era and song. Diezel VH4 is Bellamy's primary high-gain amp for modern Muse studio recordings. No evidence of additional amp blending or live-specific gear for the studio version.

Amp Settings

Mids
5
Bass
6
Gain
8.5
Reverb
1.5
Treble
7
Presence
6.5

Effects Chain

  • Whammy V/DT · pitch_shift

Manson Oryx → Whammy V/DT → Diezel VH4 (minimal digital reverb)

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Tone Character

  • tight and percussive
  • aggressive palm-muted chugs
  • dense, saturated distortion
  • articulate, biting attack
  • clear note separation in low tuning
  • modern metal saturation
  • crushing, djent-inspired rhythm
  • high-output humbucker clarity
  • slightly scooped mids
  • minimal ambience

Notes & Caveats

  • ⚠️No direct studio amp settings found; amp and pickup confirmed by multiple sources for this era and song.
  • ⚠️Settings estimated based on typical Diezel VH4 usage for modern Muse metal tones and genre conventions.
  • ⚠️No explicit pedalboard photo or studio session notes for the riff section; effects inferred from audio and artist's known rig.
  • ⚠️No evidence of time-based or modulation effects in the riff section; only high-gain distortion and minimal reverb are audible.
  • ⚠️If future studio documentation emerges, settings may need revision.
  • ⚠️Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Muse's 'Kill Or Be Killed' riff features a modern, aggressive, high-gain tone with tight low end, forward but not honky mids, and pronounced treble/presence for clarity. Matt Bellamy typically uses Diezel or Mesa/Boogie amps with high gain and minimal reverb, matching modern metal conventions.

Sources