GuitarDistortedSolo
The Dark Side Solo Guitar Tone Settings — Muse
Muse · 2010s+ · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Manson MB-1
Pickups
Manson custom humbucker (bridge position)
Amp
Diezel VH4 (studio recording, likely channel 3 or 4 for high gain), possibly blended with Marshall JCM800 (modded by Matt Wells)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording for 'The Dark Side' (2018, Simulation Theory). Matt Bellamy is known to blend the Diezel VH4 with a Marshall JCM800 for heavy tones. The MB-1 is his main guitar for this era and song. All gear confirmed for studio use on this album, not just live.
Amp Settings
Mids6
Bass6
Gain8
Reverb2
Treble7
Presence6.5
Effects Chain
- ZVex Fuzz Factory · fuzz
- Boss DD-3 Digital Delay · delay
- DigiTech Whammy · modulation
Manson MB-1 (bridge humbucker) → ZVex Fuzz Factory → DigiTech Whammy → Boss DD-3 Digital Delay → Diezel VH4 (high-gain channel, light digital reverb)
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Tone Character
- saturated and sustaining lead
- tight, compressed attack
- singing sustain with controlled feedback
- fuzz-like texture layered over high-gain base
- articulate note separation
- cutting upper mids
- slightly scooped low-mids
- modern high-gain clarity
- aggressive pick attack
- modulated delay repeats