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Unintended Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Muse
Muse · 1990s · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Manson MB-1 (Matt Black) electric guitar
Pickups
Custom Manson single coil (neck), custom Manson bridge humbucker
Amp
Unknown exact model (likely Marshall or Fender combo, as used by Bellamy in Showbiz era)
Pickup Position
Neck pickup
Studio recording, 1999. No evidence of fuzz or heavy effects; likely clean amp with minimal processing. No evidence of built-in effects or pedal use for the riff section. Guitar model inferred from period-correct photos and forum discussions disputing later Manson Evo models for this era.
Amp Settings
Mids6.5
Bass6
Gain2.5
Reverb3.5
Treble6
Presence5
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Tone Character
- warm and smooth
- rounded neck pickup tone
- clear and articulate
- soft attack
- minimal breakup
- gentle natural reverb
- intimate and mellow
- subtle highs
- no audible effects
- fingerpicked clarity
Notes & Caveats
- No direct source confirms exact amp model or settings for the studio recording; amp and settings estimated based on era, genre, and typical Bellamy setups from Showbiz period.
- No evidence of pedals or effects used for the riff section; confirmed by forum discussions and lack of audible effects.
- Guitar model confirmed as Manson MB-1 (Matt Black) for this era, not later Evo models.
- Settings are estimated based on typical clean amp setups for late 1990s alternative rock.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. The 'Unintended' riff features a warm, clean-to-edge-of-breakup tone typical of Matt Bellamy's early Muse ballads, likely using a Fender or Vox-style amp with moderate bass and mids, restrained treble, and subtle reverb for space. The gain is just enough for gentle breakup, matching the intimate, dynamic feel of the recording.