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Distorted Tone

Knights of Cydonia

Muse

BassAlternative rock / progressive rock2000s (mid-2000s)

Original Gear

BassFender Jazz Bass or Rickenbacker 4003 (used by Chris Wolstenholme during that era)
AmpLikely split across multiple amps: clean path (e.g., Ampeg SVT), distorted path (e.g., Marshall live, possibly Orange studio)
PickupsUnknown

Amp Settings

gain7.5
bass5.5
mid7
treble6.5
presence6
compression5

Effects & Signal Chain

No effects used for this tone

Notes

Chris often splits his bass signal into clean and distorted paths (Big Muff, Animato), using multiple amps simultaneously

Tone Character(3)
Layered clean and distorted signalsFuzz-heavy midrange with preserved low-endGalloping, aggressive tone

Difficulty

The bassline features a fast, galloping rhythm requiring precision and involves switching techniques and managing layered tones, making it intermediate to hard.

Sources

Chris Wolstenholme tone & gear secrets (Guitar World)Muse signature bass tone layering (DeathCloud)Chris uses pick on Knights of Cydonia (Devil Bat’s blog)

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Knights of Cydonia settings for your amp

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