Tone Settings for Plug In Baby by Muse (guitar and amp)

1. Volume

• Set the guitar’s volume knob to maximum (10) for full output to drive pedals and amp.
• Control dynamic range using your picking strength or guitar’s volume knob if needed.

2. Tone

• Set tone knob on guitar to full (10) for a brighter and more aggressive edge.
• Use EQ on your amp or pedals to cut through: boost mids and treble moderately, keep bass tight (avoid mud).
• Optionally use a mid-boost or treble booster to emulate Bellamy’s sharp sustain and harmonic content.

3. Pickup Selector

• Bridge pickup is preferred for the high-gain lead sound in “Plug In Baby.”
• If using coil splits, stick with full humbucker mode for thickness and sustain.

4. Humbucker or Single Coil Preferred?

• High-output humbuckers are ideal for capturing the saturated, tight distortion of the track.
• Active pickups or ceramic magnets can add additional bite and clarity.

5. Ideal Guitar Type (Electric – Manson-style)

• Manson-style guitars with built-in effects (like fuzz or MIDI controls) are optimal for Muse tones.
• Mahogany body with maple neck for warmth and sustain—common in Bellamy’s Manson guitars.
• Keeley or Z-Vex style fuzz pedals, or stock Manson onboard fuzz circuit, help replicate the intro/lead tone.
• Consider guitars with a sustainer pickup for long legato phrasing, as used by Bellamy on some tracks/live.

• Manson MB Series Guitar: Muse’s Matt Bellamy signature guitar, ideal for replicating his tone and feel
• Fuzz Pedal (ZVEX Fuzz Factory): Key for getting the aggressive, glitchy intro tone
• DigiTech Whammy Pedal: Used for pitch shifting effects heard in solos and transitions
• Boss DS-1 or DS-2 Distortion: Great for achieving the saturated distortion heard throughout
• Delay Pedal (Line 6 DL4 or Boss DD-series): Used subtly to thicken solos and lead lines
• Noise Gate Pedal (ISP Decimator): Helps tighten high-gain fuzz and distortion tones
• Tube Amplifier (Vox AC30 or Marshall DSL): Essential for that warm, British rock foundation Muse is known for
• Expression Pedal (for Whammy control): Allows for hands-free manipulation of pitch effects

• Use high-gain amp settings for aggressive lead tones.
• Dial in a tight midrange to emphasize riff clarity.
• Slightly scoop low mids to reduce muddiness in fast passages.
• Add moderate compression for sustain and clarity.
• Use a bridge humbucker pickup for punchy, defined tone.
• Apply a wah pedal or filter effect to replicate the intro’s synth-like character.
• Set delay with a short feedback and time for ambient trail during solos.
• Utilize palm muting and precise picking dynamics for articulation.
• Experiment with tube amp emulations or analog amp models.
• Keep gain below saturation point to avoid tone washout in fast riffing.