Tone library / Muse / Knights of Cydonia

Knights of Cydonia amp settings — Spark 2

The Muse guitar tone for “Knights of Cydonia”, dialed in for a Spark 2 with a ESP LTD EC-256. Studio version, Black Holes and Revelations (2006) - Outro Heavy Riff / Main Lead

Original rig

Manson Custom (Manson bridge humbucker, built-in ZVEX Fuzz Factory) into Diezel VH4 (Channel 3), Marshall 1959HW Plexi, MXR Phase 90, and tape delay

Massive, tight, saturated modern high-gain fuzz-lead with punchy mids and laser-sharp articulation
Amp settings — Spark 2
CHANNELTreadplate (Dual Rectifier / Modern High Gain model)BOOSToff
GAIN 7 BASS 5 MID 7 TREBLE 6 PRESENCE 6 REVERB 2 MASTER 7
KnobSetting (0–10)
Gain7
Bass5
Mid7
Treble6
Presence6
Reverb2
Master7
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Guitar
PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10
Signal chain

01Fuzz / Black Op Block (Spark App)

Spark onboard drive block used in front of the high-gain amp block for Bellamy's compressed fuzz attack

Drive 4 · Tone 6 · Level 7

02Noise Gate Block (Spark App)

Essential to clamp high-gain noise between staccato gallop triplets

Threshold 6 · Decay 3
Why these settings

The Spark 2's Treadplate model recreates the crushing low-end and bite of Bellamy's Diezel VH4. Because the LTD EC-256 humbuckers are warm and medium-output, mid is pushed to 7 and the onboard Spark fuzz block acts as the built-in Fuzz Factory to add square-wave saturation. Bass is restrained to 5 so the fast galloping triplets remain tight and articulate without flubbing.

PRO TIPUse an aggressive, strictly alternating picking technique right next to the bridge saddles to get that precise, machine-gun attack during the triplet gallop sections.

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These settings are for a Spark 2. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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