miracleYs Posted March 23, 2011 Posted March 23, 2011 Hello everyone!  Sadly I'm one. So I have been spending a lot of time searching for a guitar closest to Matt's Manson, in tones and sounds. And now also after long time listening and looking, I think I have the answer: the HSS Start (sometimes SSS Start) or HH tele.  Generally, and quite natually, we would think that a Gibson/Epiphone is the most similar guitar to Manson, since they both are famous for the fat overdriven sounding, and have the same HH position. And Matt even used a Gibson LP DC Lite as his main guitar during his early Showbiz Live. I also had this kind of opinion for quite a long time.  But recently I found I was wrong. It is NOT:  1. If you listen carefully, you will find that most of the songs' rhythm guitar lines (the guitar lines backing his vocal) produce a much Fender-like "twang" sound (Time is running out, Darkshine, etc). And this happens more in studio version, because Matt uses more gain on his Live (maybe he switchs neck to bridge). (Supermassive black hole, Knights of Cydonia, etc)  2. Look at the Manson guitars, all of the neck pickups are P-90s (Manson MBK-1) or Fernandes Sustainer. SO they are single coils. They are not humbucker (MBK-2 or MBK-3) (Look at the dots on the pickup). So they actually are HS guitars. (M1D1 Black even has two P-90s as the bridge pickup. I don't know why Matt is so in love with P-90 xD). While all Gibson have HH or P-90/P-90.  3. The overdrive. They produce kind of a BRIGHTER sound, even for their darkest metal song (Stockholm Syndrome, The small print), which could easily be disinguished from other metal (Listen to a metal song, then listen to Muse). It is like a bridge pickup overdriven Start or Tele. While Gibson are much fatter and deeper, and not the same kind. Further, I guess the Gibson LP DC Lite was also less fatter and deeper. And Matt did use a Tele during "Battle of Bands" before they were signed ( ).  4. I find some musicians, who switched from Gibson to Fender, said that the Gibson sound are too fat that even affects the vocal performance during Live shows. So maybe Matt has the same kind of thoughts, so his Manson are more like Fender.  So in conclusion, in my opinion, a Fender/Squier HSS Start or HH Tele produces the most similar sounding and tone to Matt's Manson, but not Gibson. And hopefully, we could all get a real amazing Manson one day!  PS: I recently find the new Fender Blacktop Tele sounds so much like the Manson! Not to mention the shape and the silver finish! Strongly recommand to check that.  Thank you all for taking your time reading that!  We Muse and Muse fans are the universe!
Russell_A Posted March 23, 2011 Posted March 23, 2011 all of the neck pickups are P-90s (Manson MBK-1) or Fernandes Sustainer. SO they are single coils. They are not humbucker (MBK-2 or MBK-3) Â Â Pardon? Â Nothing wrong with coil splitting the neck pickup for a single coil neck anyway eh?
Neil. Posted March 23, 2011 Posted March 23, 2011 hmmm... I'd seriously question this, considering such issues as the output of pickups etc etc.
matthijs Posted March 23, 2011 Posted March 23, 2011 So, what if I wanna Thom Yorke while I man my Manson?
james90 Posted March 23, 2011 Posted March 23, 2011 Lets take a closer look... Hello everyone! Sadly I'm one. So I have been spending a lot of time searching for a guitar closest to Matt's Manson, in tones and sounds. And now also after long time listening and looking, I think I have the answer: the HSS Start (sometimes SSS Start) or HH tele. I really wouldn't say the strat is a good choice to be honest, but I can't argue with the HH tele. Generally, and quite natually, we would think that a Gibson/Epiphone is the most similar guitar to Manson, since they both are famous for the fat overdriven sounding, and have the same HH position. And Matt even used a Gibson LP DC Lite as his main guitar during his early Showbiz Live. I also had this kind of opinion for quite a long time. Yes. Matt even said himself when he was designing his guitars that he wanted a guitar that felt/played like a Fender and sounded like a Gibson. But recently I found I was wrong. It is NOT: Before you read any further, you're still entitled to your opinion, so don't take this the wrong way.... 1. If you listen carefully, you will find that most of the songs' rhythm guitar lines (the guitar lines backing his vocal) produce a much Fender-like "twang" sound (Time is running out, Darkshine, etc). And this happens more in studio version, because Matt uses more gain on his Live (maybe he switchs neck to bridge). (Supermassive black hole, Knights of Cydonia, etc) I always thought Darkshines was recorded on his Fender aloha strat. But besides that, I don't hear exactly what you mean with the fender like 'twang' on time is running out. That has a fairly heavy sound in my opinion. Keep in mind that most tracks since black holes and revelations have been recorded with Mansons that are loaded with P90 single coil pickups. Supermassive black hole definitely sounds like a single coil. 2. Look at the Manson guitars, all of the neck pickups are P-90s (Manson MBK-1) or Fernandes Sustainer. SO they are single coils. They are not humbucker (MBK-2 or MBK-3) (Look at the dots on the pickup). So they actually are HS guitars. (M1D1 Black even has two P-90s as the bridge pickup. I don't know why Matt is so in love with P-90 xD). While all Gibson have HH or P-90/P-90. That's only the neck pickup though, not the bridge pickup...the M1D1 black has the pickups wired as a single coil or together as one huge humbucker, and I'm fairly certain he uses both of those settings. Sure, a fair few of his guitars have P90s now, and he uses them for recording as well, but live he uses the bridge humbucker in the red glitter, seattle, etc quite a lot. 3. The overdrive. They produce kind of a BRIGHTER sound, even for their darkest metal song (Stockholm Syndrome, The small print), which could easily be disinguished from other metal (Listen to a metal song, then listen to Muse). It is like a bridge pickup overdriven Start or Tele. While Gibson are much fatter and deeper, and not the same kind. Further, I guess the Gibson LP DC Lite was also less fatter and deeper. And Matt did use a Tele during "Battle of Bands" before they were signed ( ). I wouldn't say they produce a brighter sound. Depends on which guitar though - some of them are actually fairly bright, like the M1D1 black with the bridge P90 only (not as a humbucker). His current live sound is actually quite heavy in the low mids, and he said he aims for that sort of sound if I remember correctly. 4. I find some musicians, who switched from Gibson to Fender, said that the Gibson sound are too fat that even affects the vocal performance during Live shows. So maybe Matt has the same kind of thoughts, so his Manson are more like Fender. I'm not sure what you mean by that exactly, but as I said earlier, Matt described them as a guitar that plays like a fender and sounds like a gibson. So in conclusion, in my opinion, a Fender/Squier HSS Start or HH Tele produces the most similar sounding and tone to Matt's Manson, but not Gibson. And hopefully, we could all get a real amazing Manson one day! Yes. I agree that the HH tele would work well, especially the mahogany ones. PS: I recently find the new Fender Blacktop Tele sounds so much like the Manson! Not to mention the shape and the silver finish! Strongly recommand to check that. +1 Thank you all for taking your time reading that! We Muse and Muse fans are the universe! No problem. Now if you want my opinion, it really depends on what you want exactly...if you want the sound, go for a gibson with humbuckers or P90s. If you want the looks (sort of) too, get a tele (preferably made of ash or mahogany) with some humbuckers.
Doog Posted March 23, 2011 Posted March 23, 2011 Yes. I agree that the HH tele would work well, especially the mahogany ones. is this where I post a picture of my tele fmt?
james90 Posted March 23, 2011 Posted March 23, 2011 is this where I post a picture of my tele fmt? yes, wouldn't mind seeing it again
Doog Posted March 23, 2011 Posted March 23, 2011 and so it was done, and the kittentab saw that it was good
JimboMansonMB-1 Posted March 23, 2011 Posted March 23, 2011 If I were on a budget and I wanted a Matt-sounding guitar, personally I'd go for a Les Paul BFG. Bridge humbucker, neck P90, killswitch, and a very flambuoyant finish
JoshH Posted March 23, 2011 Posted March 23, 2011 that finish looks like alligator skin or something that would be on cowboy boots
Dominic. Posted March 23, 2011 Posted March 23, 2011 If you were on a budget? A Gibson Les Paul is certainly not what I would describe as on a budget
james90 Posted March 23, 2011 Posted March 23, 2011 Of course: Anymore performances planned Olly? At least I can still watch you play the classics. Oh and Doog, that thing looks amazing. The black pickup covers are a nice touch.
Olly. Posted March 23, 2011 Posted March 23, 2011 Haha not for a while, it wasnt until I did that live thing that I realised I hadnt played a lot of songs for so long, completely lost how to play, shame. And I was gonna get that tele doog, looked awesome.
Doog Posted March 23, 2011 Posted March 23, 2011 Of course: Anymore performances planned Olly? At least I can still watch you play the classics. Oh and Doog, that thing looks amazing. The black pickup covers are a nice touch. well the stock pups were open pole, didn't want to get open pole replacements but figured chrome/nickel would look a bit off and I don't think bkp do black chrome covers (which is what the rest of the hardware is), or at least didn't at the time. so black covers were pretty much the only option. actually like how, where the black is coming away a bit on the neck pickup, it sort of looks rough and unfinished underneath
Cosmo57 Posted March 23, 2011 Posted March 23, 2011 I really wouldn't say the strat is a good choice to be honest, but I can't argue with the HH tele I have a Strat and it does heavy tones pretty nicely. I was never a big fan of humbuckers. I recorded this the other day, just messing about, testing my new amp's line-in recording. It's a completely stock (except for the nut) Squier Classic Vibe 60's Strat, going through a Roland Cube 30x on the R-fier setting. Just trying to show that Strats can do the Muse just fine http://www.mediafire.com/?zkevvkg441k0q6q (just needed somewhere to quickly upload it, can't be arsed to put it on YouTube. Maybe I'll get around to recording a proper video cover sometime, dunno)
Dominic. Posted March 23, 2011 Posted March 23, 2011 I have a Strat and it does heavy tones pretty nicely. I was never a big fan of humbuckers. I recorded this the other day, just messing about, testing my new amp's line-in recording. It's a completely stock (except for the nut) Squier Classic Vibe 60's Strat, going through a Roland Cube 30x on the R-fier setting. Just trying to show that Strats can do the Muse just fine http://www.mediafire.com/?zkevvkg441k0q6q (just needed somewhere to quickly upload it, can't be arsed to put it on YouTube. Maybe I'll get around to recording a proper video cover sometime, dunno) get soundcloud
JimboMansonMB-1 Posted March 24, 2011 Posted March 24, 2011 If you were on a budget? A Gibson Les Paul is certainly not what I would describe as on a budget It costs $849, that's a high budget but still, relatively little when we're talking about gibsons, Mansons, and Matt Bellamy
TopherJS Posted March 24, 2011 Posted March 24, 2011 and so it was done, and the kittentab saw that it was good great minds think alike it seems... twins (sort of)
james90 Posted March 24, 2011 Posted March 24, 2011 ooo nice, what pickups? Ethan, I'll listen to that shortly. How come you replaced the nut?
Cosmo57 Posted March 24, 2011 Posted March 24, 2011 Ethan, I'll listen to that shortly. How come you replaced the nut? Cool, lemme know what you think. As for the nut, the stock one was pretty bad. Only bad aspect of the guitar. Other people have reported great nuts, but I wasn't so impressed with mine. It was grey with dodgy, rough cutting. I took it out and replaced it with a white Graphtech TUSQ XL
james90 Posted March 24, 2011 Posted March 24, 2011 Cool, lemme know what you think. As for the nut, the stock one was pretty bad. Only bad aspect of the guitar. Other people have reported great nuts, but I wasn't so impressed with mine. It was grey with dodgy, rough cutting. I took it out and replaced it with a white Graphtech TUSQ XL Nice, I've got one of those graphtech nuts on my strat as well. It's nice, except the high E currently sounds like a sitar So I might need to replace it. And that sounds good, nice playing. Sounds like it might be clipping slightly though?
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