Difference between revisions of "Bass"

MuseWiki, wiki for the band Muse
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Line 121: Line 121:


== [[Drones (album) |Drones]] ==
== [[Drones (album) |Drones]] ==
[[Image:2014-12-16 Background3.jpg|thumb|right|Drones studio bass rack]]
[[Image:CHRISDRONESSETUP.jpg|thumb|right|Drones live rack setup]]
During the recording of Drones, Chris mainly used Status bass guitars again, allthough a Rickenbacker and the Gibsons were also spotted in the studio. He ran them through an Ampeg SVT-VR head for the clean channel and two Marshall DBS 7400s for distorted channels. Later, for the cover of New Kind of Kick, he likely used a Gretsch Thunder Jet, seen in the video, in the studio.


During the recording of Drones, Chris mainly used Status bass guitars, allthough a Rickenbacker and a Gibson Grabber were also spotted in the studio. He ran them through an Ampeg SVT-VR head for the clean channel and two Marshall DBS 7400s for distorted channels. Later, for the cover of New Kind of Kick, he likely used a Gretsch Thunder Jet, seen in the video, in the studio.
As for the live setupr, Chris kept his collection of basses the same as for The 2nd Law tour, with the 5-string Jazz Bass making a return for a couple of Assassin performances. The Chris Wolstenholme Status Graphite 5-String bass also made appearances for Assassin. The rack was almost exactly the same as with the T2L tours with two Kempers and two Markbass SD1200 heads.


As for the Drones tour, Chris kept the bass setup the same as for The 2nd Law tour, with the 5-string Jazz Bass making a return for a couple of Assassin performances. The Chris Wolstenholme Status Graphite 5-String bass also made appearances for Assassin. Chris switched from Marshall to Markbass heads and Markbass cabinets for the Drones tour.  The Kemper amps, added for the tour, serve for the two distortion/fuzz channels, one for Big Muff and another one for Animato. He also included an Empirical labs Distressor.
=== Studio ===


=== Studio ===
[[Image:2014-12-16 Background3.jpg|thumb|right|Studio bass rack while recording Drones]]
==== Basses ====
==== Basses ====
*[[Status Chris Wolstenholme Signature Bass]]
*[[Status Original Series II|Status Custom Red Series II]]
*[[Status S2-Classic]]
*[[Gretsch G6128B Thunder Jet]]
*[[Status Super-Vintage GP]]
*[[Gibson Grabber]]
*[[Gibson Ripper]]
*[[Rickenbacker 4001]]
*[[Fender_Jazz_Bass#Fender_Jazz_Bass_1977_.28sunburst_finish.2Fmaple_fretboard_with_pearloid_block_inlay.29|Fender Jazz Bass '77]]


==== Effects ====
* [[Status S2-Classic]] (Graphite)
* [[Status S2-Classic]] (Graphite/Blue-LED)
* [[Status Original Series II|Status "The Uprising Bass"]]
* [[Status Super-Vintage GP]]
* [[Gibson Grabber]]
* [[Gibson Ripper]]
* [[Rickenbacker 4003]]
* [[Fender_Jazz_Bass#Fender_Jazz_Bass_1977_.28sunburst_finish.2Fmaple_fretboard_with_pearloid_block_inlay.29|Fender '77 Jazz Bass]] (Sunburst/Maple fretboard)
* [[Gretsch G6128B Thunder Jet]]
 
==== Amps ====
 
* [[Markbass SD1200]]
* [[Ampeg SVT-VR]]
* 2x [[Marshall DBS 7400]]
* 2x [[Kemper Profiling Amplifier]]


===== Rack 1 =====
==== Cabs ====


* ETA Systems EPD11 LVIEC-CE
* [[Marshall 7410 Bass Cab|Marshall 7410 4x10 Cabinet]]
* Empirical Labs Distressor
* [[Marshall 7115 Bass Cab|Marshall 7115 1x15 Cabinet]]
* Custom connector panel (Unknown)
* [[Marshall 7215 Bass Cab|Marshall 7215 2x15 Cabinet]]
* Markbass SD1200
* [[Kemper Profiling Amplifier]] (black) (Big Muff)
* [[Kemper Profiling Amplifier]] (black) (Animato)


===== Rack 2 =====
==== Rack 1 ====


* ETA Systems EPD11 LVIEC-CE
* ETA Systems EPD11 LVIEC-CE Power Distribution Unit
* [[Skrydstrup Bass Routing System]]
* [[Skrydstrup Custom Routing Interface]]
* Shure UA845 Antenna /Power Distribution
* Shure UA845 Antenna Distribution Unit
* Shure UR4D
* 2x Shure UR4D Dual Wireless Reciever
* Shure UR4D
* 2x [[Skrydstrup MR10 Loop System]]
* Skrydstrup MR10
* Skrydstrup MR10
* [[TC Electronic G-Major 2]]
* [[TC Electronic G-Major 2]]
* FX Tray 1 (unknown)
* [[Electrix Filter Factory]]
* FX Tray 2 (unknown)
* 2x Paul Lenders Muse AC-Tool Power Supply Unit
* FX Tray 3 (unknown)
* Electrix Filter Factory


===== Amps =====
==== Rack 2 ====
* Ampeg SVT-VR
 
* Markbass SD1200
* ETA Systems EPD11 LVIEC-CE Power Distribution Unit
* [[Empirical Labs Distressor]]
* Custom Connector Panel
* [[Markbass SD1200]]
* 2x [[Kemper Profiling Amplifier]]
 
==== FX Tray 1 ====
 
* [[Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi|Electro-Harmonix Black Russian Big Muff Pi]] (''perhaps'')
* [[ZVex Basstortion]] (''perhaps'')
* [[ZVex Woolly Mammoth]] (''perhaps'')
* ''Unknown''
 
==== FX Tray 2 ====
 
* [[Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi|Electro-Harmonix Black Russian Big Muff Pi]] (''perhaps'')
* [[Boss OC-2]] (''perhaps'')
* [[Crowther Audio Prunes & Custard]]
* ''Unknown''
 
==== FX Tray 3 ====
 
* [[Electro-Harmonix Polyphonic Octave Generator]] (''perhaps'')
* ''Unknown''
 
==== Control ====
 
* [[Liquid Foot Pro Foot Controller]]


=== Live ===
=== Live ===
Line 173: Line 200:
==== Basses ====
==== Basses ====


*[[Fender_Jazz_Bass#Fender_American_Deluxe_5-string_.28black.2Fmaple_fretboard.29|Fender American Deluxe 5-String]]  
* [[Status Chris Wolstenholme Signature Bass]] (Graphite/Blue-LED)
*[[Fender_Jazz_Bass#Fender_Jazz_Bass_1977_.28sunburst_finish.2Fmaple_fretboard_with_pearloid_block_inlay.29|Fender Jazz Bass '77]]
* [[Status Chris Wolstenholme Signature Bass]] (Graphite/Red-LED)
*[[Status Chris Wolstenholme Signature Bass]]
* [[Status Chris Wolstenholme Signature Bass]] (Aqua Blue/White-LED)
*[[Status Original Series II|Status Custom Red Series II]]
* [[Status Chris Wolstenholme Signature Bass]] (Stealth/White-LED)
*[[Status Kitara Doubleneck Bass]]
* [[Status Chris Wolstenholme Signature Bass 5-string]] (Aqua Blue/Blue-LED)
*[[Status S2-Classic]]
* [[Status Original Series II|Status "The Uprising Bass"]]
*[[Status The KingBass Mk-II]]
* [[Status The KingBass Mk-II]] (Walnut)
* [[Status Kitara Doubleneck Bass|Status Kitara Doubleneck Bass Mk1]]
* [[Fender_Jazz_Bass#Fender_Jazz_Bass_1977_.28sunburst_finish.2Fmaple_fretboard_with_pearloid_block_inlay.29|Fender '77 Jazz Bass]] (Sunburst/Maple fretboard)
* [[Fender_Jazz_Bass#Fender_American_Deluxe_5-string_.28black.2Fmaple_fretboard.29|Fender American Deluxe Jazz Bass 5-string]] (Black/Maple fretboard)
 
==== Amps ====
 
* 2x [[Markbass SD1200]G
* 2x [[Kemper Profiling Amplifier]]


==== Effects (Tour - off-stage) ====
==== Cabs ====


[[Image:CHRISDRONESSETUP.jpg|thumb|right|Live off-stage rack setup]]
* 2x [[Markbass Standard 151HR 1x15 Bass Cab]]


===== Rack 1 =====
=== Racks ===
 
==== Rack 1 ====


* ETA Systems EPD11 LVIEC-CE
* ETA Systems EPD11 LVIEC-CE
* Empirical Labs Distressor EL8-X
* [[Skrydstrup Custom Routing Interface]]
* Custom connector panel (unknown)
* Shure UA845 Antenna Distribution Unit
* Markbass SD1200
* 2x Shure UR4D Dual Wireless Reciever
* Markbass SD1200 (backup)
* 2x [[Skrydstrup MR10 Loop System]]
* [[Kemper Profiling Amplifier]] (black) (Big Muff)
* [[TC Electronic G-Major 2]]
* [[Kemper Profiling Amplifier]] (black) (Animato)
* [[Electrix Filter Factory]]
* 2x Paul Lenders Muse AC-Tool Power Supply Unit


===== Rack 2 =====
===== Rack 2 =====


* ETA Systems EPD11 LVIEC-CE
* ETA Systems EPD11 LVIEC-CE
* [[Skrydstrup Bass Routing System]]
* [[Empirical Labs Distressor]]
* Shure UA845 Antenna /Power Distribution
* Custom Connector Panel
* Shure UR4D
* 2x [[Markbass SD1200]]
* Shure UR4D
* 2x [[Kemper Profiling Amplifier]]
* Skrydstrup MR10
 
* Skrydstrup MR10
==== FX Tray 1 ====
* [[TC Electronic G-Major 2]]
 
* FX Tray 1 (MXR Six Band Graphic EQ, [[Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi|Electro-Harmonix Black Russian Big Muff Pi]], ''Unknown'')
* [[MXR M109 Six Band EQ]]
* FX Tray 2 (Digitech Bass Synth Wah, ''Unknown'')
* [[Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi|Electro-Harmonix Black Russian Big Muff Pi]]
* FX Tray 3 (''Unknown'')
* ''Unknown''
* Electrix Filter Factory
 
==== FX Tray 2 ====
 
* [[Digitech Bass Synth Wah]]
* ''Unknown''
 
==== Tuner ====
 
* Peterson AutoStrobe 490 Tuner
 
=== Control ===
 
* [[Liquid Foot Pro Foot Controller]]


==== Cabinets ====
=== Pedalboard (On-Stage) ===


* 2x Markbass 115HR
* [[Liquid Foot Pro Foot Controller]] (early)
* [[RJM Mastermind GT/22 Foot Controller]]


== [[The 2nd Law (album) |The 2nd Law]] ==
== [[The 2nd Law (album) |The 2nd Law]] ==

Revision as of 02:31, 13 January 2021

Straps

Chris mainly uses leather straps from Status Graphite these days, but has been seen using ones from Manson Guitar Works in the past - the same as Bellamy uses.

Simulation Theory

In the studio, Chris has been seen using a '73 Jazz Bass, a '77 Jazz Bass and Status basses. An Ampeg SVT-VR and Ashdown BTA 400 heads were also part of his studio setup. During a 2018 interview on Virgin Radio Italy, Matt mentioned Chris also used a Misa Kitara for Break It To Me in the studio.

When speaking to John Kennedy on Radio X, he mentioned that, as opposed to previous albums being recorded with a live rig (giving them a set tone when done tracking), they've mostly recorded Simulation Theory with clean bass going straight into the console, which gave them flexibility to manipulate the sound later in the DAW.

Studio

Chris recording Simulation Theory; Seen using an Ashdown BTA 400 with his '73 Fender Jazz Bass

Basses

Effects

Rack 1
Rack 2

Amps

Live

Chris's rack during the Simulation Theory World Tour
Chris's bass tech with gear used on the ST tour behind him

During the tour, he acquired a new black/maple fretboard Fender Jazz Bass, a new Black/Stealth 5-String and a custom LED-Strip Status bass.

Effects-wise, he added a Pigtronix Disnortion distortion/fuzz and the Eventide H9 Harmonizer, while the POG2, allthough not seen on pics before, has likely been on his board since the 2017 Amphitheatre Tour.

He also updated the two Skrydstrup MR10 loop switchers with the RJM Effect Gizmo loop switchers.

According to Chris's bass tech Jon Ashworth, the sound is based around the Markbass SD1200 heads running through the Markbass 1x15 cabinets and distortion is layered on top of that either through Kempers or through individual pedals, which are connected to RJM Switching Systems.

Basses

Rack 1
Rack 2

Cabinets

  • 2 Markbass 151 15" Cabinets

Other

North American Summer Amphitheatre Tour 2017

Basses

Drones

Drones studio bass rack
Drones live rack setup

During the recording of Drones, Chris mainly used Status bass guitars again, allthough a Rickenbacker and the Gibsons were also spotted in the studio. He ran them through an Ampeg SVT-VR head for the clean channel and two Marshall DBS 7400s for distorted channels. Later, for the cover of New Kind of Kick, he likely used a Gretsch Thunder Jet, seen in the video, in the studio.

As for the live setupr, Chris kept his collection of basses the same as for The 2nd Law tour, with the 5-string Jazz Bass making a return for a couple of Assassin performances. The Chris Wolstenholme Status Graphite 5-String bass also made appearances for Assassin. The rack was almost exactly the same as with the T2L tours with two Kempers and two Markbass SD1200 heads.

Studio

Basses

Amps

Cabs

Rack 1

Rack 2

FX Tray 1

FX Tray 2

FX Tray 3

Control

Live

Basses

Amps

Cabs

Racks

Rack 1

Rack 2

FX Tray 1

FX Tray 2

Tuner

  • Peterson AutoStrobe 490 Tuner

Control

Pedalboard (On-Stage)

The 2nd Law

T2L studio set-up
T2L tour bass selection
T2L tour rack

For The 2nd Law, Chris kept the same studio setup as he used on The Resistance tour, but included more pedals and two Markbass SD1200 heads. Live, he replaced the Marshall DBS 7400 amps completely with the afforementioned SD1200s (clean channels) and two Kemper Profiling Amplifier heads (for overdrive channels), with the DBS 7400 amps all profiled.

He also ditched most of the Fender Jazz Basses and started playing Status basses almost exclusively.

Studio

Basses

Amps

Cabs

Rack 1

Rack 2

FX Tray 1 (Rack-Top)

FX Tray 2

FX Tray 3

FX Tray 4

Control

Other

  • A Designs REDDI Tube Direct Box

Live

Basses

Amps

Cabs

Racks

Rack 1

Rack 2

FX Tray 1

FX Tray 2

FX Tray 3

  • Unknown

Tuner

  • Boss TU-2 Chromatic Tuner

Control

On-Stage Pedalboard

The Resistance

Rack (Offstage)
Ampeg SVT-VR

For The Resistance era, Chris expanded his setup even more, especially in terms of basses rack gear. This was the first tour that Chris started using Status basses with the first one being the Status Original Series II.

Both the studio and live setups were the same, excluding the bass and amp selection.

Studio

Basses

Amps

Cabs

Live

Basses

Amps

Cabs

Racks

Rack 1

Rack 2

FX Tray 1
FX Tray 2
FX Tray 3

Tuner

  • Boss TU-2 Chromatic Tuner

Control

On-Stage Pedalboard

Black Holes and Revelations

Board

Not much is known about Chris' gear during the BH&R era as there were little to no pictures of his gear taken during the period, however it is known that Chris started using Fender Jazz Basses a lot more frequently. He also ditched the on-stage amps/cabs halfway through the tour, and started miking them backstage. Instead, he only opted for an on-stage subwoofer, so he could still feel the sub low end, and he also took away the MIDI foot pedal controller.

Based on some interviews, Chris added four more Marshall DBS 7400 heads to his setup, having eight in total.[1]

Basses

Amps

Cabs

Control

On-Stage Pedalboard

Absolution

Rack
Pedal Board
Pedal Board (Offstage)

For the Absolution tour, Chris moved all of his pedals and amps into the rack. Both him and Matt got into MIDI switching systems, with their techs switching the effects on or off; a system, which they still use, due to the complexity of effect use on albums.

Wolstenholme also got two more of the Marshall DBS 7400 bass amplifiers into the rig.

Basses

Amps/Rack (left)

Rack (right)

Off-Stage Pedalboard

Control

On-Stage Pedalboard

Other

Origin of Symmetry

OoS Amps
OoS Pedalboard

During the OoS tour, Chris got his Marshall DBS 7400 Dynamic Bass System amplifiers and cabinets. He also got a Black Russian Big Muff Pi and a Human Gear Animato pedal, aswell as an Akai Deep Impact SB1 Bass Synth pedal. A lot of the gear he acquired during this era remains in his setup to this day.

Basses

Rack

Cabs

Pedalboard

Showbiz

Showbiz pedalboard

Allthough amplifiers and basses remained the same, Chris used two effects setups during the Showbiz era; On some early gigs, he only used the Boss OS-2 Overdrive/Distortion, plugged into the Pete Cornish Line Selector and running into the amps.

Wolstenholme equiped his basses with Elites 40-100 stainless steel strings.[2]

Basses

Amps

Pedalboard

References

  1. ↑ https://www.mixonline.com/live-sound/all-access-muse-367983
  2. ↑ 2002 Bass Guitar Magazine Interview

See also

Retrieved from ‘http://musewiki.org/index.php?title=Bass&oldid=202459’