can you help me identifying the equipment used by the bass player of the band muse?

judging from photos and their appearance on Top Of The Pops he uses Bass Collection 4 strings.

however he also uses an electric upright, and a pic from their website shows him playing what looks like a doubleneck headless bass:confused: anyone know what these are?

When i saw them live in February 2000, he was using some sort of Jazz bass, either Fender or Sadowsky I'm pretty sure

he probably uses loads of different basses- they smash up their gear pretty often.
Bass Collection did actually do a Jazz bass copy for a while though, so it could have been one of those which would make sense if he's got an endorsement deal with them.
some of their songs sound like an MM stingray was used.

hi people, im pretty new here. i thought i would start off by making a thread on one of my favourite bassists. does anyone here admire Chris Wolstenhome from muse? i think he's brilliant

There are at least two guys here who like him, myself and AllodoX. I think he's great, the line from Muscle Museum was one of the first I learned. :)

*waves hand*

Muscle Museum was one of the first things i learned too !
I think I liked it so much because it was one of the first basslines that was really prominent and that I could really hear. I learned it partly from watching him when they were on Top of the Pops :o

I like Muse too! They're great.
And Chris has a lot of cool bass lines:)

Chris rocks, definitely. The bassline in Hypermusic is one if my favourite to play :cool:.

Chris is one of my favorite's too, and I want his sound, dammit!:D


My favorite lines are Darkshines and Muscle Museum.

Some of the coolest synth bass lines I've ever heard, plug in baby is pretty impressive... and besides, he's a hero because of this...

Pedals (I don't know the specific order)
-EH Big Muff Pi
-Boss OC-2 octave
-Boss DD-3 digital delay
-Boss LS-2 line selector
-Akai SB1 Deep Impact Bass Synth
-Line 6 FM4 Filter Modular
-Animato (a fuzz)

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/attachment.php?postid=696935

Yep, Chris and Muse are great...

Does anyone have the game Dr. Mario for original NES? Listen to the bassline in the "chill" song... then listen to "Cave" by Muse.

What's with the inhaler on the green pedal?

Does anyone think this guy is a great bassist? I used to think he just did slidey fuzzy stuff, but he's a lot more than that, now I've lsitened to more of Muse's stuff. :bassist:

Click here for hot naked chicks (http://www.talkbass.com/forum/search.php?)

I did a damn search and didn't find anything other than what I posted about him i nthe Chris Squire thread, and summit else......not a lot...

You spelled "Wolstenholme" incorrectly.

Who is this Muse? I've never heard of them.

Alternative band, kinda. Alternative mainstream...originally a british band i believe, , now they are kinda selling out in the US.

Selling out or just selling? Are they good? Should I investigate this?

Selling out..the vids are played on MTV2..

They are decent. I dislike the bassists tone, its basically all fuzz. I dont understand why he even bothers to use a fretless bass most of the time.

Selling out..the vids are played on MTV2..


Yeah, they should turn their backs on one of the biggest overseas market and stay underground forever... You know if they're REALLY good they'll be so far underground that they'll have to work day jobs as well to survive. :rolleyes:

Its not all fuzz if you actually listen to the records not just the singles!And they arent selling out man!And when does he use a fretless?

He uses a fretless in Falling away with you and other songs...

and yes, i have the cd's, ive listened to the songs, not just the singles.

i dunno, i kind of like muse...i think they are better than most alternative imo...or at least something different...i won't shell out the $18 or whatever for a cd, but i'll listen to them when i hear them.

So wait. Making a video automatically makes a band a sellout?

So wait. Making a video automatically makes a band a sellout?

Yes. Geez, someone's not very indie, now is he?

(Muse are (is?) playing here in London, ON at the Drink on Sunday night, if there are any interested TBers in my area. I have no money and other plans, but the show is there.)

Yes. Geez, someone's not very indie, now is he?


Oh, yeah? I'll show you who's indie. Not only will I not do any videos, but I will also refuse to do shows, form a band, or even write songs! I'll be the most indie indie-rocker you've never heard of! I'll be broke, but at least I'll have my dignity.

Gotta say I don't think Muse have 'sold out' at all. Do people say that becuase theyhave sold more then 100 cd's and therefore they've become a 'popular' act!!

I think Muse are excellent and their latest CD Absolution is probably their best yet.

Chris Wolstenhome for the most part plays what the song demands and he slots in really well with the other guys. Suggest you check out their live DVD Hullaballoo and I don't remember seeing a fretless in sight.

Selling out..the vids are played on MTV2..

They are decent. I dislike the bassists tone, its basically all fuzz. I dont understand why he even bothers to use a fretless bass most of the time.
Just because someone has videos on MTV2 doesn't mean they're a sell out....it just means their music is popular with the people, and therefore is played a lot. Doesn't mean they are sell outs. And Chris has an immense tone, really thunderous and powerful.

Just because someone has videos on MTV2 doesn't mean they're a sell out....it just means their music is popular with the people, and therefore is played a lot. Doesn't mean they are sell outs. And Chris has an immense tone, really thunderous and powerful.

His tone is ughy.... It's like... A big muff pi.. Has anyoen tried one of those? They're the most uglyrific of pedals.

Just because you don't like them doesn't mean I can't.

Never said you couldn't like them Nick.


Have a nice day.

Ben, if you want to get into them, I'd recommend earlier stuff first off. I have "Showbiz." And it's pretty good. I don't listen to it all the time, but I do dig them when I listen to them. Something tells me you'd really dig them. They are like Ministry meets the Cardigans (not really ;) ). They've got a darker more somber vibe but it's got a... sexy?... edge to it. I don't know.

You do have to put up with a lot of falcetto though. I rather enjoy Chris' bass tone though, at least on Showbiz, borders on synthy.


Oh and here in the states they catch a lot of crap for being, "A complete ripoff of Radiohead." Which I think is a totally unfair way of looking at them. The singer is Thom Yorke esque which is to say he is English (correct?) and has a very laid back voice. The music is completely different.

Matt Bellamy doesn't have a laid back voice when he sings in the choruses, his voice is very very 'tense'....try singing it, I can guarantee you'll be on the point of going out of tune....but you have to stop it going out of tune. It's very hard to sing any muse.......also, their stage antics are funny, like throwing guitars at the drummer, then dragging him off the drum kit and stuff, they're funny.

That's his range, Nick. The reason I couldn't sing Matt's melodies is because I'm a baratone... he's... well he sings high (I don't know ranges that well) and it makes his transitions into falcetto seamless.

He has a laid back voice compared to Slipknot dude. ;)

Sorry.

Ministry meets the Cardigans? I must look into this.

I can just about sing Muse......I can't sing anything like Nickelback, Metallica, or any other band with a gravel mouthed singer.

matt bellamy is some kind of sex puppet.

Who is this Muse? I've never heard of them.

they're part of this new wave of alternative that has cropped up suddenly. Personally, I think they suck. Them, Franz Ferdinand, the Killers etc etc. This is a very barren time in popular music.

Notice how Nick is defending Muse with life and limb. Anything he likes, he cant stand to have people not like it. Nick, people can think what they want, as can you. Just let it slide. Walk away. Be mature about it.

they're part of this new wave of alternative that has cropped up suddenly. Personally, I think they suck. Them, Franz Ferdinand, the Killers etc etc. This is a very barren time in popular music.

I've never heard of any of those bands either. Does this mean I'm getting old?

I've never heard of any of those bands either. Does this mean I'm getting old?
MTV2 my friend, MTV2. :(

MTV2 my friend, MTV2. :(

Well, I guess I'm out of luck. Not only do I not watch TV, I don't watch MTV nor the sequel. It's back to King Crimson for me, I reckon.

Well, I guess I'm out of luck. Not only do I not watch TV, I don't watch MTV nor the sequel. It's back to King Crimson for me, I reckon.
www.muse.mu Just go there and the newest album starts playing. ****ty quality (can't believe $hitty is automatically censored :mad: ), but you'll get the picture. Now you do have internet, don't you?

I like both Muse and Chris W a lot. If Nick does too it's ok. If Figjam doesn't it's ok.

I saw their video last night on MTV2 subterran(i think?) .... for the first 2 minutes I thought the singer was a girl. I liked a muse song back in 2000 called New Born. There new stuff like Hysteria is really differen't from that.

www.muse.mu Just go there and the newest album starts playing. ****ty quality (can't believe $hitty is automatically censored :mad: ), but you'll get the picture. Now you do have internet, don't you?

I like both Muse and Chris W a lot. If Nick does too it's ok. If Figjam doesn't it's ok.
Heh dont get me wrong, i DID say i had the cd's... I just dont tihnk they are anything tremendous. They are certainly above average/talented though.

I've never heard of any of those bands either. Does this mean I'm getting old?


Ha, I'm going through the same thing. A girl at the local CD store was talking about all these bands I'd never heard of and how great they are. I assumed they were some crazy underground indie groups that people only like because they are super underground.

Upon further research, they are the biggest "rock" groups in the U.S. :help:

I'm glad Muse is big now, I like a pop band. :hyper:

They're the best Britain has to offer i'd say, and certainly one of the more talented bands I listen to....more recently my tastes have gone from Nickelback to more Muse/progressivey type stuff....although anything with overblown keyboards is still a no no.

they're part of this new wave of alternative that has cropped up suddenly. Personally, I think they suck. Them, Franz Ferdinand, the Killers etc etc. This is a very barren time in popular music.

I wouldn't say that Muse have cropped up suddenly. Their first CD SHowbiz came out 5 years ago. I also wouldn't lump them in the same category as Franz Ferdinand (too 80's) or the Killers (too pop).

Matt Bellamy's singing often gets compared to Thom Yorke but I don't really see much of a similarity. IMHO Muse are one of the rock band's out there trying to be original and creative.

They're the best Britain has to offer i'd say, and certainly one of the more talented bands I listen to....more recently my tastes have gone from Nickelback to more Muse/progressivey type stuff....although anything with overblown keyboards is still a no no.
You know if you, Gia, Bruce Lindfield and Toasted hooked up and formed a band, you may just take that coverted "best Britain has to offer" crown of Muse ;)

ooooo can I play triangle is this band.

We might possible be having the worst of british bass jam this friday.

I think muse are a great band, I don't listen to them that much but they are good. I think comparing Matt Bellamy to Thom Yorke is a waste of time really. I believe there is no real conection between Muse and Radiohead. Muse actually sound like something.

In terms of vocal style Matt has a very Jeff Buckley'ish voice.

I urge people to check it out, I personally can't listen to muse for more than 5 songs because his voice gets to me, but the music is fantastic and full of emotion.

hey hey kiddies. this thread was stared about the bass player, not muse 'selling out'. i happen to like muse, and chris (aswell as his tone). i happen to like mats voice aswell. if this thread continues to go the way it is, its going to bed...

ooooo can I play triangle is this band.

We might possible be having the worst of british bass jam this friday.

I think muse are a great band, I don't listen to them that much but they are good. I think comparing Matt Bellamy to Thom Yorke is a waste of time really. I believe there is no real conection between Muse and Radiohead. Muse actually sound like something.

In terms of vocal style Matt has a very Jeff Buckley'ish voice.

I urge people to check it out, I personally can't listen to muse for more than 5 songs because his voice gets to me, but the music is fantastic and full of emotion.
My drummer is also coming by the way, as he's getting some more zildjian avedis cymbals....hope you don't mind.

I've never heard of any of those bands either. Does this mean I'm getting old?

Dude, c'mon. I'm 42, get with the program. Freakin' Geezer, sheesh :D

I wouldn't say that Muse have cropped up suddenly. Their first CD SHowbiz came out 5 years ago. I also wouldn't lump them in the same category as Franz Ferdinand (too 80's) or the Killers (too pop).

Matt Bellamy's singing often gets compared to Thom Yorke but I don't really see much of a similarity. IMHO Muse are one of the rock band's out there trying to be original and creative.

Well, those groups have recently been getting large airplay in the NY market. That's why I say "new". Although I find the most of them to be unoriginal and formulaic(sp?). You did hit the nail on the head with the Thom Yorke comparo, they sound like they're trying to be Radiohead. There are times when these new songs come on and I'm like, which new band is this again ? None have done anything to set themselve apart. The last thing that did catch my ear was Jett (sp?). But even they strike me as taking AC/DC or the Cult and mixing it Punk attitude.
Face it, when was the last time a truely original act came out that meant anything. I'm talking about bands that will go down in rock history for their unique contribution to the genre'. examples would be; Chuck Berry or any great old blues artist, Beach Boys, Beatles, Stones, Who, Hendrix, Led Zep, Pink Floyd, Queen, Aerosmith, Sex Pistols or Ramones, Sabbath, Rush or Yes, U2, Metallica, No Doubt, Sublime, Sound Garden, Rage etc. My musical taste covers a wide range, but I've heard nothing original, anywhere, in a long time.

I also wouldn't lump them in the same category as Franz Ferdinand (too 80's)

I've heard people saying this a few times... what does it mean??? They don't sound anything like Iron Maiden or Duran Duran... :hmm:

Ah yes back on track.... I dug the bassline of a few songs...Hysteria or something if i remember correctly...

I've heard people saying this a few times... what does it mean??? They don't sound anything like Iron Maiden or Duran Duran... :hmm:

A bit Joy Division/New Order,The Smiths,Bauhaus, The Cure,Gang of Four, The Fall.

A bit Joy Division/New Order,The Smiths,Bauhaus, The Cure,Gang of Four, The Fall.

All of whom are/were great bands (you've described a big chunk of my record collection :)). And they sang in their own accents rather than the fake American accents that dogged 90s British indie music.

There's an appetite for this stuff at the moment, which is why Franz Ferdinand got signed and are doing so well.

I was reading about there gear set-ups the other day, omg they have a serious amount of gear onstage for just three people.

So back to the bass player I find his lines are great for the songs there intresting enough but don't take over the whole song, he has alot of stamina as well I've tried playing some of the lines and yer easyish for like the first minute or so but then it really starts to get to you.

I was reading about there gear set-ups the other day, omg they have a serious amount of gear onstage for just three people.


i read an article on recording their latest album- absolution. the producer said the hardest part was trying to make 3 people sound like 10. i know both chris and mat use a wad of effects on stage.

Has anyone seen the video of TIRO live? Matt throws his guitar at the drummer over his head and knocks him off his stool.......hehehehe

Has anyone seen the video of TIRO live? Matt throws his guitar at the drummer over his head and knocks him off his stool.......hehehehe
Hardcore.

Alright, I doubt this is a real rip off, but this could go in the "rip off riffs" section:

"Cave", the main bassline, is so "Cool" by Dr. Mario (8-bit nintendo).

:ninja: check it out, it's really close.

Face it, when was the last time a truely original act came out that meant anything. I'm talking about bands that will go down in rock history for their unique contribution to the genre'. examples would be; Chuck Berry or any great old blues artist, Beach Boys, Beatles, Stones, Who, Hendrix, Led Zep, Pink Floyd, Queen, Aerosmith, Sex Pistols or Ramones, Sabbath, Rush or Yes, U2, Metallica, No Doubt, Sublime, Sound Garden, Rage etc. My musical taste covers a wide range, but I've heard nothing original, anywhere, in a long time.
Interesting, I found Muse to be one of the more original acts I've heard lately. The only one, in fact, that got my attention. Everything else sounds like disco to my ears these days. Muse seems to take pop, classical, and progressive music and combine it in a way that is pretty appealing to me. I liken them more to Queen meets Jeff Buckley and duke it out with Rush. Yes, he has a high voice. They sound nothing like Radiohead to me though.

These guys can PLAY. Maybe that's a big part of what drew me to them. They obviously are familiar with their instruments. I know that doesn't mean you'll automatically make good music, but I think they do.

Seems to me some people equate "sell anything at all" to "sell out." Do people still think bands are only cool till everyone else discovers how good they are and then that spoils it for you? I don't get that.

Anyway I'm ranting. Guess I better quit.

I like Muse. I think Chris is a pretty good bassist.

there are a lot of threads out there that include muse and chris wolstenholme but none that have really lasted as a place for muselovers to come and talk about this great band. so i have posted this thread in the hope that people will disscuss everything about them with fellow bassists and continue to support such a fantastic group.

I'm just getting into Muse. Chris's playing is excellent... I've never run effects, but his tone makes me want to get some. His sound is just huge, and the band as a whole sounds like more than just 3 people. I've gotta see them next time they tour.

i like muse...i got the muscle museum EP free from my radio station, and those songs are good songs!

You have to respect basslines like Hysteria.

yes chris's sound is just awesome and they are so good live (i hav dowloaded 20+ of their live videos :smug: ) my friend recently went to england and got to see them at earls court. the great thing about chris is that hes not there jsut repeating the guitarists line all the time he has his own awesome riffs that compliment the song perfectly and as mat is busy singing most of the time he pretty much becomes a lead instrument. oh yeh and hes also an awesome singer

yes chris's sound is just awesome and they are so good live (i hav dowloaded 20+ of their live videos :smug: ) my friend recently went to england and got to see them at earls court. the great thing about chris is that hes not there jsut repeating the guitarists line all the time he has his own awesome riffs that compliment the song perfectly and as mat is busy singing most of the time he pretty much becomes a lead instrument.

Where did you find their live videos? I found a site with all of their regular videos (www.microcuts.net), but there are no live ones there. But yeah, Chris's playing totally holds the band together and he's perfect for the band. I love his playing in Hypermusic and Hysteria (and everything else too :) )

Where did you find their live videos? I found a site with all of their regular videos (www.microcuts.net), but there are no live ones there. But yeah, Chris's playing totally holds the band together and he's perfect for the band. I love his playing in Hypermusic and Hysteria (and everything else too :) )

you can get them off www.muselive.com , youll hav to sign up. muse are definitely one of the best live bands in the world though

I just got all of the Muse tracks on sunday, very good stuff. I like their harder things a lot more, especially the ending to Stockholm Syndrome, very good indeed :).


He uses a Rapture right?

He uses a Rapture right?

-Yes.

Muse is quite fantastic. One of my favorite bands. I have some live videos from shows in Glastonbury and Germany and it is amazing to see how quick he is.

The studio recordings don't do him justice in that they're just him doing super-fast 16th note lines. There's a live recording out there of him playing the song Bliss, where, towards the end, he does this MONSTER riff that just leaves you shaking your head. What I like about his style is that he whips it out only when necessary.

If you ever have a chance to see this band live.. DO IT!! I promise you won't regret it, if you like muse that is.. I went to see them live in a small venue a few months ago and it was amazing. There was just so much going considering they are only three. As for chris' playing, I beleive MONSTER is a very approriate word choice.

-Yes.
+ a Zon Sonus and Fender Jazz Bass acording to Bass Guitar magezine

www.muse.mu

fine consider this a consultation :p

chris wolstenholme is awesome! I've seen them live once.. And I'd do it again! Anytime...

they're all great musicians! No doubt about it...

does anyone know what pedal(s) he uses mainly? Like the sound on hysteria or time is running out...
I know he has a whole bunch.. but I won't need all of them to play those songs, do I?

Muse make me proud to be british, ive seen em twice and ive been a fan since before origin of symmetry (which is the best album)

Chris uses a Rapture, and recently a zon and a fender jazz

before he could afford raptures and the like he played 'bass collection' basses which is a make dunno if u yankees have heard of it

He uses a a couple of big muffs, a animato distortion pedal, akai deep impact, Line6 Filter Modeller, and used to use a Boss Super Overdrive (Showbiz Era), a Boss Octaver and a few others

But he mainly gets his sound through his three Marshall amps. Ones Clean, One is Overdriven Slightly and one is for the over the top distortion he gets

Very clever guy, his amp setup reminds me of Timmy Commerfords who also used a similar setup for disorted yet bassy tones.

he played 'bass collection' basses which is a make dunno if u yankees have heard of it

yup, we have bass collection basses here.
And by the way, if you call all Americans yankees you're going to annoy people in the south (it's originally a term for people from New England, then expanded to any one on the northern side of the civil war)

yup, we have bass collection basses here.
And by the way, if you call all Americans yankees you're going to annoy people in the south (it's originally a term for people from New England, then expanded to any one on the northern side of the civil war)

sorry mate, no offense meant by it

are bass collection basses still in production of in the US then? theyve stopped doing them here and we only get the odd rubbish one on ebay now and again

sorry mate, no offense meant by it
no worries at all, just letting you know!
They're not in production any more, they were great basses for the money I think.

Getting back to the topic of this thread...MUSE and Chris! Obviously this thread died off a while ago but I just saw MUSE live on Wednesday (it was AMAZING, of course) and felt that it needed to be resurrected. Chris is an amazing bass player, as well as an excellent vocalist. The songs sounded like they came right of the recordings. Anyway, if you ever have the chance to see them, do it.

Good band. I don't like their lighter more weird stuff, but their fast frantic stuff is awesome.

I saw Muse live two weeks ago for my girlfriends birthday present. Wow were they amazing, and so was Chris. The guy is a monster...I loved the fact that he stood on his cab platform :bassist:

fwiw, i just wanted to add that im a big muse fan. i saw them live in perth, australia when they last came here. it was chris' first concert back after he fractured his wrist and i turned up expecting to see the fill-in bassist (the bassist from the streets?) and was pleasantly surprised. they didnt play a lot of songs, but they were flawless throughout. they played ruled by secrecy too which is an awesome song, a real moodsetter, as well as all the favourites: citizen erased, TIRO, plugin baby, and finished with stockholm syndrome. they sounded incredibly polished and are truly all masters of their chosen instruments.

a friend of a friend partied with them after the show, and said they were all really friendly and whatnot, which is good to hear.

i found this old article (retyped; on another forum) and thought i would post it for the muse fans who hadnt read it already. its quite interesting; talks about the song creation process, the birth of the band, as well as some details on chris's effects and amp setup. heres the link: http://board.muse.mu/archive/index.php/t-959.html

cheers

mike

muse is one of may favorites~!

Amazing writing/textures and all that...

My brother always goes to gigs, he goes to one or two every month up at CIA in Cardiff, and a few years ago he went to see Muse - Unfortunately it was before I got in to Muse, he offered to take me but I declined! He said that show was the best live show he's ever seen by any band ever...

do u guys think that chris wolstenholme of Muse is a good bass player? to be specific, i mean in terms of skill and style.

great player, cool tones and lines. I don't listento the band all that much, but I dig what he does.

I love Muse and I love Chris's style. Learning Hysteria was my greatest achievment on the Bass in recent years. It is such a kick-ass song.

Got the chance to see Muse at T in the Park (a festival here in Scotland) and he was awesome. He broke a finger like 3 weeks before at Glastonbury so I wasnt sure he'd play.

He did though and to this day I have never saw anyone personally to match him.

ditto on the satisfaction of learning hysteria, such a great bass part.

I think Chris Wolstenholme is probably one of the best bassists currently around.

He is technically very proficient, and knows exactly how to use it right for each song.

His bass line for "Hyper Music" still blows me away, its got such a sense of progression and flow. Whether he writes the lines or it's more Matt Bellamy's input is up for debate, but you can't deny they are awesome lines.

"Space Dementia" also has some great ascending chromatic octaves.

Right, made it obvious I'm a massive muse fan and a real admirer of Chris' playing, I'll be off now.

Hmm...I might be the only person here who dislikes him (as a musician).

He's no Brian Gibson, but he's ok.

great player, cool tones and lines. I don't listento the band all that much, but I dig what he does.

+1. All this, and he cuts through! I should get their records at some point.

Hmm...I might be the only person here who dislikes him (as a musician).


If you're anything like me, you dislike him for putting up with the frontman. Muse would be awesome if they got rid of the vocalist (his guitar playing is alright though)... his whiney falcetto gets old.

i have muscle museum EP that i got free from the campus radio station that they were just throwing out...i like the music...i think its catchy.
really nice tone!
i really the song muscle museum too!

Muscle Museum is a pretty easy song to play. But Hysteria's bassline is...to die for. Took me a week to learn just the intro/bass-riff, but it was so worth it. I've always liked him, but I just wanted to know what you guys here on the forum thought. So, thanks for the input. I guess I'll continue playing Muse basslines.

I think his is one of the best bass players for the style of music he is playing. I love his usage and the fact that he is not afraid to use them. No, his lines arent absolutely complex but the work out GREAT for the music they are doing.

Actually, I think Muse is one of the best acts/bands around now-a-days. One of the only newer bands in rock/pop/alternative that I dont mind spending $15.00 on a CD..

Actually, I think Muse is one of the best acts/bands around now-a-days. One of the only newer bands in rock/pop/alternative that I dont mind spending $15.00 on a CD..

Yup, I concur. Their new album is comming out early next year. I can't wait. :)

chris isnt all that technical but ive learned a whole lot from just listening to him, the tone he gets, the phrases and the note choice are all a big part of what makes muse one of the best modern rock bands around.
he also inspired me to buy a big muff, something i wont regret.

N x

muse is a great band.

Muscle Museum is a pretty easy song to play. But Hysteria's bassline is...to die for. Took me a week to learn just the intro/bass-riff, but it was so worth it. I've always liked him, but I just wanted to know what you guys here on the forum thought. So, thanks for the input. I guess I'll continue playing Muse basslines.
certainly...i don't think muse really has any hard basslines (same with guitar and drums imo) but they certainly are nice to listen to :)

MUSE are the best live act in the world, mainly because of their frontman matthew bellamy who is the best singer in a rock band i have ever heard

and the bass is awesome

He's no Brian Gibson, but he's ok.

That cover made me cry.

I think he's great, though he has made me yearn for a Deep Impact.

I'm expecting to get flamed for this, so have at it.
But....
Who's Brian Gibson?

Yeah, i quite like his playing, i'd like to know what basses and effects he uses..

muse is a great band.

+1

-jimbo

He is ok but IMO he uses distortion too much.

Well i know how to play histeria and it took me like 10 minutes to learn the intro so it is not that complicated cos i sux! :D .

However it took me a week to learn dream theater's beyond this life in four strings a nice song if you want to speed up your freting.

i just downloaded a few of their songs after reading this thread. musically pretty good. but i can't see myself listening to more than a few songs at a time by these guys cause the singers voice is so annoying. is he purposely trying to sound like tom from radiohead?

I really like Muse, and as far as current rock bassists go, I'd put Wolstenholme towards the top. Have you listened to the other stuff on the radio? It's trash!

i just downloaded a few of their songs after reading this thread. musically pretty good. but i can't see myself listening to more than a few songs at a time by these guys cause the singers voice is so annoying. is he purposely trying to sound like tom from radiohead?

No, they're both immitating Jeff Buckley.
As for Wolstnholme he's an ok bassist in an ok band that has great potential. He has some nice ideas, that could do with a little refining as with most of their songs. FXwise he's probably the most interesting of the curent bunch of popular bands. From what he's accomplished so far though I seriously doubt that bassists will be talking about him in a few years time.

I get the feeling that both he and his band can move up a gear, which is why they irritate me so much. They're the sort of band that I really like one part of each song, but seldom like a song in it's entirety.

I get the impression with Muse that could be a great band, given the nurturing touch of a great producer.

there hasnt been a reply on this thread for a while but hey i searched.

Chris is cool bassist and there new album theres some good bass lines.He plays more of a lead instrument.Hysteria is ace aswell.
Him and muse are pretty much the only decent band in britain as most of the stuff over here is indie crap plus emos trying to take over.
His basses are trying to remeber
Pedulla rapture
Fender jazz bass with white/pearl scratchplae
Orange and black fender jazz bass
cream jazz
Rickenbacker 4003
the jazz basse are all custom electronincs by hugh Manson who makes matt bellamys guitars

i bought bass just to play the intro to hysteria. i didnt know the bassists name tho

I love Muse and I think he is awesome. He is a good player and can put together some truly awesome lines, but he doesn't insist on doing it ALL the time. He lays off and sticks to more simple stuff for different songs.
One of my favorite bass players.

I just thinks that "hysteria" is a real cool bass line:)...





What do u think bout him?

there you go mate

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=216694&highlight=muse

I think he's pretty good, plays for the song.

I just bought the new Muse album and it is really great, love his tone, he's been using a Rickenbacker from what i've seen.

He doent use Pedullas anymore :crying:

Hey -I just caught Muse last night in Minneapolis...

Chris did use his Pedulla for one song, but mostly played Fenders throughout the night.

He used the Ric on a few songs, but the majority of the time he was using a 4-string Fender jazz.

The other two basses he used were a 5-string Fender and then for maybe 1 or 2 songs he used a 70s style Fender jazz, natural/maple with black blocks & binding.

I thought the overall sound quality in the theater was below-average...at least where I was sitting, on the main floor, just underneath the balcony. There was a ton in the upper-mid and top frequency, and some low end...but the bass was pretty buried in the mix. It was only barely noticeable when he switched the Ric...the rest of the basses had no distinction in the final mix (where I was sitting).

But hey, it kept his guitar tech. busy...

Good show, crappy sound. Maybe that's just how it is for larger venues, it's been awhile since I've been to a show in a theater...I've been accustomed to club shows where you can actually hear everything clearly.

can you help me identifying the equipment used by the bass player of the band muse?


Here you got a site; http://www.museandamuse.com/

If you look under "The band>Gear" i think you should find something :)

Well I saw them last Thurs in Edinburgh at the Meadowbank stadium.
Best gig I have been to in ages.

He seemed to play the Ric on all the new songs but is definately a Fender Jazz lover these days.

Seemed to be the same story at Reading/Leeds Festival last night too from what I saw on the telly.

anyone goin to the columbus, ohio show sept. 11?

Found this thread by search.

Pedullas have been his main axes for a while, although he started out using warwicks when the band was still unheard of 12 years ago.

On the new album he's playing rickenbackers and J basses. I heard somewhere his current amp setup is marshalls.

anyone goin to the columbus, ohio show sept. 11?

Crap! I wasn't even paying attention to see if/when they would be in town. Too late now...

I am a diehard muse fan

Chris uses everything from warwicks and moduluses to fender jazzes and rickenbackers depending on the song

for absolution he primarily used modulus.

his amps are marshall bass amps
for fuzz he uses two big muffs in sequence and for other effects he uses different synth pedels for absolution i believe he used a digitech bass synth wah.

He used Pedualla Raptures on Absolution, some OoS, and a little now. I don't think he ever used a Modulus. They look very similar though.

Just saw them in Columbus last night. Great show.

if you knew what good music is, you wouldnt say they were selling out. incredibly creative

Is he still an Akai Deep Impact user? The bass sound on "Hysteria" sounds like fuzz blended with synth to me.

Oh, yeah, are there any interviews with him in which he explains how he came up with his somewhat unique style?

I must admit that his "look I'm gonna pretend I'm a synth" style doesn't always grab me, though, I've seen some live footage by them and while he played some interesting stuff some of which is not easy to pull off (New Born feels like a hell of a workout for my fretting hand for example) he never seems to vary or throw in spontaneous fills. It he ever leaves the band, they might really be able to replace him with a synth. :p

just watching the DVD that came with their new album, and good lord-
if there's a band that's more ON live, i want to see it!!

chris is amazing!!

I'm gonna have to throw my hat into the ring for the "Muse is awesome" camp. I'd never heard of them until I joined the band I am currently with, and the other guy (it was just us originally, looking for a drummer which we have now) kept asking me to listen to Muse and see if I could get a similar bass groove happening.

So I grabbed some Muse stuff and was absolutely blown away by the whole thing. They have a sound that simultaneously satisfies my love of rock and electronic sounding music, and are one of the few bands in existance that I actually listen to more for the bass player than anyone else.

Chris is an extraordinary bass player not only because of his talent (which is monstrous - and not just technically, but in his ability to create fantastic basslines and also his ability to create a unique and very marketable/groovy sound), but also because he is one of the few rock bassists who are actually a defining part of their band's sound. Muse could not be Muse without Chris, anymore than it could be Muse without Matt Bellamy. That's Muse.

One thing that impresses me a lot about them as well is that they first started playing together as buddies in high school and are still the same lineup, still working famously together. I personally believe that was the secret behind U2's success - they were all friends before bandmates, and they all know that if any of them were to leave the band, there would be no more band.

Actually, all the guys from U2 answered an ad that that Larry Mullen Jr. put out to form a band. They hung out with different cliques. The U2 by U2 book documents it pretty well.

As for Muse, the few times I have seen Chris, he has played a Pedulla Rapture and Fender Jazz basses. As said before, he gets most of his tone from his Marshalls. A lot of the synth bass is from an Akai SB-1 Deep Impact and he also uses a modded Russian Big Muff for some fuzz tone. He has a massive amount of pedals. One pedalboard is backstage and he uses an All Access pedal board to activate them on stage. He's a very good drummer as well. He had never played bass when he joined Muse.

Actually, all the guys from U2 answered an ad that that Larry Mullen Jr. put out to form a band. They hung out with different cliques. The U2 by U2 book documents it pretty well.

As for Muse, the few times I have seen Chris, he has played a Pedulla Rapture and Fender Jazz basses. As said before, he gets most of his tone from his Marshalls. A lot of the synth bass is from an Akai SB-1 Deep Impact and he also uses a modded Russian Big Muff for some fuzz tone. He has a massive amount of pedals. One pedalboard is backstage and he uses an All Access pedal board to activate them on stage. He's a very good drummer as well. He had never played bass when he joined Muse.


I should have said that U2 ARE all friends before bandmates, not that they were friends before they became bandmates. The point being that they put a higher priority on each other than they do on their band. When Adam missed their first night in Sydney during the the Zooropa tour, they seriously considered disbanding U2 because of his substance abuse problems. It was never "If Adam needs help, let's kick Adam out of the band" (a la Smashing Pumpkins with their drummer)or anything like that - it was "If U2 is getting in the way of Adam's recovery, we need to end U2". And I think that is a very admirable attitude in a band. No doubt the reason they are all still together.

I should have said that U2 ARE all friends before bandmates, not that they were friends before they became bandmates. The point being that they put a higher priority on each other than they do on their band. When Adam missed their first night in Sydney during the the Zooropa tour, they seriously considered disbanding U2 because of his substance abuse problems. It was never "If Adam needs help, let's kick Adam out of the band" (a la Smashing Pumpkins with their drummer)or anything like that - it was "If U2 is getting in the way of Adam's recovery, we need to end U2". And I think that is a very admirable attitude in a band. No doubt the reason they are all still together.

AGREED. A very admirable trait indeed. And one that has always been a part of any serious bands I play with.

Going back to Muse-
I rarely listen to anything that ends up being mainstream (I dont care if something is popular or not- if I like it I like it, but most pop music doesnt appeal to me as it is not interesting). Muse is one of the few bands that are more mainstream that I do like.

From what I've heard from Muse (which was basically the Absolution album), it's safe to say that I am hooked. But I never learned the bassist's name. What is it?

Also, how do you guys feel about the bassist? IMHO he is really cool.

Chris Wolstenholme

I think the whole band is a huge meh. Some catchy stuff but overall very underwhelming.

Pretty lame.

Muse are favourite band!

Amazing live, seen them a couple of times!

I think they're a great band, and individually each is a great musician...Chris does some great bass playing. Very talented band, great song work, I like how they can do lots of styles and incorporate many things in their songs.
It's nice to see them finally get some regocnition here in the US, although I've liked them since I first heard them back in 1999.

I can appreciate the guy's technical ability but where's the soul? It all seems very programmed and sterile. Horrible tone too, he seems intent on smothering everything in the most artificial distortion sounds he can find.

Also, what really annoys me about them is the way the singer does that screechy intake of breath about 20 times per song.

I could go on but that's just nit-picking isn't it? I don't like Muse much.:hiding:

Love Muse. Love Chris Wolstenholme. Probably my favourite bassist these days due to his expertise in using effects and coming up with interesting tones and sounds -- > he also comes up with absolutely amazing bass lines (Hysteria -- HELLO!)

One thing I really admire about Wolstenholme as well is the fact that he is not a disposable band member like so many rock bassists are; though a fellow bassist may be able to tell one person's style from another, bass players tend to be pretty generic in rock music in terms of their overall impact on the songs. Chris Wolstenholme is the opposite of that -- if anything, Muse's sound is built around him rather than the guitars.

Love Muse. Love Chris Wolstenholme. Probably my favourite bassist these days due to his expertise in using effects and coming up with interesting tones and sounds -- > he also comes up with absolutely amazing bass lines (Hysteria -- HELLO!)

One thing I really admire about Wolstenholme as well is the fact that he is not a disposable band member like so many rock bassists are; though a fellow bassist may be able to tell one person's style from another, bass players tend to be pretty generic in rock music in terms of their overall impact on the songs. Chris Wolstenholme is the opposite of that -- if anything, Muse's sound is built around him rather than the guitars.

You're right about him standing out. But this often happens in a 3-piece band. That's one reason why I like to play in them and listen to them. Of course there can be exceptions. To sum it up, though, I really like Chris Wolstenholme's bass lines.

You're right about him standing out. But this often happens in a 3-piece band. That's one reason why I like to play in them and listen to them. Of course there can be exceptions. To sum it up, though, I really like Chris Wolstenholme's bass lines.

Yeah, it certainly helps that they are a 3-piece (my band is a 3 piece and I tend to stand out, which I like). But it's more than just standing out in the mix - take a band like Blink 182 or +44 .. three pieces, and the bass sticks out in the mix, but it is still extremely generic. You could replace their bass player (same guy heh) with any dumbass bass player who can play quarter root notes and you'd never be able to tell the difference...

But Chris.. he sticks out in the mix, but also his sound shapes the sound of the band.. that's what I love!

I think Muse is pretty bland to be honest. I like some of there songs fine, but they ultimatly have no staying power what so ever and I can't see why I would ever by a CD of theres. I just got flamed the other day for saying I wasn't a fan of Chris in another thread...

[QUOTE=::Saint::;3888211]Yeah, it certainly helps that they are a 3-piece (my band is a 3 piece and I tend to stand out, which I like). But it's more than just standing out in the mix - take a band like Blink 182 or +44 .. three pieces, and the bass sticks out in the mix, but it is still extremely generic. You could replace their bass player (same guy heh) with any dumbass bass player who can play quarter root notes and you'd never be able to tell the difference...
[QUOTE]

I'd rather listen to Blink 182 than Muse, because Mark Hoppus can write a decent song. His playing may not be very complicated, but hes not trying to overcompansate lackluster lines with over the top effects, he plays whats required in my opinion.

[QUOTE=::Saint::;3888211]Yeah, it certainly helps that they are a 3-piece (my band is a 3 piece and I tend to stand out, which I like). But it's more than just standing out in the mix - take a band like Blink 182 or +44 .. three pieces, and the bass sticks out in the mix, but it is still extremely generic. You could replace their bass player (same guy heh) with any dumbass bass player who can play quarter root notes and you'd never be able to tell the difference...
[QUOTE]

I'd rather listen to Blink 182 than Muse, because Mark Hoppus can write a decent song. His playing may not be very complicated, but hes not trying to overcompansate lackluster lines with over the top effects, he plays whats required in my opinion.


I'm sorry to have to drop the hammer like this, but Chris Wolstenholme is about 1000 X the bassist that Mark Hoppus is. Chris doesn't compensate with effects, he owns those effects, and his bass lines are always creative and fun to listen to. And decent songs??! As for songs.. I guess we'll have to agree to disagree because the songs written for Blink 182 and +44 are just simple, cliche pop songs with little or nothing unique or noteworthy about them. Probably why they sold so well.

Muse actually write songs that are interesting to listen to and go to musically original places. At least that's my opinion on the subject. So say we all.

I wasn't arguing whos a better bass player, I just find muse on the whole to be overly bland and I am not impressed with chris' tones, I was harsher earlier and I take back the compenstating comment.

When I saw them in Sydney, i noticed he got out a Red Jazz. I'm asuming its a MIA, or a Custom Shop, does anyone actually know?

What is red or orange? I've seen a few videos of theirs where he is playing an orange fender jazz, might be the same one.

I can't wait to see them April 9th in San Fran. I love Chris's work - Hysteria is one of my favorite basslines ever.

Also - if you want his clean tone just look around - he has fantastic clean tone. Songs like "Sunburn" are a great example.

hmm, some people think they are like radiohead. i would say they are closer to the mars volta

I saw them the night before last, a last minute decision after all the hype I'd heard on this web site. I will say that as a band I was pleasantly surprised by how good Muse were live- considering how flat most of their recordings that I've heard sound. Some of the bass tones were great. He sounded awesome playing the rapture but unfortunately spent most of the set playing a jazz bass (yawn)
or a rickenbacker with a pick and somehow got lost in the mix.:confused:
His lines are ok- I think it would really help him if Muse's drummer would do something interesting.

I saw them the night before last, a last minute decision after all the hype I'd heard on this web site. I will say that as a band I was pleasantly surprised by how good Muse were live- considering how flat most of their recordings that I've heard sound. Some of the bass tones were great. He sounded awesome playing the rapture but unfortunately spent most of the set playing a jazz bass (yawn)
or a rickenbacker with a pick and somehow got lost in the mix.:confused:
His lines are ok- I think it would really help him if Muse's drummer would do something interesting.

I agree that the drumming could be picked up a little. However it has to match with the synths and electronic beats they run behind it remember, so not a ton of room for improvs or to get much off of the beat, unfortunately.

I agree that the drumming could be picked up a little. However it has to match with the synths and electronic beats they run behind it remember, so not a ton of room for improvs or to get much off of the beat, unfortunately.


Nah I think there's plenty of room for good drumming- but their too busy making "radio friendly unit shifters"(to coin a phrase) to give a cats flying arse.

I saw them the night before last, a last minute decision after all the hype I'd heard on this web site. I will say that as a band I was pleasantly surprised by how good Muse were live- considering how flat most of their recordings that I've heard sound. Some of the bass tones were great. He sounded awesome playing the rapture but unfortunately spent most of the set playing a jazz bass (yawn)
or a rickenbacker with a pick and somehow got lost in the mix.:confused:
His lines are ok- I think it would really help him if Muse's drummer would do something interesting.

I couldn't disagree more with that statement. I think Dom is a great drummer. I LOVE Muse and think each guy is a stellar musician. If I had to criticize the band, it would be the simplicity of Chris' playing. However, if you can track down some bootlegs, you would hear that Chris really opens up live and throws some wicked fills in here and there.

this has all the equipment of everyone in muse right here

http://www.musewiki.org/Gear

Nah I think there's plenty of room for good drumming- but their too busy making "radio friendly unit shifters"(to coin a phrase) to give a cats flying arse.

"What is wrong with me. What is wrong with me. What is wrong with me." :hyper:

Anyway, when I saw them live, there were a few good fills that Dom dropped in which I dug, so he has some talent. ;)

And as for the Muse wiki site, not only does it not have the Black Holes gear, but they just list "Red Fender Jazz", and It's like, no crap it's a red fender jazz, WHAT kind of red fender jazz, you fools. :ninja:

just became both a muse and christ wolstenholme fan. great tone, love the fuzz bass.

Alternative band, kinda. Alternative mainstream...originally a british band i believe, , now they are kinda selling out in the US.

SELLING OUT?! Ha Ha Ha hardly, they have done practically no work in America! For example, when they did hit the states they supported My Chemical Romance, they could crack the place but they really can't be bothered with the time and effort. MCR are massive over there because theyve put the effort in, but Muse are secure with their loyal fanbase already amassed.

Originally a British band? Well people dont become of a different origin, do they?

And HONESTLY, how can you be KINDA alternative (...kinda). Why need to pidgeon whole one of the greatest bands of the moment, and in my opinion, one of the greatest bands of all time?

Lets all just be honest with one another, Muse are amazing! Whether or not you dig the Falsetto vocals and the fantastically progressive nature of their music, just listen to Wolstenholme's playing.

:D

I have to throw my hat in here...

As for the selling out... No. They are selling records and touring to support. I love it how people on here consistantly talk about bands selling out, but then say things like "I would rather listen to Blink 18poo" Mark has absolutely no talent in anything he does in my opinion. The guitarist grew up in SoCal, but sings like a fake brit??? Their drummer is the only "Musician" in the group, he is f'en amazing.

As for MUSE being bland... I can see that. I grew up in and around music. My entire family plays an instrument, and I had to pick one. I chose bass, and listened to a ton of jazz, rock and even hip hop/rap to find a groove. I think some songs can be mistaken for bland, but in all honesty... The albums are a story. They always have been. BHaR is one huge score, with track numbers. Absolution is a story as well, though not as political as BHaR. Taking one song out of context is going to give the wrong impression.

Wolstenholme is amazing. He knows how and when to play. Something alot of us should take a page from. I have learned all by ear, and emulated my favorites from the time I first picked up a guitar. Chris pushes the envelope again and again. His tone is incredible (some say bland because he doesn't play ampeg) but I find it to be warmer, and more clear. His choice of gear is unique, and his style is of his own.

Many critcize bands for being unoriginal in this day and age. Too many Classic Rock lovers wonder when the second coming for Balck sabbith is coming...

I got news for everyone... It is harder to be different, new, fresh or original now a days than ever before. You have bands like My Chemical Romance who paint themselves up like death to get impact on Rolling Stone, the RHCP dancing around in socks to get attention, and bands like Green Day becoming overly-political to sell records.

Muse has taken a stand, and always has in what they believe in. The write to reflect it. I love the idea that you have to play "sick fills" or "wisked solos" to be considered good. I personally took a class with Victor Wooten. The one thing he said to me that stuck in my mind forever is this...

"Realize your role in the band. No matter how good you are, you are still one member."

Chris takes this lesson I learned and applies it in popular music. His grooves are tight, and his effects are well implimented. I guess the same people who hate muse are the guys who LOVE Tool... I got news for you. I can drop D tune and write songs in 5/4 all day long too. I have issues distiguising Tool albums apart because they are so similer. It is the same stuff over and over again... Muse has some things that carry over, but if you heard the progression of the band from the beginning, the style, and construction are totally different from each album on...

I am not saying you have to love them, but don't bash them because they are selling records, or because you hate Matt Bellamy's voice, or Dom's playing. If you don't like Chris's tone... Don't listen. Comparing Muse to Blink 18poo is like comparing Jaco to Gene Simmons...

I for one hope more bass players start getting creative like Chris Wolstenholme, and less like Mark Hoppus.

Chris has got some awsome chops too the intro of histeria is really good, and many others too.

I saw them Oz last month, absolutely amazing. Probably one of the best live bands around. Not to mention Matt Bellamy is absolutely amazing some really innovative guitar work, amazing piano skills and hes not afraid to hit notes in the vocal parts that would make most singers run away.

Also Chris has some chops, most Muse songs are exactly slow and to play them for two hours straight takes a bit of stamina.

I've said it before, and say it again....
Muse is still one of the most original sounding bands I've heard in a long time. They grab me just as Faith No More did, having so many different styles in their songs, being able to change from one drastic style to the next, and be bad*ss about it. Each member is a bad*ss at their instrument and a are able to shine and pull back as the song sees fit. And their songs are superbly arranged scores. Just blows me away!

And like I said...they're not new to me...I've known of them since 1999. I do like their older stuff, I thing Absolution is my favorite, but all of it's great.

I think the worst part about peoples opinions about professional musicians like MUSE, is that when you listen to their music, it is somewhat horrible.

I have no problems telling you to take a listen to my band. We have multiple labels in talks right now... We may not be the best thing in the world, but I feel we are better than some. Not to mention, a little more fresh...

MUSE is filling a whole in the industry... And they do a great job at it...

Not to mention, they are the only band (mainstream act) that I have seen, that sound better live, than on record. (DMB comes to mind as well, but not the same genre)

I have heard Blink 18poo, Fall Out Girl, and a few others, which are just horrible live... MUSE makes these bands look like trash...

I think the worst part about peoples opinions about professional musicians like MUSE, is that when you listen to their music, it is somewhat horrible.

I have no problems telling you to take a listen to my band. We have multiple labels in talks right now... We may not be the best thing in the world, but I feel we are better than some. Not to mention, a little more fresh...

MUSE is filling a whole in the industry... And they do a great job at it...

Not to mention, they are the only band (mainstream act) that I have seen, that sound better live, than on record. (DMB comes to mind as well, but not the same genre)

I have heard Blink 18poo, Fall Out Girl, and a few others, which are just horrible live... MUSE makes these bands look like trash...

Yeah go look for the rock am ring video of "plug in baby", awsomeness!

+1000

MUSE is the best band I've ever seen and probably will ever see live.
I saw them last summer at Aragon Ballroom in Chicago as they were touring for Black Holes and I had HUGE expectations - they surpassed them greatly which most bands don't do in a live situation. And I'm REAL picky when it comes to bands playing live.

The best part of their show, along with playing their "hits" like Hysteria, Time is Running Out, and Stockholm Syndrome they play some old tracks off their previous albums, AND play the most difficult songs on their CD's as well. The songs you would listen to and say "no way this band could reproduce this live". Like the piano solo on Butterflies and Hurricanes. Matt played it perfectly while a cameraman filmed his hands for the big screen for all to see. Simply amazing hard working musicians who deserve every bit of their fame and good fortune.

The guy changes his strings before he plays Plug In Baby.

He'd fit right in here :smug:

This performance is simply some of the best I have ever seen from any band:
Butterflies and Hurricanes played at Rock am Ring

Everything is perfect about their performance, the vocals, the backing vocals while he's playing bass, guitar-bass-drums all nailed everything perfect, and I loved the way they extended the bridge and piano solo for the live show. Nothing horrible at all, simply great!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=VTd6nyHuPdw

http://youtube.com/watch?v=VTd6nyHuPdw

THAT'S what I'm talking about...any musician who talks crap about MUSE needs to check that vid out right there...

another exelent performance:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=uan6CIaLvCk

I was there on the second day they played Wembley Stadium here in the UK.

AMAZING. I hope they come out with the DVD of this soon -- it was an utterly amazing performance. Muse, along with perhaps Radiohead and a few other bands, basically are the best live band right right now!!

They sound like the type of band that would play extremely loud. Is this true?

LOVE muse by the way. I just can't get enough! Loved them ever since I first heard that WICKED guitar solo in Invincible! Awesome band, ridiculous, really, how talented they are!

Chris W is actually ridiculously good at bass, he gets a lovely fuzz tone, uses synths amazingly aswell and technically he's insane, the problem with bands in britain right now is that we're being clogged up with indie s*** where everybodies playing root notes, I love indie and I play it myself but all these bassists put no effort in whatsoever and no wonder people say bass is easy. These guys are really mainstream now but their one of the most virtiouso bands i've ever heard.

Nuff sed

How do you play "indie"? Indie refers to independant rock. Mostly unsigned bands.

I think you are talking about "Brit Crap"... Is that it? Yea, MUSE does not fit any mold. Once you have them pegged, they change and evolve into something more.

I am going to start the Chris Wolstenholme Information thread and I will post the link here, just to cover all the "basses". I will try and post tabs, sound clips, links, and all info I can...

I used to think Chris W was an incredible bassist... but then I changed my mind. I respect him for his tasteful basslines, and unique synthy/fuzzy bass tone, but by no means is he a godly bassist.

I mean, he's only got a few memorable basslines; the rest are pretty much root pounding with that fuzz tone of his.

There are at least two guys here who like him, myself and AllodoX. I think he's great, the line from Muscle Museum was one of the first I learned. :)


Wolstenholme is brilliant. Even his simple lines (like "Starlight") are well-played and fit right in the pocket.

Muse was the band that inspired me to pick up bass on February 19, 2007. They will always be one of my favorite bands because of that.

But let me say this about Wolstenholme: if you listened to the first album, particularly the song Uno, there was a very complex scale toward the end of that song. He stuck out in that and in a couple others. Hysteria obviously. But where his talent really lies, in my opinion, is in his ability to blend in and sound awesome. He doesn't need to stick out and solo to sound good. His technique is also very clean and virtually immaculate (not his tone, of course). In all of the tracks I have ever listened to, the videos I've watched, I have never seen Chris make a mistake. Never, period, with the hundreds of performances he's made. That alone makes him worthy of being inducted into the at least top 500 hall of fame.

But I must surrender my respects to him for the song New Born above all others. If you have tried to play this song, the actual line is easy, but if you try it from start to finish, your fingers are ready to go on strike by the end. It's just an incredibly difficult song to finish and it takes lots of stamina, and for that he receives my respects.

Thus are my few cents on the matter.

I have never seen Chris make a mistake. Never, period, with the hundreds of performances he's made. That alone makes him worthy of being inducted into the at least top 500 hall of fame.


Off hand he made 2-3 (or more) mistakes playing Muscle Museum at Glastonbury (the show out on DVD).

Chris isn't a machine; he makes plenty of mistakes. But they're silly mistakes humans make and not train wrecks :)
He's still VERY solid though...