Matt Bellamy Gear Guide
Associated groups: Muse.
Muse frontman, guitarist and keyboardist Matt Bellamy is known for custom Manson guitars, onboard effects, MIDI and blended amp tones.
A quick-reference inventory of documented guitars, amplification, effects and recording-era gear. Equipment can differ by song, session, venue and tour.
Guitars
| Gear / reference | Details | Era / use |
|---|---|---|
| Manson MB main guitar | Ash body, maple neck, rosewood board, Manson humbucker, Sustainiac, Floyd Rose Low Pro. | Current touring |
| Manson mirror guitar | Built-in MXR Phase 90 and Z.Vex Fuzz Factory. | “Plug In Baby” |
| Manson Kaoss guitar | Touch surface sends MIDI to rack Kaoss Pad; processing is external. | Selected live era |
| Manson Delorean / 007 | Custom instruments with integrated electronics and switching. | Origin of Symmetry onward |
| Cort MBC-1 | Production signature based on Bellamy’s Manson designs. | 2015 onward |
| Manson seven-string | Extended-range guitar for lower-register parts. | Selected songs |
Amplifiers and routing
| Gear / reference | Details | Era / use |
|---|---|---|
| Vox AC30 | Clean amp voice in blended setups. | Selected touring |
| Diezel VH4 | High-gain amp associated with heavy tones. | 2000s onward |
| Marshall amplifiers | Additional British voice across eras. | Selected eras |
| Multi-channel paths | Clean DI and multiple amp/distortion paths can blend. | Touring |
| MIDI switching | Coordinates effects, rack processors and presets. | Modern live |
Effects and electronics
| Gear / reference | Details | Era / use |
|---|---|---|
| Z.Vex Fuzz Factory | Built into some Mansons for unstable, gated fuzz. | Origin of Symmetry onward |
| MXR Phase 90 | Built into mirror guitar and set internally. | “Plug In Baby” |
| Sustainiac | Keeps notes alive and encourages feedback-like textures. | Main Mansons |
| Korg Kaoss Pad | Rack effect controlled by guitar-mounted touch surface. | Selected tours |
| DigiTech Whammy / pitch effects | Pitch and octave movement in songs and transitions. | Selected use |
| Custom switching / kill controls | Rapid changes without reaching pedalboard. | Custom guitars |
Group / song references
| Gear / reference | Details | Era / use |
|---|---|---|
| Showbiz | Early custom Mansons and developing high-gain tones. | 1999 |
| Origin of Symmetry | Fuzz Factory and phase sounds enter the vocabulary. | 2001 |
| Absolution | Extensive MIDI and multi-amp routing. | 2003 |
| Black Holes and Revelations | Kaoss textures and elaborate electronics. | 2006 |
| Current Muse touring rig | Manson MB, mirror guitar, Sustainiac and MIDI processing. | 2020s |