Time Is Running Out (Muse) bass tone and bass amp settings
Time Is Running Out bass tone on a Fender Rumble 40 V3: low gain (Gain 4.5), light drive (Drive 4.5), forward high-mids (High Mid 2), both pickups.
Settings for your amp
The song has distinct sounds: Intro, Verse. Each rig below lists what to change for them.
Time Is Running Out settings on a Fender Rumble 40 V3
Fender Rumble 40 V3 settings for every songThese settings play the verse.
AmpFender Rumble 40 V3
BassPassive P/J bass
The same settings in text
Amp
- Gain
- 4.5
- Bright
- Off
- Contour
- Off
- Vintage
- Off
- Overdrive
- On
- Drive
- 4.5
- Level
- 5
- Bass
- +1
- Low Mid
- +1
- High Mid
- +2
- Treble
- 0
- Master
- Set to your room
Passive P/J bass
- Neck Volume (P)
- 8
- Bridge Volume (J)
- 6
- Tone
- 7
A synth-bass source is needed to reproduce the JP-8000-style intro.
Time Is Running Out settings on an Ampeg Rocket Bass RB-108
Ampeg Rocket Bass RB-108 settings for every songThese settings play the verse.
AmpAmpeg Rocket Bass RB-108
BassPassive P/J bass
The same settings in text
Amp
- SGT
- On
- Volume
- Set to your room
- Bass
- +1
- Midrange
- +2
- Treble
- +1
Passive P/J bass
- Neck Volume (P)
- 10
- Bridge Volume (J)
- 7
- Tone
- 7
Add a JP-8000-style synth for the intro's characteristic subby bass.
Time Is Running Out settings on any bass amp with Bass, Mid, Treble, Drive
These settings play the intro.
Amp
BassPassive P/J bass
The same settings in text
Amp
- Bass
- 7
- Mid
- 5
- Treble
- 5
- Drive
- 3
Passive P/J bass
- Neck Volume (P)
- 8
- Bridge Volume (J)
- 5
- Tone
- 6
Acquire a bass synth pedal for the JP-8000-like intro texture.
Song parts
Fender Rumble 40 V3
Intro:
Overdrive Off, Bass 2, High Mid -1, Treble -1
.Keep the clean bass line rounded and subdued.
Song parts
Ampeg Rocket Bass RB-108
Intro:
SGT Off
.Keep the bass clean and emphasize the deep pulse.
Song parts
Any bass amp with Bass, Mid, Treble, Drive
Verse:
Drive 6
.Raise drive for a more distorted, synth-like groove.
Why it sounds like that
The bass is the centrepiece of the intro, so the band had to find a unique tone for it. An acoustic bass run through many pedals and amps was dropped, and flangers and phasers did not give the right sound. The sound the band used came from a JP 8000 synth, recorded with a subby bassline. On Absolution, Chris Wolstenholme played three Marshall bass heads with three cabinets: one gives a cleaner tone, one largely runs through a Big Muff, and the most distorted one runs through an obscure Japanese pedal. He was particularly fond of a well-worn Pedulla.
- Treat the intro bass as its centrepiece and give it a unique, very characteristic tone.
- Keep the verse groove open so it leaves breathing space.
What amp did Chris Wolstenholme use on Time Is Running Out?
- Intro: Costey said the bass would be the centrepiece of the intro, so the band had to find a unique, very characteristic tone. (on this song)[1]
- Intro: Costey said they spent a day on an acoustic bass guitar through a ton of pedals and amps for the intro, and kept none of it. (on this song)[1]
- Guitar World quotes the band saying flangers and phasers did not get the right bass sound. (on this song)[2]
- Guitar World quotes the band saying the sound they used was a JP 8000 synth recorded with a subby bassline. (on this song)[2]
- Verse: Guitar World describes the open, synth-driven groove as adding breathing space to the verse. (on this song)[2]
- Costey said Wolstenholme's amp rig on Absolution consisted of three Marshall bass heads and three different Marshall cabinets. (on the album Absolution)[1]
- Costey said Wolstenholme has three amps with different degrees of distortion. (on the album Absolution)[1]
- Costey said one of the three amps produces a cleaner bass tone. (on the album Absolution)[1]
- Costey said the second amp largely goes through a Big Muff distortion pedal. (on the album Absolution)[1]
- Costey said the third amp, the most distorted, uses an obscure Japanese distortion pedal. (on the album Absolution)[1]
- Costey said Wolstenholme has several bass guitars and a well-worn Pedulla he is particularly fond of. (on the album Absolution)[1]
Questions
What amp did Chris Wolstenholme use on Time Is Running Out?
The sources on this page document Chris Wolstenholme's gear on Time Is Running Out by Muse: bass, Pedulla [1]; amp, Marshall bass heads [1]; effects, Big Muff [1]. Each value cites the numbered source it comes from, listed at the foot of the page.
What are the Time Is Running Out settings on a Fender Rumble 40 V3?
For the Time Is Running Out bass tone on a Fender Rumble 40 V3, set Gain 4.5, Overdrive On, Drive 4.5, Level 5, Bass +1, Low Mid +1, High Mid +2, Treble 0; on the passive P/J bass, Neck Volume (P) 8, Bridge Volume (J) 6, Tone 7. Set Master to your room. These settings play the verse. They are AI-assisted starting points; adjust them by ear on your own amp.
What are the Time Is Running Out settings on an Ampeg Rocket Bass RB-108?
For the Time Is Running Out bass tone on an Ampeg Rocket Bass RB-108, set SGT On, Bass +1, Midrange +2, Treble +1; on the passive P/J bass, Neck Volume (P) 10, Bridge Volume (J) 7, Tone 7. Set Volume to your room. These settings play the verse. They are AI-assisted starting points; adjust them by ear on your own amp.
Can I get the Time Is Running Out tone on my own amp?
Yes. The settings above cover 2 reference amps and any amp with the basic controls. For your exact rig, KnobMaster, an iPhone app, sets every knob of your own amp, bass and pedals for Time Is Running Out, using only the controls your gear has.
Get it for your exact rig
KnobMaster sets every knob of your own amp, bass and pedals for this song.
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