How to Dial In "Veil of Maya" by Cynic - Bass Tone Settings
The Gear Behind "Veil of Maya"
Original Knob Positions, Pickup, and Tuning
Where to set the knobs for this tone. Each value is on the standard 0–10 amp scale.
These are the numbers on the record. On your amp, they won't sound the same.
Get the settings for my ampHow the artist had their bass configured for this take.
Sean Malone plays this on fretless throughout — soft attack, round and warm, with audible mwah as he slides into position instead of jumping. Standard E tuning, fingerstyle, played over the neck as a legato melodic voice weaving under the guitars rather than a percussive one. Almost no drive and very little treble bite: sustain, intonation and the slides are the part, so a fretless or a very light touch with the tone rolled back is what gets you there.
Common Questions About the "Veil of Maya" Tone
What bass did Cynic use on "Veil of Maya"?
Cynic tracked "Veil of Maya" on a Precision Bass (released 1993). The Fender Tony Franklin Fretless Precision Bass named above is a modern equivalent, not the bass on the record. Pickup selector: neck + bridge (position 3 / out-of-phase) on the bass. Tuned to standard (bass) (E A D G).
What amp settings does "Veil of Maya" need?
On the original amp: Gain 2, Bass 6, Mid 6, Treble 6, Presence 5, Volume 6. Each value is on the standard 0–10 amp scale; match them on your amp first, then nudge to taste. ToneMirror can translate these positions for whatever amp you actually own.
Can I play "Veil of Maya" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the original recipe above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Veil of Maya" tone on a Katana, a Helix, a tube combo, or anything else. The translation accounts for EQ curve, gain structure, and pickup type so the result actually sounds like the record, not just the same knob numbers on different gear.
More Tones You Can Dial In
Tone references for "Veil of Maya" by Cynic are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.