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Message In a Bottle — The Police1 / 2
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Message In a Bottle Riff Guitar Tone Settings — The Police

The Police · 1970s · rock

studio

Original Recording

Guitar
1961 Fender Telecaster (modded with Gibson PAF neck humbucker, out-of-phase switch, built-in preamp)
Pickups
Bridge single-coil (Fender Tele), Neck humbucker (Gibson PAF), out-of-phase option
Amp
Marshall (exact model unknown, likely JMP or Super Lead), possibly blended with Roland JC-120 for clean tones
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup (Telecaster single-coil), possibly with out-of-phase engaged for extra chime

Studio recording, 1979. Andy Summers used his heavily modded Telecaster for all Police studio work of this era. Amp specifics are unclear, but interviews confirm Marshall was used for dirty/edge tones and Roland JC-120 for cleans. Effects were run through a Pete Cornish pedalboard. Settings are estimated based on era, genre, and typical Marshall/JC-120 usage for this song. All data is for the studio recording, not live.

Amp Settings

Mids
7
Bass
6
Gain
3.5
Reverb
2
Treble
7.5
Presence
6

Effects Chain

  • Electro-Harmonix Electric Mistress Flanger/Filter Matrix · flanger
  • MXR Dyna Comp · compression
  • Maestro Echoplex EP-3 · delay

Guitar → MXR Dyna Comp → Electro-Harmonix Electric Mistress → Maestro Echoplex → Marshall amp (with light spring reverb)

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Tone Character

  • bright and glassy
  • chiming, piano-like clarity
  • tight and percussive attack
  • slightly compressed
  • modulation shimmer (flanger)
  • articulate and defined
  • minimal sustain
  • quick note decay
  • distinctive Telecaster snap
  • clean with edge-of-breakup

Notes & Caveats

  • ⚠️No exact amp model or knob settings are documented for the studio recording; settings are estimated based on typical Marshall/JC-120 usage for late 1970s Police.
  • ⚠️Andy Summers himself states he cannot remember the exact amp used on the record.
  • ⚠️Pedal models are inferred from era, interviews, and audible effects; exact pedal settings are not available.
  • ⚠️Pickup position is inferred from tone and interviews describing the Telecaster's use.
  • ⚠️Some sources incorrectly attribute chorus; flanger is confirmed as the correct effect for this song.
  • ⚠️Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Andy Summers used a clean, bright, and chimey tone for 'Message In a Bottle,' likely from a Fender amp (Twin Reverb or similar) with low gain, boosted mids and treble for clarity, and moderate presence. The reverb is subtle, matching late 70s production and his signature shimmering sound.

Sources