GuitarDistortedRiff
Money for Nothing Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Dire Straits
Dire Straits · 1980s · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
1958 Gibson Les Paul Standard
Pickups
Gibson PAF humbuckers
Amp
Marshall JTM45 45W Tube Guitar Amp Head
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording, 1984-1985 for 'Brothers in Arms'. Multiple sources confirm the use of a 1958 Les Paul and Marshall JTM45 for the riff section. Some sources mention a Laney amp, but the JTM45 is most consistently cited for the studio recording. Wah pedal set to a fixed position was used as a filter. No evidence of other pedals or effects for the riff section.
Amp Settings
Mids6.5
Bass4
Gain6.5
Reverb0.5
Treble7.5
Presence6.5
Effects Chain
- Wah pedal (model unknown) · wah
1958 Gibson Les Paul Standard → Wah pedal (fixed position) → Marshall JTM45
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Tone Character
- vocal, cocked-wah filtered midrange
- nasally, honky upper-mids
- percussive, biting attack
- tight, compressed crunch
- distinctive filtered drive
- bridge humbucker clarity
- dynamic fingerstyle articulation
- minimal low end
- ZZ Top-inspired saturated tone
- unique, instantly recognizable riff sound