GuitarDistortedSolo
Money for Nothing Solo Guitar Tone Settings — Dire Straits
Dire Straits · 1980s · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
1958 Gibson Les Paul Standard
Pickups
Gibson PAF humbuckers
Amp
Laney amplifier (exact model not specified, likely late-70s/early-80s solid-state or tube head)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording for 'Money for Nothing' solo, 1984-1985. Mark Knopfler used a 1958 Les Paul with bridge-position PAF humbucker into a Laney amp. The tone was shaped by a wah pedal set in a fixed position (half-cocked), and possibly additional EQ/filtering. The exact amp model is not confirmed in sources, but all agree on Laney for the studio recording. Live recreations used different gear.
Amp Settings
Mids6.5
Bass4.5
Gain6.5
Reverb2
Treble7
Presence6
Effects Chain
- Wah pedal (model unknown, set to fixed/half-cocked position) · wah
Guitar → Wah pedal (half-cocked) → Laney amp (with light spring reverb)
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Tone Character
- midrange-forward
- nasal and vocal-like
- percussive attack
- crunchy drive
- bright but not harsh
- compressed
- singing sustain
- distinctive half-cocked wah filter
- tight and focused
- fingerstyle articulation