GuitarDistortedRiff
Money For Nothing (Single Edit) [2022 Remaster] Guitar Tone Settings
Dire Straits · 1980s · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
1958 Gibson Les Paul Standard
Pickups
Gibson PAF humbuckers
Amp
Laney amplifier (exact model unknown, likely late 1970s/early 1980s solid-state or tube head)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording, 1984-1985 for Brothers in Arms album. Mark Knopfler used the Les Paul bridge pickup for the riff, with a Laney amp. The tone was shaped by a cocked wah pedal or a rolled-back tone knob, and the sound was never fully recreated live. No evidence of additional pedals or rack effects for the riff section; the unique tone is a result of the guitar, amp, and fixed wah/filter effect. All sources refer to the studio version, not live recreations.
Amp Settings
Mids7.5
Bass5
Gain5
Reverb2
Treble6.5
Presence6
Effects Chain
- Wah pedal (set to fixed/cocked position, model unknown) · wah
Guitar → Wah pedal (fixed position) → Laney amplifier (slight crunch, spring reverb)
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Tone Character
- mid-range forward
- nasal and honky
- crunchy but not high-gain
- slightly compressed
- percussive attack
- unique filtered sound
- tight and punchy
- dry with minimal reverb
- articulate fingerstyle
- distinctive cocked-wah effect