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So Far Away Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Dire Straits
Dire Straits · 1980s · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Schecter Stratocaster (1980s, red, maple neck, stock pickups)
Pickups
Schecter F500T single coils
Amp
Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus
Pickup Position
Position 2 (bridge + middle)
Studio recording, 1984-1985 for 'Brothers in Arms'. Mark Knopfler used a red Schecter Stratocaster with F500T pickups for the main riff of 'So Far Away', plugged into a Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus amp. No evidence of pedals or additional effects for the riff section; the JC-120's onboard chorus and reverb are likely used. This is the studio version, not live.
Amp Settings
Mids6
Bass6
Gain0
Reverb3
Treble7
Presence5.5
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Tone Character
- bright and glassy
- clean and articulate
- chorus shimmer
- tight, percussive attack
- warm but clear
- dynamic fingerstyle playing
- slight reverb ambience
- studio-polished clarity
- distinct stereo chorus
- no audible overdrive
Notes & Caveats
- Gain adjusted to 0 for clean tone
- No direct source gives exact amp knob settings; values estimated based on typical Roland JC-120 settings for clean chorus tones in 1980s rock.
- No evidence of pedals or outboard effects for the riff section; chorus and reverb are from the amp.
- Pickup position inferred from Knopfler's known usage and the audible tone; some sources suggest Position 2 or 4, but Position 2 is most consistent with the recording.
- If alternate gear or settings are found in future, update accordingly.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Mark Knopfler's 'So Far Away' riff tone is clean but with a touch of breakup, typical of his mid-80s Strat through a clean tube amp (likely a JCM800 or Roland JC-120), with forward mids, balanced bass, and slightly bright treble for clarity. Reverb is subtle, matching the studio production style of Brothers in Arms.