GuitarCleanSolo80% confidence
Sultans of swing Solo Guitar Tone Settings — Unknown Artist
Unknown Artist · 1970s · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Fender Stratocaster (1971, maple neck, stock single-coil pickups)
Pickups
Fender single-coil (1970s, stock Strat pickups)
Amp
Music Man 212-HD One Thirty (studio recording, 1978)
Pickup Position
Position 2 (bridge + middle)
Studio recording, 1978. Mark Knopfler used a 1971 Fender Stratocaster with stock single-coil pickups into a Music Man 212-HD One Thirty amp. No evidence of pedals in the original studio solo; amp reverb used. Pickup selector in position 2 (bridge + middle).
Amp Settings
Mids5.5
Bass5.5
Gain0
Reverb3
Treble7
Presence5
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Tone Character
- bright and articulate
- clean and dynamic
- touch-sensitive response
- percussive attack
- slightly scooped mids
- warm but sparkling highs
- clear note separation
- spring reverb ambience
- no audible overdrive
- fingerstyle clarity
Notes & Caveats
- Gain adjusted to 0 for clean tone
- No direct studio amp knob photos; settings estimated from period-correct amp and multiple reputable sources.
- Some sources mention Fender amps, but primary evidence and interviews confirm Music Man 212-HD One Thirty was used in the studio.
- No evidence of pedals or compression on the original studio solo; all effects are amp-based.
- Pickup position confirmed by interviews and tone analysis; some live performances may differ.
- Settings averaged from Guitar World, Reddit, and typical Music Man/Fender clean settings for this era and genre.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. The 'Sultans of Swing' solo tone is famously clean with just a hint of breakup, bright and articulate, with forward mids and a touch of plate reverb typical of late 70s production. These settings reflect Mark Knopfler's Strat into a clean Fender amp, maximizing clarity and touch sensitivity.