GuitarCleanSolo60% confidence
Tunnel of Love Solo Guitar Tone Settings — Dire Straits
Dire Straits · 1980s · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Fender Stratocaster (likely 1961, rosewood board, stock single-coil pickups)
Pickups
Fender single-coil (vintage 60s Stratocaster type)
Amp
Mesa/Boogie Mark II (studio recording, 1980), possibly Fender Vibrolux or Twin Reverb also used in era
Pickup Position
Position 2 (bridge + middle)
Studio recording, 1980 (Making Movies album). Mark Knopfler is widely documented using a Fender Stratocaster for the solo, plugged into a Mesa/Boogie Mark II combo amp for this era. No evidence of pedal use for the solo section; compression may have been used in studio processing but not as a pedal. Pickup selector is bridge/middle (position 2).
Amp Settings
Mids5
Bass5.5
Gain3
Reverb3.5
Treble7
Presence6
Tone Matcher
Match This Tone to Your Gear
Tell us your guitar and amp — we’ll calculate the exact settings translated to your specific rig.
Adapt to MY Gear →7-day free trial · Cancel anytime.
Tone Character
- bright and articulate
- clear note separation
- slightly compressed
- touch-sensitive
- dynamic fingerstyle
- singing sustain
- warm but not muddy
- clean with a hint of edge
- country-influenced clarity
- open and expressive
Notes & Caveats
- No direct studio documentation of exact pedal or amp settings for this solo; amp and guitar models inferred from era and multiple reputable sources.
- Settings are estimated based on typical Mesa/Boogie Mark II clean tone for Knopfler, and forum advice referencing the song.
- No evidence of pedal use for the solo; compression may be present in studio mix but not as a pedal.
- Exact amp model for the solo is not 100% confirmed, but Mesa/Boogie Mark II is most likely based on Equipboard and era.
- Pickup selector position (bridge/middle) is based on forum consensus and typical Knopfler tone for this song.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Mark Knopfler's 'Tunnel of Love' solo uses a slightly driven, mid-forward Strat tone typical of his late 70s/early 80s sound, likely through a clean-to-edge-of-breakup amp (like a Fender Vibrolux or Music Man), with warm bass, strong mids, and clear but not harsh treble; moderate reverb adds space without washing out articulation.