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Positive Grid Spark 40 settings

Money for Nothing settings for Positive Grid Spark 40

Dire Straits · adapted 2 times on ToneAdapt

To get the Dire Straits "Money for Nothing" riff tone on a Positive Grid Spark 40, set Gain 5, Master 6, Bass 6, Mid 6, Treble 5, Reverb 1. Use the bridge pickup with your guitar's tone on 0 and volume on 8-9.

Riff settings

Adapted for a Yamaha Pacifica 012 · updated 2026-10-27

Pickup
Bridge pickup
Guitar knobs
Tone 0 · Volume 8-9

Positive Grid Spark 40 knobs

Gain
5
Master
6
Bass
6
Mid
6
Treble
5
Reverb
1
Mod
0

Built-in effects

  • Delay on
  • Reverb on · 1

Playing tips

  • Use your amp's built-in reverb set to a moderate level to recreate the spacious feel of the original tone.
  • Experiment with the gain setting to find the sweet spot for crunch without losing clarity.
  • Consider using palm muting on the lower strings to emphasize the riff's punch.

The original rig

What Dire Straits used on the recording, for reference. ToneAdapt translates this to the controls your Positive Grid Spark 40 actually has.

Guitar
1958 Gibson Les Paul Standard
Amp
Laney amplifier (exact model not confirmed, but cited as used in studio); some sources mention Ampeg SVT-VR or Marshall JTM45, but Laney is most directly cited for the studio riff recording
Gain
4.5
Bass
6.5
Mid
6
Treble
6
Presence
6
Reverb
3
Full Money for Nothing tone breakdown, effects and sources →

Different guitar or pedals? Get Money for Nothing adapted to your exact rig

These settings were generated for the gear named above. ToneAdapt adapts Dire Straits's tone to your own guitar, pickups, amp and pedals in seconds.

Frequently asked questions

What are the best Positive Grid Spark 40 settings for Money for Nothing?

Set Gain 5, Master 6, Bass 6, Mid 6, Treble 5, Reverb 1.

Which pickup should I use for Money for Nothing?

Bridge pickup, with the guitar's tone at 0 and volume at 8-9.

What gear did Dire Straits use on Money for Nothing?

Guitar: 1958 Gibson Les Paul Standard. Amp: Laney amplifier (exact model not confirmed, but cited as used in studio); some sources mention Ampeg SVT-VR or Marshall JTM45, but Laney is most directly cited for the studio riff recording.

Will these settings work with my guitar?

These settings were adapted for a Yamaha Pacifica 012. Different pickups change how much gain and treble you need. ToneAdapt adapts the tone to your exact guitar, pickups, amp and pedals.

Popular songs on the Positive Grid Spark 40

All 49 songs for the Positive Grid Spark 40 →

Settings are generated by ToneAdapt's tone adaptation for the gear named on this page and are a starting point — every amp, guitar and room is a little different.