Vox VT20+ settings
Sultans of Swing settings for Vox VT20+
Dire Straits · adapted 4 times on ToneAdapt
To get the Dire Straits "Sultans of Swing" solo tone on a Vox VT20+, select the Clean Standard preset, then set Gain 1.5, Bass 5, Mid 4, Treble 7, Reverb 4, Tap tempo 0. Use the bridge + middle pickup with your guitar's tone on 7-8 and volume on 8-9.
Solo settings
Adapted for a HSS Stratocaster · updated 2026-10-30
- Preset / mode
- Clean Standard
- Pickup
- Bridge + Middle
- Guitar knobs
- Tone 7-8 · Volume 8-9
Vox VT20+ knobs
- Gain
- 1.5
- Bass
- 5
- Mid
- 4
- Treble
- 7
- Reverb
- 4
- Tap tempo
- 0
- Power level
- 9
- Noise reduction
- 1
Built-in effects
- Reverb on (Spring) · 4
Playing tips
- Use your amp's built-in reverb set to a moderate level to recreate the spacious feel of the original tone.
- Focus on a percussive fingerstyle attack to emulate the dynamic touch sensitivity.
- Maintain clear note separation by playing with precision and control.
The original rig
What Dire Straits used on the recording, for reference. ToneAdapt translates this to the controls your Vox VT20+ actually has.
- Guitar
- 1978 Fender Stratocaster
- Amp
- Fender Silverface Vibrolux Reverb
- Gain
- 0
- Bass
- 6
- Mid
- 4.5
- Treble
- 7.5
- Presence
- 5
- Reverb
- 3
Different guitar or pedals? Get Sultans of Swing 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 preset should I use on the Vox VT20+ for Sultans of Swing?
Start from the Clean Standard preset, then set Gain 1.5, Bass 5, Mid 4, Treble 7, Reverb 4, Tap tempo 0.
Which pickup should I use for Sultans of Swing?
Bridge + Middle, with the guitar's tone at 7-8 and volume at 8-9.
What gear did Dire Straits use on Sultans of Swing?
Guitar: 1978 Fender Stratocaster. Amp: Fender Silverface Vibrolux Reverb.
Will these settings work with my guitar?
These settings were adapted for a HSS Stratocaster. Different pickups change how much gain and treble you need. ToneAdapt adapts the tone to your exact guitar, pickups, amp and pedals.
Sultans of Swing on other amps
- Sultans of Swing on Fender Mustang LT25 · 130
- Sultans of Swing on Boss Katana · 104
- Sultans of Swing on Fender Frontman 10G · 40
- Sultans of Swing on Fender Champion 20 · 31
- Sultans of Swing on Boss Katana 50 Gen 3 · 30
- Sultans of Swing on Boss Katana 50 MkII · 25
- Sultans of Swing on Fender Frontman 15G · 23
- Sultans of Swing on Line 6 Helix Floor / LT / Rack · 21
Popular songs on the Vox VT20+
- Master of Puppets · Metallica
- Whole Lotta Love · Led Zeppelin
- Hotel California · Eagles
- Walk · Pantera
- Sweet Child O' Mine · Guns N' Roses
- Enter Sandman · Metallica
- Smells Like Teen Spirit · Nirvana
- Layla · Derek & The Dominos
- Holy Wars · Megadeth
- Welcome to the Jungle · Guns N' Roses
- Floods · Pantera
- Back in Black · AC/DC
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.