VOX VT20X settings
Sultans of Swing settings for VOX VT20X
Dire Straits · adapted 5 times on ToneAdapt
To get the Dire Straits "Sultans of Swing" solo tone on a VOX VT20X, select the FENDER CLEAN preset, then set Gain 1.5, Bass 5, Mid 3, Treble 7, Reverb 4. Use the neck + middle pickup with your guitar's tone on 7-8 and volume on 8-9.
Solo settings
Adapted for a Fender Squier Sonic Stratocaster HSS · updated 2026-10-11
- Preset / mode
- FENDER CLEAN
- Pickup
- Neck + Middle
- Guitar knobs
- Tone 7-8 · Volume 8-9
VOX VT20X knobs
- Gain
- 1.5
- Bass
- 5
- Mid
- 3
- Treble
- 7
- Reverb
- 4
Built-in effects
- Reverb on (spring) · 3
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 achieve the dynamic articulation characteristic of the solo.
- Ensure your picking hand is light to maintain clarity and separation between notes.
The original rig
What Dire Straits used on the recording, for reference. ToneAdapt translates this to the controls your VOX VT20X 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 VT20X for Sultans of Swing?
Start from the FENDER CLEAN preset, then set Gain 1.5, Bass 5, Mid 3, Treble 7, Reverb 4.
Which pickup should I use for Sultans of Swing?
Neck + 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 Fender Squier Sonic Stratocaster HSS. 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 VT20X
- Master of Puppets · Metallica
- Hotel California · Eagles
- Sweet Child O' Mine · Guns N' Roses
- Enter Sandman · Metallica
- Stairway to Heaven · Led Zeppelin
- Smells Like Teen Spirit · Nirvana
- Walk · Pantera
- Iron Man · Black Sabbath
- Holy Wars · Megadeth
- Welcome to the Jungle · Guns N' Roses
- Back in Black · AC/DC
- Highway to Hell · 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.