Riff Tone
Brothers In Arms
Dire Straits
Guitarrock1980s
Original Gear
GuitarGibson Les Paul Standard (1958, sunburst, original PAFs)
AmpMarshall JTM45 head into Laney 4x12 cab (AIR Studios, Montserrat)
PickupsGibson PAF humbuckers
Amp Settings
gain2.5
bass6.5
mid7
treble6.5
reverb3.5
presence5.5
Effects & Signal Chain
No effects used for this tone
Notes
Studio recording, 1984-1985. Confirmed by multiple interviews and Guitar World features. Clean riff section uses Les Paul, not Strat. No evidence of live rig or alternate guitars for this section.
Tone Character(10)
warm and smoothrounded, singing sustainrich midrangesoft attackemotional, expressiveclean but thickslightly compressedsubtle reverb ambiencefingerstyle claritynot brittle or harsh
Difficulty
The riff requires intermediate fingerstyle technique, precise dynamic control for clean sustain, and expressive phrasing, but is not technically fast or complex.
Sources
Brothers in Arms: Mark Knopfler & Dire Straits’ inner circle on its creation | Guitar WorldMark Knopfler on making Dire Straits’ Brothers In Arms | Guitar WorldDire Straits – Brothers in Arms - Gear & Equipment Used ...Mark Knopfler's Guitars, Amps, Pedals & Other Gear | EquipboardBrothers In Arms tone...again | Guitar Forum
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Create Free AccountGuitarrock1980s
Original Gear
GuitarGibson Les Paul Standard (1958, sunburst, original PAFs)
AmpMarshall JTM45 head into Laney 4x12 cab (AIR Studios, Montserrat)
PickupsGibson PAF humbuckers
Amp Settings
gain2.5
bass6.5
mid7
treble6.5
reverb3.5
presence5.5
Effects & Signal Chain
No effects used for this tone
Sources
Brothers in Arms: Mark Knopfler & Dire Straits’ inner circle on its creation | Guitar WorldMark Knopfler on making Dire Straits’ Brothers In Arms | Guitar WorldDire Straits – Brothers in Arms - Gear & Equipment Used ...Mark Knopfler's Guitars, Amps, Pedals & Other Gear | EquipboardBrothers In Arms tone...again | Guitar Forum
Notes
Studio recording, 1984-1985. Confirmed by multiple interviews and Guitar World features. Clean riff section uses Les Paul, not Strat. No evidence of live rig or alternate guitars for this section.
Tone Character(10)
warm and smoothrounded, singing sustainrich midrangesoft attackemotional, expressiveclean but thickslightly compressedsubtle reverb ambiencefingerstyle claritynot brittle or harsh
Difficulty
The riff requires intermediate fingerstyle technique, precise dynamic control for clean sustain, and expressive phrasing, but is not technically fast or complex.
Brothers In Arms settings for your amp
Exact settings ToneAdapt players use on these amps.
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