Riff Tone

Money for Nothing

Dire Straits

Guitarrock1980s

Original Gear

Guitar1958 Gibson Les Paul Standard

AmpLaney amplifier (exact model unknown, likely late 1970s/early 1980s solid-state or tube head)

PickupsGibson PAF humbuckers

Amp Settings

gain0

bass5.5

mid7

treble7.5

reverb1.5

presence6.5

Effects & Signal Chain

No effects used for this tone

Notes

Studio recording, 1984-1985. Mark Knopfler used a 1958 Les Paul Standard with PAF humbuckers for the 'Money for Nothing' riff. The clean intro/verse tone is a result of studio processing and mic'ing, not easily replicated live. No evidence of pedal use for the clean section; the signature 'wah' filtered sound is not present in the clean intro/verse.

Tone Character(10)

clean and glassywarm and roundedarticulate fingerstyle clarityminimal breakupslightly compressedstudio-processedno chorus or modulationamp reverb onlydistinct note separationdynamic response to touch

Difficulty

The clean riff requires advanced fingerstyle technique, precise muting, and dynamic control to achieve the signature clarity and groove of the original recording.

Sources

How to play Money for Nothing on guitar | Guitar World Mark Knopfler's Guitars, Amps, Pedals & Other Gear | Equipboard

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