Riff Tone

Money For Nothing (Single Edit) [2022 Remaster]

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

gain6

bass6

mid7

treble7.5

reverb2

presence6

Effects & Signal Chain

wahUnknown Wah pedal (model unknown, used as fixed filter/EQ)

Notes

Studio recording, 1984-1985 for Brothers in Arms album. Mark Knopfler used the Les Paul bridge pickup for the riff, with the amp providing most of the drive. The tone was shaped with studio EQ and mic techniques; Knopfler never fully recreated it live. Wah pedal set to a fixed position may have been used as a filter/EQ in the studio.

Tone Character(10)

hollow, nasal midrangepercussive and punchy attackmidrange-forwardslightly compresseddistinctive filtered soundsharp pickless transients (fingerstyle)crunchy but not high-gaintight and focusedEQ'd for a 'ZZ Top-like' drivestudio-processed

Difficulty

The riff is challenging due to its unique fingerstyle approach, syncopated rhythm, and the need for precise muting and attack to achieve the iconic percussive tone.

Sources

How to play Money for Nothing on guitar | Guitar World

This tone has been researched 2 times by the community

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