Riff Tone
Tunnel of Love
Dire Straits
Guitarrock1980s
Original Gear
GuitarFender Stratocaster (likely 1961-1962, sunburst, maple neck)
AmpMusic Man HD-130 (studio recording, 1980)
PickupsFender single-coil Stratocaster pickups
Amp Settings
gain3
bass5
mid5
treble7
reverb2.5
presence5.5
Effects & Signal Chain
compressionUnknown Compressor pedal (model unknown)
delayMXR MXR Analog Delay
Notes
Studio recording, 1980; 'Making Movies' album. Mark Knopfler used his sunburst Stratocaster with stock single-coil pickups. The amp was a Music Man HD-130, which was his main studio amp for this era. No evidence of other guitars or amps used for the main riff section.
Tone Character(10)
bright and articulateclean and dynamictouch-sensitive responseslightly compressedclear note separationwarm but not muddysubtle slap-back echocountry-inspired twangpercussive attackopen, airy highs
Difficulty
The riff requires advanced fingerstyle technique, dynamic control, and precise articulation to achieve the signature clean, percussive sound. The syncopated rhythm and muting make it challenging for most players.
Sources
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Create Free AccountGuitarrock1980s
Original Gear
GuitarFender Stratocaster (likely 1961-1962, sunburst, maple neck)
AmpMusic Man HD-130 (studio recording, 1980)
PickupsFender single-coil Stratocaster pickups
Amp Settings
gain3
bass5
mid5
treble7
reverb2.5
presence5.5
Effects & Signal Chain
compressionUnknown Compressor pedal (model unknown)
delayMXR MXR Analog Delay
Notes
Studio recording, 1980; 'Making Movies' album. Mark Knopfler used his sunburst Stratocaster with stock single-coil pickups. The amp was a Music Man HD-130, which was his main studio amp for this era. No evidence of other guitars or amps used for the main riff section.
Tone Character(10)
bright and articulateclean and dynamictouch-sensitive responseslightly compressedclear note separationwarm but not muddysubtle slap-back echocountry-inspired twangpercussive attackopen, airy highs
Difficulty
The riff requires advanced fingerstyle technique, dynamic control, and precise articulation to achieve the signature clean, percussive sound. The syncopated rhythm and muting make it challenging for most players.
Tunnel of Love settings for your amp
Exact settings ToneAdapt players use on these amps.
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