Money for Nothing
A cocked wah and heavy compression for the growling riff.
- Guitar
- Strat, bridge pickup
- Guitar volume
- 10
- Wah
- Cocked back
- Compressor
- On, heavy
- Amp — Volume
- 7
- Amp — Bass
- 6
- Amp — Mid
- 7
- Amp — Treble
- 6
All musicians
MK
Dire Straits
Mark Knopfler
Rock1977–presentUK
Fingerstyle on a Stratocaster with the middle and bridge pickups together: a clean, out-of-phase tone that made playing without a pick a sound of its own.
Known for: Sultans of Swing, Money for Nothing, Brothers in Arms
5
gear entries
5
with sources
Rig rundown
Pedals
2Boss CS-1 Compression Sustainer
PedalThe compressor that evens out his fingerstyle attack.
Dunlop Cry Baby Wah
PedalUsed sparingly on the funkier numbers.
Amps
2Mesa Boogie Mark series combo
AmpThe Brothers in Arms-era backline.
Fender Vibrolux Reverb
AmpA small '60s combo for studio work.
Guitars
1Fender Stratocaster
GuitarA '61 rosewood-board Strat, the guitar behind the early records.
Dial-in specs
What to dial in to chase Mark Knopfler's signature sounds — knob positions, pickup choice and amp EQ as documented.
Sultans of Swing
Middle and bridge pickups together, volume backed off, amp just breaking up.
- Guitar
- Strat, middle + bridge
- Guitar volume
- 7
- Guitar tone
- 7
- Amp — Volume
- 6
- Amp — Bass
- 5
- Amp — Mid
- 6
- Amp — Treble
- 7
- Compressor
- On, light