Rock1985Brothers in Arms

Money for Nothing Amp Settings

by Dire Straits

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Original Recording Settings

Well-SourcedResearched tone data for "Money for Nothing" by Dire Straits

Original Gear

Guitar: 1983 Gibson Les Paul Standard '59 Reissue (serial #90006, purchased from Rudy Pensa)
Pickups: Gibson humbuckers (bridge position used for the riff) (bridge)
Amplifier: Laney Combo (2×12 speakers)
Channel: Not specified
Tuning: standard
Pickup Selector: bridge

Dorfsman describes it as Mark's 'new Laney Combo.' Amp driven hard.

Amp Settings

Gain

7.0

Bass

5.0

Mid

7.0

Treble

5.0

No specific settings documented. Estimated for thick, mid-focused distortion with the parked wah resonant peak.

Effects Chain

→

Morley Wah Pedal (fixed/parked position)

wah (parked)

→

1.Morley Wah Pedal (fixed/parked position) — Dorfsman: 'One key element was that Mark was playing through a Morley Wah Pedal which was partly open. We spent a good deal of time adjusting amount of wah filtering by opening the pedal in minute increments until it sounded great.' Creates the signature 'honk.'

Playing Technique

Fingerstyle (no pick) — Knopfler's trademark, giving more snap and harmonic content. Knopfler aimed for a Billy Gibbons/ZZ Top-inspired sound. He has never been able to faithfully recreate the studio tone live.

Sources+

Neil Dorfsman Toontrack interview (April 2016 — primary): Laney combo, Morley wah, accidental mic placement story.
Sound on Sound (Dorfsman): Les Paul Junior reference.
Guitar.com, GuitarPlayer.com: additional context.
Christie's 2024 auction: 1983 Les Paul Standard '59 Reissue provenance from Knopfler.
Equipboard, Ground Guitar.