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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)

Amp Settings

gain0
bass5.5

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Effects & Signal Chain

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.

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