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Riff Tone
Once Upon a Time In the West
Dire Straits
Guitarrock1970s
Original Gear
GuitarFender Stratocaster (likely 1961, maple neck, stock single-coils)
AmpBrown Fender Vibrolux
Amp Settings
gain3.5
bass6
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Notes
Studio recording, 1978, first Dire Straits album. Amp and guitar confirmed by multiple sources for early Dire Straits studio work. No evidence of pedal use for riff section; volume pedal sometimes used live but not confirmed for this studio riff.
Tone Character(10)
warm and roundedarticulate and dynamicslightly compressed attacktouch-sensitiveclean with edge-of-breakupbell-like claritysmooth sustainquacky Strat position 2 soundno pedal colorationfingerstyle definition
Difficulty
The riff requires advanced fingerstyle technique, precise muting, and dynamic control to achieve the clean, articulate sound characteristic of Knopfler's playing.
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Create Free AccountGuitarrock1970s
Original Gear
GuitarFender Stratocaster (likely 1961, maple neck, stock single-coils)
AmpBrown Fender Vibrolux
Amp Settings
gain3.5
bass6
Create an account to see all tone details
Create Free AccountEffects & Signal Chain
Notes
Studio recording, 1978, first Dire Straits album. Amp and guitar confirmed by multiple sources for early Dire Straits studio work. No evidence of pedal use for riff section; volume pedal sometimes used live but not confirmed for this studio riff.
Tone Character(10)
warm and roundedarticulate and dynamicslightly compressed attacktouch-sensitiveclean with edge-of-breakupbell-like claritysmooth sustainquacky Strat position 2 soundno pedal colorationfingerstyle definition
Difficulty
The riff requires advanced fingerstyle technique, precise muting, and dynamic control to achieve the clean, articulate sound characteristic of Knopfler's playing.