Lady Writer amp settings — Marshall Code 50
The Dire Straits guitar tone for “Lady Writer”, dialed in for a Marshall Code 50 with a Harley Benton ST-20HSS. Studio version, Communiqué (1979)
1961 Fender Stratocaster (bridge+middle quack) into Dan Armstrong Orange Squeezer compressor and Music Man HD-130 212 amp
| Knob | Setting (0–10) |
|---|---|
| Gain | 3 |
| Bass | 4 |
| Mid | 6 |
| Treble | 7 |
| Reverb | 3 |
| Master | 5 |
01Onboard Compressor (Code FX Block)
Built-in Code PRE FX block simulating the Orange Squeezer
02Onboard Plate Reverb (Code REV Block)
Built-in Code Reverb block for studio room ambience
The Music Man HD-130 is an ultra-clean, high-headroom platform, so we use the Code's American Clean preamp model kept low at gain 3. Because your Harley Benton ST-20HSS has a bridge humbucker that won't produce the true vintage out-of-phase Strat quack in position 2, use the middle single-coil pickup soloed with the tone wide open to replicate Mark Knopfler's bite. The Marshall Code 50 has no physical presence control on the faceplate, sopresence is nulled, with top-end snap dialed directly through treble at 7 and the bright switch.
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These settings are for a Marshall Code 50. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.
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