Tone library / Dire straits / Money for nothing

Money for nothing amp settings — Positive Grid Spark 40

The Dire straits guitar tone for “Money for nothing”, dialed in for a Positive Grid Spark 40 with a Squier Affinity Stratocaster. Studio version, Brothers in Arms (1985) — the original Montserrat recording

Original rig

Gibson Les Paul Junior (bridge humbucker), Marshall JTM45 head → Laney 4×12 cab, Morley wah parked half-cocked, SM57 accidentally pointing at floor

Aggressive mid-forward crunch with nasal honk from parked wah, fingerstyle attack, phase-shifted grit

Amp settings — Positive Grid Spark 40

CHANNELMarshall Plexi model (or closest JTM45/Plexi-style amp block available)BRIGHToffBOOSToff

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	7
Bass	3
Mid	7
Treble	6
Presence	5
Reverb	0
Master	6

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Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE6 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01Wah (Spark built-in or app wah model)

Park the wah at 35-45% — do NOT move it. This is the secret nasal honk. If using Spark app, select a wah and automate it to a fixed mid position, or use an expression pedal locked in place.

Position 4 · Level 5

02Tube Screamer (Spark built-in overdrive model)

RECOMMENDED — compensates for Strat single-coil output vs original Les Paul humbucker. Use as a mid-boost into the amp model, not as primary distortion.

Drive 3 · Tone 6 · Level 6

Why these settings

Your Squier Strat's single-coil bridge pickup is thinner and brighter than Knopfler's Les Paul Junior P-90/humbucker. Compensated by pushing mids +1 on the amp, rolling tone knob to 6, and adding a TS-style boost for midrange thickness. The Spark's Plexi model lacks the non-master-volume sag of the original JTM45, so gain is set higher (7) to approximate power-tube breakup character.

PRO TIPKnopfler played this riff with his fingers, not a pick — the fleshy attack rounds off the transients and adds the signature 'thump' before the note blooms. Dig in with your thumb and index finger on the low strings for authenticity.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Positive Grid Spark 40. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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Song, artist and gear names are used to identify the tone being matched; ToneAdapt is not affiliated with or endorsed by the artists or manufacturers mentioned. Settings are AI-generated starting points — trust your ears.