Tone library / Dire straits / Money for nothing

Money for nothing amp settings — Sansui Umi 101

The Dire straits guitar tone for “Money for nothing”, dialed in for a Sansui Umi 101 with a Sanches Strat. Main riff and rhythm tone, studio version, Brothers in Arms (1985)

Original rig

1958 Gibson Les Paul Junior into Laney 2x12 tube combo, accidental cocked-wah phase-shift mic cancellation

Nasal, cocked-wah midrange honk with rich British crunch and fingerstyle snap
Amp settings — Sansui Umi 101
CHANNELOverdrive channel (or Drive button engaged)BRIGHToff
GAIN 7 BASS 5 MID 8 TREBLE 6 REVERB 1 MASTER 6
KnobSetting (0–10)
Gain7
Bass5
Mid8
Treble6
Reverb1
Master6
Don’t have a Sansui Umi 101? See this song on other amps → Match your own rig →
Guitar
PICKUPbridge TONE7 VOLUME10
Signal chain

01Dunlop Cry Baby Wah (Wah pedal)

RECOMMENDED — not currently owned. Leave halfway engaged as a fixed filter to capture the iconic cocked-wah resonant peak.

Pedal Position 6
Why these settings

The Sansui Umi 101 is an unrecognized practice amp model, so non-universal controls are omitted and the faceplate layout may vary. To compensate for single coils on a Strat matching a thick humbucker/P90 original, roll the guitar tone knob down to 7 and push the amp midrange to 8 to mimic the recording's phase-cancellation honk. Run the amp's drive channel at gain 7 to provide the British crunch organically until you can add an external wah pedal.

PRO TIPDitch the pick completely: Mark Knopfler plucked the main riff aggressively with his bare thumb and index finger, creating an immediate transient pop that defines the tone's attack.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Sansui Umi 101. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

Get ToneAdapt on Google Play
Find your amp
Browse
Money for nothing on other ampsSAME SONG, YOUR AMP Dire straits tonesALL SONGS Tone libraryEVERYTHING

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.

Get ToneAdapt — first match free