Tone library / Dire straits / Sultan of swing

Sultan of swing amp settings — Gear4music G4M-GA-15

The Dire straits guitar tone for “Sultan of swing”, dialed in for a Gear4music G4M-GA-15 with a Squier Mustang. Studio version, Dire Straits debut album (1978)

Original rig

1961 Fender Stratocaster (pickup selector jammed between bridge+middle) → Fender Vibrolux or Twin Reverb, no pedals, fingerstyle playing

Glassy, quacky clean with pronounced mids and chimey highs, slight amp compression from volume, no dirt
Amp settings — Gear4music G4M-GA-15
GAIN 3 BASS 4 MID 6 TREBLE 6 PRESENCE 0 REVERB 2 MASTER 7
KnobSetting (0–10)
Gain3
Bass4
Mid6
Treble6
Presence0
Reverb2
Master7
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Guitar
PICKUPbridge+middle TONE7 VOLUME10
Why these settings

Your G4M-GA-15 is a basic solid-state practice amp with limited headroom and a darker voice than Knopfler's Fender tube amps. Gain stays low to keep it clean; mids and treble pushed to 6 to compensate for the amp's lack of Fender sparkle. Your Squier Mustang has hotter, darker pickups than a vintage Strat — rolling tone to 7 tames harshness while keeping clarity. The original had zero reverb on the track, but a touch (2) adds life on a small practice amp.

PRO TIPKnopfler's tone is 80% fingerstyle technique — use your thumb and first two fingers, attack the strings at an angle near the neck pickup, and let notes bloom rather than digging in hard. No pick was used on this recording.

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These settings are for a Gear4music G4M-GA-15. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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