Tone library / Dire straits / Sultans of swing

Sultans of swing amp settings — Ampeg Rocket Bass RB-110

The Dire straits guitar tone for “Sultans of swing”, dialed in for a Ampeg Rocket Bass RB-110 with a Fender American Professional II Stratocaster. Studio version, Dire Straits debut album (1978)

Original rig

1961 Fender Stratocaster (bridge+middle position) into clean Fender Vibrolux / Music Man HD130, no pedals

Sparkling clean with bell-like chime and percussive attack — all dynamics from fingers, zero amp breakup

Amp settings — Ampeg Rocket Bass RB-110

BOOSToff

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Bass	4
Mid	6
Treble	8
Master	5

Don’t have a Ampeg Rocket Bass RB-110? See this song on other amps → Match your own rig →

Guitar

PICKUPbridge+middle TONE10 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01Compressor (e.g. MXR Dyna Comp or Keeley Compressor Plus)

RECOMMENDED — not currently owned; adds the subtle studio compression and snap to fingerstyle transients

Sustain 4 · Level 6

Why these settings

The Ampeg RB-110 is a bass combo with a 3-band EQ and SGT overdrive circuit; keep SGT strictly disengaged to preserve total clean headroom. Dial bass back to 4 to prevent the 10-inch bass driver from sounding boomy, push mids to 6 for fingerstyle body, and boost treble to 8 to emulate the glassy top-end chime of a vintage Fender tube amp. Presence and reverb do not exist on the RB-110 panel and are omitted.

PRO TIPDitch the pick completely: pluck down with your thumb on the lower strings while snapping the high E and B strings upward with your index and middle fingers right over the middle pickup to nail Knopfler's signature percussive pop.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Ampeg Rocket Bass RB-110. 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.