Tone library / Dire Straits / Sultans of Swing

Sultans of Swing amp settings — Blackstar Silverline Deluxe

The Dire Straits guitar tone for “Sultans of Swing”, dialed in for a Blackstar Silverline Deluxe with a Ibanez GIO GRG170DX. Studio version, Dire Straits debut album (1978) — signature lead & rhythm clean tone

Original rig

1961 Fender Stratocaster (middle + bridge out-of-phase position) into Fender Vibrolux Reverb / Music Man HD130, no pedals

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

Amp settings — Blackstar Silverline Deluxe

CHANNELClean Warm voice, TVP/Response: 6L6, ISF set to 0 (fully American/Fender)BOOSToff

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	3
Bass	5
Mid	4
Treble	7
Presence	6
Reverb	4
Master	6

Don’t have a Blackstar Silverline Deluxe? See this song on other amps → Match your own rig →

Guitar

PICKUPbridge+middle TONE10 VOLUME10

Why these settings

The Blackstar Silverline Deluxe is set to Clean Warm with ISF turned fully counter-clockwise to mimic the scooped, sparkling American Fender/Music Man clean response. Your Ibanez GRG170DX's position 4 splits the bridge humbucker with the middle single-coil, providing the essential out-of-phase 'quack'. Gain is kept very low at 3 to ensure completely clean headroom and avoid any preamp breakup.

PRO TIPDitch the pick completely: use Mark Knopfler's clawhammer fingerstyle technique with your thumb on the low strings and index/middle fingers snapping the high strings upward against the fretboard for that iconic percussive 'pop'.

Get this tone on your amp

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

Get ToneAdapt on Google Play

More tones for the Blackstar Silverline Deluxe

Since You Been GoneRainbow Gas Panic!Oasis Master of PuppetsMetallica BlackenedMetallica Hotel CaliforniaEagles StrandedGojira

Find your amp

Browse

Blackstar Silverline Deluxe settingsALL SONGS FOR THIS AMP Sultans of Swing on other ampsSAME SONG, YOUR AMP Dire Straits tonesALL SONGS Ibanez GIO GRG170DX tonesSAME GUITAR 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.