Tone library / Dire Straits / Sultans of Swing

Sultans of Swing amp settings — Boss Katana 100 MkII

The Dire Straits guitar tone for “Sultans of Swing”, dialed in for a Boss Katana 100 MkII with a Fender Player Stratocaster. Studio version, Dire Straits debut album (1978)

Original rig

1961 Fender Stratocaster (middle+bridge position 4) into Fender Vibrolux / Music Man HD130 — completely clean, no pedals

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

Amp settings — Boss Katana 100 MkII

CHANNELClean amp typeBOOSToff

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

Don’t have a Boss Katana 100 MkII? See this song on other amps → Match your own rig →

Guitar

PICKUPbridge+middle TONE10 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01Onboard Compressor Block (Boss Katana)

RECOMMENDED — enable Katana onboard compressor block via Tone Studio to emulate studio optical compression

Sustain 4 · Attack 5 · Level 5

Why these settings

The Katana 100 MkII Clean channel delivers the high-headroom, Fender-style platform needed to match Knopfler's pristine tone. Midrange is pushed slightly to 6 to retain string body against the naturally scooped in-between pickup position, while presence is dialed to 6 to capture the iconic high-frequency chime. Gain is parked at 3 to guarantee zero preamp breakup under aggressive finger snapping.

PRO TIPDitch the plectrum entirely: pluck downward with your thumb on the low strings while snapping upward with your index and middle fingers right over the bridge and middle pickups to get the percussive 'cluck'.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Boss Katana 100 MkII. 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.