Tone library / Dire straits / Sultans of Swing

Sultans of Swing amp settings — Harley Benton HB-10G

The Dire straits guitar tone for “Sultans of Swing”, dialed in for a Harley Benton HB-10G with a Harley Benton HB-35LH Vintage Series. Studio version, Dire Straits (1978)

Original rig

1961 Fender Stratocaster (bridge+middle position) into a 1961 Brownface Fender Vibrolux / Twin Reverb with Dan Armstrong Orange Squeezer compressor and studio plate reverb

Clean, snappy, compressed 'quack' with pristine top-end detail and fast transient snap

Amp settings — Harley Benton HB-10G

CHANNELCleanBOOSToff

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	2
Bass	4
Mid	6
Treble	8
Master	4

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Guitar

PICKUPbridge+middle TONE10 VOLUME9

Signal chain

01TC Electronic Plethora X1 (HyperGravity Compressor Model)

Load the HyperGravity Compressor TonePrint to emulate the iconic Dan Armstrong Orange Squeezer

Sustain 7 · Attack 4 · Level 6

02TC Electronic Skysurfer Mini Reverb

Set mode switch to 'Plate' to simulate the Basing Street studio plate reverb

Reverb 3 · Tone 5 · Mix 3

Why these settings

The HB-35LH has warm humbuckers instead of Knopfler's single-coil Strat, so both pickups are selected with amp treble pushed to 8 and bass trimmed to 4 to cut muddy low-end and mimic single-coil quack. The HB-10G has no presence or onboard reverb, so the Skysurfer handles subtle studio ambience while keeping the amp on clean at low gain. Dark Matter and Wah pedals remain bypassed.

PRO TIPDitch the plectrum entirely and pluck with bare thumb and index fingers—Knopfler's percussive attack and finger-flick snapping against the fretboard are the true secret to this song's iconic snap.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Harley Benton HB-10G. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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