Tone library / The police / Every breath you take

Every breath you take amp settings — Roland DAC-150

The The police guitar tone for “Every breath you take”, dialed in for a Roland DAC-150 with a Squier Affinity Stratocaster. Studio cut, Synchronicity (1983) - iconic palm-muted arpeggiated clean rhythm

Original rig

Roland JC-120 (built-in stereo chorus active) + 1961/1963 modified Fender Telecaster / Stratocaster + MXR Dyna Comp

Pristine, ultra-clean solid-state chime with warm stereo modulation and fast percussive snap
Amp settings — Roland DAC-150
CHANNELCleanBRIGHToffBOOSToff
GAIN 2 BASS 5 MID 5 TREBLE 7 REVERB 3 MASTER 5
KnobSetting (0–10)
Gain2
Bass5
Mid5
Treble7
Reverb3
Master5
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Guitar
PICKUPneck+middle TONE8 VOLUME10
Signal chain

01Boss CE-2 Chorus (or Boss CH-1)

RECOMMENDED — not currently owned; essential for the signature Andy Summers stereo chorus tone

Rate 4 · Depth 7

02MXR Dyna Comp

RECOMMENDED — not currently owned; adds percussive snap to the palm-muted arpeggios

Output 6 · Sensitivity 5
Why these settings

The Roland DAC-150 shares the crystalline solid-state preamp voicing of Andy Summers' original Roland JC-120, so keep it completely clean on low gain. Leave your DS-1 distortion fully bypassed as this track uses zero dirt. If using the DAC-150's onboard digital chorus/effects, dial in a slow rate with medium depth to replicate the JC-120 dimensional chorus.

PRO TIPLightly palm-mute near the bridge saddles with the fleshy edge of your picking hand to get the tight, bouncy staccato dynamic heard across every arpeggiated bar.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Roland DAC-150. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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