Message In a Bottle amp settings — Fender Mustang LT25
The The Police guitar tone for “Message In a Bottle”, dialed in for a Fender Mustang LT25 with a PRS SE Custom 24. Studio version, Reggatta de Blanc (1979) - iconic main arpeggiated riff
1961 Fender Telecaster Custom (bridge single-coil) -> MXR Dyna Comp -> EHX Electric Mistress Flanger -> Echoplex EP-3 -> Roland JC-120 / Marshall JMP 1959
| Knob | Setting (0–10) |
|---|---|
| Gain | 3 |
| Bass | 4 |
| Mid | 6 |
| Treble | 7 |
| Reverb | 2 |
| Master | 6 |
01Compressor Block (onboard LT25)
Placed pre-amp to replicate Andy Summers' squashed Dyna Comp percussiveness
02Flanger Block (onboard LT25)
Dialed to replicate the metallic chime of the vintage EHX Electric Mistress
03Tape Delay Block (onboard LT25)
Short slapback echo (~130ms) mimicking the EP-3 preamp and tape repeat
The PRS humbuckers are warmer and hotter than Summers' vintage Telecaster bridge pickup, so pull the coil-split if available (or boost treble to 7 and cut bass to 4 to restore bite). The Mustang LT25 lacks a dedicated presence knob, so chime is achieved using the Twin Clean model's bright voicing combined with onboard compression and flanger blocks. Keep amp gain low at 3 to maintain absolute headroom and avoid breakup during the aggressive chord stretches.
Get this tone on your amp
These settings are for a Fender Mustang LT25. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.
Get ToneAdapt on Google PlaySong, 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.