Tone library / The Police / Message In a Bottle

Message In a Bottle amp settings — NUX MG-300

The The Police guitar tone for “Message In a Bottle”, dialed in for a NUX MG-300 with a Gibson SG Modern. Studio version, Reggatta de Blanc (1979) — iconic arpeggiated riff

Original rig

1961 Fender Telecaster Custom (bridge single-coil) -> MXR Dyna Comp -> EHX Electric Mistress Flanger/Chorus -> Echoplex EP-3 -> Marshall JMP 1959 / Roland JC-120

Sparkling, compressed, modulated clean with chime and subtle rhythmic slap delay

Amp settings — NUX MG-300

CHANNELJazz Clean (JC-120 model) + 2x12 JC-120 IRBRIGHTonBOOSToff

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	2
Bass	4
Mid	6
Treble	8
Presence	7
Reverb	2
Master	7

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Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME9

Signal chain

01Comp Block (Komp / Dyna Comp style)

Evens out percussive picking dynamics and extends arpeggio ring

Sustain 7 · Level 6

02Flanger Block (Analog Flanger / Mistress style)

Creates the signature watery, chorus-like sweep on each arpeggio

Rate 3 · Depth 6 · Feedback 3

03Delay Block (Tape Delay / EP-3 style)

Set to a quick dotted-eighth or slapback (~280ms) sitting quietly behind the dry signal

Time 3 · Repeat 2 · Level 3

Why these settings

Because the Gibson SG Modern has warmer humbuckers than Andy Summers' bright single-coil Telecaster, the treble and presence are boosted on the JC-120 amp block to recover high-end sparkle. Engaging coil-split on the bridge pickup if available will get you even closer, while the Dyna Comp and Flanger blocks recreate the iconic modulated shine. Keep the JC-120 preamp low and clean so the compression and modulation stay crisp without breaking up.

PRO TIPPick right next to the bridge saddles with a stiff, pointed pick and use light palm muting on the low strings to get the crisp, snappy percussive attack of the studio track.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a NUX MG-300. 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.