08 BROTHERS IN ARMS DIRE STRAITS

(1985)

Mark Knopfler’s guitar sound on Moneyfor Nothing was actually an accident. Having set up the session the night before, producer Neil Dorfsman found an SM57 mic pointing at the floor when he arrived. Before he could fix it, Knopfler’s tech Ron Eve came on the talk back mic insisting they left it because the tone was amazing. Despite drawing detailed diagrams, Dorfsman could never repeat the effect.

Dorfsman says Moneyfor Nothing used a Morley wah, Laney 2x12 combo, and a Les Paul Jr. The rest of the album was largely made with Knopfler’s Schecters and his 80s Les Paul Standard. Although Knopfler was an early adopter of the Soldano SLO100, it’s likely his main amp for Brothers was still his Marshall JTM45. The title track tone comes from a cranked amp, with the Les Paul’s volume and tone backed off to create the dark, touch sensitive sound on the album. Walkoflife is a distinctively Telecaster approach, while Strat-style guitars dominate elsewhere. The National resonator on the album’s cover only sees service on The man’ s too strong.

Knopfler was keen to try new technology, with Brothersin Arms being an early all-digital production. He used a PensaSuhr R Custom synth guitar controller to trigger sounds on a Synclavier synth – as seen in the video for Sofaraway. Knopfler’s steadfast refusal to buy a pick, though, means clichés about tone being in the hands are even more true than usual.