Real AmpTuning: E StandardPickup: NeckMost AccurateBluesAmbient
Burnished Les Paul Lament — Neck-Pickup Sustain
Knopfler used his 1983 Gibson Les Paul ’59 Reissue on the neck pickup through a Marshall JTM45, producing a thick but relatively low-gain voice. Compression, reverb and spacious production extend the notes, but exact control positions were not published, so the values are approximated from the documented chain. Source: Guitar World’s Brothers in Arms retrospective and MK-Guitar’s album database.
Signal Chain
1983 Gibson Les Paul ’59 Reissue→Studio Compressor/Limiter→Marshall JTM45→Marshall 4x12→Plate Reverb and Short Delay→Output
Guitar1983 Gibson Les Paul ’59 Reissue
Tone
6.5
PickupNeck
TuningE Standard
Volume
9
PedalStudio Compressor/Limiter
Level
6
Attack6
Release5
Compression4
AmpMarshall JTM45
Bass
6
Gain
5
Mids
8
Master
7
Treble
5
Presence
5
Cab / IRMarshall 4x12
MicDynamic and condenser blend
Mic PositionOff-axis close mic with distant room support
EffectPlate Reverb and Short Delay
Delay Mix1.5
Delay Time330 ms
Reverb Mix3.5
Reverb Decay5
Delay Feedback1.5
Notes
Keep the gain moderate and use wide finger vibrato. Let the amplifier and ambience sustain the notes instead of adding a heavily saturated distortion pedal.
Don't have this gear?
See the same signal chain mapped to another platform. Knob values carry over as starting points — gain ranges differ between platforms.