Knopfler tone, how to?

[sjturbo]

Morning,
Mark's tone is very defined, with a smooth overdriven sustain (to my ears) on a Youtube "Telegraph Road great audio". I'm sure his amps have something to do with it but can I get recommendations on pu's that would help with that tone? I use an alder body/maple neck. MM112RD50, Carvin VT 50. ZenDrive, Blues Driver, Nobels ODS to work with.
Thanks!

 

[Thunder]

Re: Knopfler tone, how to?

I've read Mark used an MXR Comp in front of MusicMan's.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Knopfler tone, how to?

In the old days of Dire Straits he used his old Strat(s) into a brown Fender Vibrolux then later on more different Fenders (BF Vibrolux Reverb, Pro Reverb, Twin Reverbm, etc) then even Music Man amps but one of the key's to Marks fat juicy but still very clean strat tone is to number one play clean and use your fingers and 2, and this is very important...use a Dan Armostring Orange Squeezer conmpressor...these are quite different than almost any other com out there and give a nice warm fat tone with just a hunt of distortion...they really the key to Marks older tone...

 

[JumpMarine]

Re: Knopfler tone, how to?

That tip on the orange squeezer is a great excuse to pick up a AM Bi Comp so you can have both the Ross and the OS in one pedal. Thanks C for adding more gas!

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Knopfler tone, how to?

That tip on the orange squeezer is a great excuse to pick up a AM Bi Comp so you can have both the Ross and the OS in one pedal. Thanks C for adding more gas!

Thats what Im here for!

Funny you say that I've been thinking about a Bi-Comp for a while now...I love Mike's pedals Im just not sure I'll use a compressor pedal enough to justify the cost...

 

[sjturbo]

Re: Knopfler tone, how to?

Thanks for the compressor ideas! I'm mainly looking for pickup ideas. I currently have Tex Mex and they do not overdrive well! Spitty and ice pick describe them well! So ideas for pickups will be greatly appreciated!

 

[Thunder]

Re: Knopfler tone, how to?

His red strat was a 61' rosewood neck. SSL1's or Surfers should do it.

 

[fenderiarhs]

Re: Knopfler tone, how to?

When speaking of Mark knopflers tone equipment is secondary. YOU GOT to play like he does. Fingerpicking. Period.

 

[sjturbo]

Re: Knopfler tone, how to?

No doubt about that!!!! I certainly don't have number one down currently so I was going for number two and working backwards.

 

[Pink Unicorn Horsey]

Re: Knopfler tone, how to?

Thats what Im here for!

Funny you say that I've been thinking about a Bi-Comp for a while now...I love Mike's pedals Im just not sure I'll use a compressor pedal enough to justify the cost...

If you get one, I bet you won't be able to stop using it!

The Bi-Comp is an awesome pedal. At first I used the Ross side more, then I switched to using the OS side more. Now, it's just two great comps in one. Truth be told, though, I find myself using an old CS-2 more then either one of those.

- Keith

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Knopfler tone, how to?

Thanks for the compressor ideas! I'm mainly looking for pickup ideas. I currently have Tex Mex and they do not overdrive well! Spitty and ice pick describe them well! So ideas for pickups will be greatly appreciated!

Pickups...Those Tex Mex pickups are alright, I like thembetter than Texas Specials but there are still better vintage style single coils out there...

In the old days Mark used stock Fender single coils and before the switch to moslt Historic Les Pauls and a vintage 335 Mark was using Custom Shop Seymour Duncan pickups...they were a vintage wind with alnico II magnets but for the older DS tones vintage Strat singles are the ticket...

For vintage style Strat tones I've been quite happy with my SSL-1's and I do use an SSL-5 in the bridge for slightly hotter rock tones but if you learn how to work it you can still get some vintage tones from the SSL-5.

Another option in the Duncan line would be Antiquity Surfers...those are like Custom Shop versions of SSL-1 and they are great.

I also have to mention some Fender pickups...I think Fender is making a few GREAT pickups these days...the Fat 50's, the Custom 54's, and there are also the Custom Shop 69's. There are others...the 57/62's, Texas Specials, etc but I think that the 54's, 69's and the Fat 50's are the best of the best in Fender pickups right now.

Any of these pickups will get you close to what Mark had in his guitar on the old recordings...after that it's all up to you.

I mention this only because it's true...Mark's signature Strat has Texas Specials...seems odd to me that he chose those...I found them kind of dark and hard for that style of playing but thats what he decided on...

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Knopfler tone, how to?

If you get one, I bet you won't be able to stop using it!
The Bi-Comp is an awesome pedal. At first I used the Ross side more, then I switched to using the OS side more. Now, it's just two great comps in one. Truth be told, though, I find myself using an old CS-2 more then either one of those.
- Keith

I hear ya! Im just not a compressor user...comp pedals for me are more for getting sustain if you're playing really clean through a clean amp, evening out things when you're finger picking, if you're looking for that super squashed 80's thing or if you want that 60's 12 string Byrds thing...

Most of those situations don't happen much to me at all but recently I have started thinking that a comp pedal might be a good tool to have around I just wish I could try before I buy...The idea of $275 for a pedal Im not even sure I'd ever use...

 

[Aceman]

Re: Knopfler tone, how to?

A CS-2 is never a bad thing to have around. There are a lot better things, but for me - it totally works. (Or the MXR Dynacomp if you dig that sound)

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Knopfler tone, how to?

Nothing wrong with those Boss compressor pedals...David Grissom uses a CS-3 (I think) and gets great results with it, and David could have anything he wants!