How to Dial In "Ticket to Heaven" by Dire Straits - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Ticket to Heaven"
Suggested rig · the original isn't documented.
Knob Positions, Pickup, and Tuning
Where to set the knobs for this tone. Each value is on the standard 0–10 amp scale.
On your amp, these numbers won't sound the same.
Get the settings for my ampHow the artist had their guitar configured for this take.
From On Every Street (1991). A laid-back, mid-tempo track with a clean, slightly compressed guitar tone and understated fills. No source available here confirms the exact guitar and amp on this recording, so a Pensa MK-1 through a Soldano SLO-100 stands in. Use the neck pickup and set the amp clean and chiming. Standard tuning.
Common Questions About the "Ticket to Heaven" Tone
What guitar did Dire Straits use on "Ticket to Heaven"?
The guitar on "Ticket to Heaven" (released 1991) isn't documented; the Pensa MK-1 above gets the sound. Pickup selector: neck pickup on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).
What amp settings does "Ticket to Heaven" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 3, Bass 5, Mid 5.5, Treble 6.5, Presence 5.5, Volume 6.5. Each value is on the standard 0–10 amp scale; match them on your amp first, then nudge to taste. ToneMirror can translate these positions for whatever amp you actually own.
Can I play "Ticket to Heaven" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Ticket to Heaven" tone on a Katana, a Helix, a tube combo, or anything else. The translation accounts for EQ curve, gain structure, and pickup type so the result actually sounds like the record, not just the same knob numbers on different gear.
More Tones You Can Dial In
Tone references for "Ticket to Heaven" by Dire Straits are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.