Classic Rock1983Local Hero (soundtrack)

Going Home (Theme of the Local Hero) Amp Settings

by Mark Knopfler

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Original Recording Settings

partially-sourcedResearched tone data for "Going Home (Theme of the Local Hero)" by Mark Knopfler

Original Gear

Guitar: Strat-style electric (likely Mark Knopfler’s early-’80s Strat/Schecter-era instruments; exact studio guitar not documented in consulted sources here)
Pickups: Strat-style single coils (inferred) (neck)
Amplifier: Unknown studio amp(s) for Local Hero sessions
Channel: Clean channel (estimated)
Tuning: standard
Pickup Selector: neck
Strings: Unknown (often reported as light gauges; not confirmed here)

Wikipedia’s Local Hero soundtrack entry lists recording in 1982 at Power Station (NYC) and Eden (London). The user prompt mentions AIR Studios; that is not supported by the consulted Wikipedia entry here. Specific amp/cab/mic chain for ‘Going Home’ is not documented in these sources.

Amp Settings

Gain

2.0

Bass

4.0

Mid

5.0

Treble

6.0

Presence

5.0

Volume

6.0

No session amp documentation located in the consulted sources. Estimated for Knopfler’s clean, touch-sensitive fingerstyle lead: low gain, slightly bright, mid-present for vocal sustain.

Effects Chain

→

Studio plate/room reverb

reverb

→

Tape/digital delay (subtle)

delay

→

1.Studio plate/room reverb — Estimated to match soundtrack ambience; not documented.

2.Tape/digital delay (subtle) — Estimated; not documented.

Playing Technique

Fingerstyle (no pick) with controlled attack and expressive vibrato; keep notes singing with consistent right-hand dynamics and precise left-hand intonation. Use subtle volume swells where appropriate and maintain clean string separation during double-stops. The tone depends on touch: lighter attack for roundness, stronger thumb/finger snap for emphasis, and careful muting to avoid low-string rumble.

Sources+

Wikipedia: “Going Home: Theme of the Local Hero” — release date (4 March 1983) and soundtrack association.
Wikipedia: Local Hero (soundtrack) — recorded 1982; studios listed as Power Station (NYC) and Eden (London).
A Mark In Time forum discussion — mentions ‘Going home’ associated with Schecter Dream Machine usage in performance context (not a studio log; used only as contextual instrument-era support).