Punk1979Reggatta de Blanc

Message in a Bottle Amp Settings

by The Police

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Original Recording Settings

partially-sourcedResearched tone data for "Message in a Bottle" by The Police

Original Gear

Guitar: Early-1960s Fender Telecaster (Andy Summers’ modified main Tele-style guitar)
Pickups: Mixed: Gibson PAF humbucker (neck) + Fender Tele single-coil (bridge), onboard preamp/phase switch (Summers’ modified Tele) (bridge)
Amplifier: Clean high-headroom amp (exact studio amp not specified in sources consulted; likely a very clean platform to preserve flanger detail)
Channel: Clean
Tuning: standard
Pickup Selector: bridge
Strings: Unknown

The defining modulation documented for this part is the Electric Mistress flanger; the specific amp model used on the Reggatta de Blanc session for this song was not identified in sources consulted.

Amp Settings

Gain

2.0

Bass

5.0

Mid

5.0

Treble

6.0

Volume

5.0

No documented amp model/settings found for the studio recording in sources consulted. Settings target a neutral clean platform emphasizing shimmer and note separation under modulation.

Effects Chain

→

Electro-Harmonix Electric Mistress

flanger

→

1.Electro-Harmonix Electric Mistress — Guitar Player attributes the track’s shimmering guitar sound to the Electric Mistress flanger (not chorus).

Playing Technique

Bright, aggressive right-hand attack with tight 16th-note feel; keep chord stabs and arpeggiated figures cleanly separated. Use controlled left-hand muting to keep the part percussive and avoid blur under flanging.

Sources+

Guitar Player (2026-03-16), "The Police's Andy Summers Built His Signature Sound With the Assistance of an Electro-Harmonix Electric Mistress" (documents Electric Mistress use and Summers’ modified Tele details)