Song
Message in a Bottle
The Police · Reggatta de Blanc
Preview and cover from Apple Music
- Amp
- Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus
- Guitar
- Fender Telecaster Custom (Early 1960s)
- Tuning
- E standard
On the record, Andy Summers played a Fender Telecaster Custom (Early 1960s) through a Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus. It's in E standard.
The original rig
Andy Summers achieved his iconic shimmering clean tone using a modified Telecaster running through compression, flanging, and tape delay into a clean Roland JC-120. The signature chime is driven by the Electric Mistress flanger set to emulate a lush chorus coupled with tight percussive compression.
Andy Summers · Rhythm and solo
Settings Commonly cited
- Volume
- 10
- Tone
- 10
- Pickup selector
- Bridge
Equipped with a bridge single-coil, a neck Gibson PAF humbucker, and a built-in onboard preamp.
Settings Estimated
- Output
- 2:00
- Sensitivity
- 10:00
Provides percussive dynamics control and sustained clarity on the arpeggiated riff.
Settings Estimated
- Rate
- 12:00
- Range
- 11:00
- Color
- 9:00
Dialed to create a shimmering, chorus-like modulation texture.
Settings Estimated
- Echo Volume
- 9:00
- Delay Time
- Subtle slapback
- Sustain
- 1 to 2 repeats
Analog tape delay adding subtle space and depth before hitting the preamp.
Settings Estimated
- Channel
- Clean
- Volume
- 4
- Bass
- 5
- Middle
- 5
- Treble
- 6
- Bright Switch
- On
Solid-state amplifier chosen for its ultra-clean headroom and bright, articulate attack.
Built-in 2x12 speaker configuration of the Roland JC-120 combo amplifier.
Settings Estimated
- Type
- Spring, subtle
Subtle ambient spring reverb from the amp or studio tracking console.
- 1.guitarplayer.com · guitarplayer.com · magazine
- 2.greatestguitarplayer.com · greatestguitarplayer.com · source
- 3.pedal-of-the-day.com · pedal-of-the-day.com · source
- 4.line6.com · line6.com · maker
Have the real gear, or another modeller? Start from these. Studio knob positions are rarely written down; these are a starting point.
Researched Oct 2026 · 4 sources · How ToneSheet researches a song
Tuning
The record is in E standard, low to high: E A D G B E. Tune your guitar the same way, or tell ToneSheet how it's tuned and your device shifts the tone to match.
Questions about the Message in a Bottle guitar tone
What amp did Andy Summers use on Message in a Bottle?
Andy Summers played through a Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus (an estimate), with Channel Clean, Bright Switch On, Volume 4, Bass 5, Middle 5, Treble 6 (settings estimated).
What guitar did Andy Summers play on Message in a Bottle?
Andy Summers played a Fender Telecaster Custom (Early 1960s), with Pickup selector Bridge, Volume 10, Tone 10 (settings commonly cited).
What effects did Andy Summers use on Message in a Bottle?
A MXR Dyna Comp (an estimate), an Electro-Harmonix Electric Mistress Flanger / Filter Matrix (an estimate) and a Maestro Echoplex (an estimate).
What tuning is Message in a Bottle in?
E standard: low to high, E A D G B E.
How do I get the Message in a Bottle guitar tone on an amp modeller?
Start from your modeller's model of the Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus, set like the original (Volume 4, Bass 5, Middle 5, Treble 6), with a guitar like a Fender Telecaster Custom (Early 1960s), tuned to E standard. Ready presets, with every block's settings: HOTONE Pulze Mini (1).
Presets for Message in a Bottle
Tones players shared for their amp modellers, each with every setting, block by block.
HOTONE Pulze Mini1 version
All Pulze Mini presetsMake it for your guitar
Name your guitar and how it's tuned, and ToneSheet makes the tone for it: the pickup and knob settings, and every block on your device.
Different guitar or tuning? Make your own version (1–2 minutes)Updated