Guitars from the personal collection of music legend Mark Knopfler will be auctioned at Christie’s in January.
The Dire Straits’ frontman is making available more than 120 guitars and amps, spanning his 50-year career, and 25% of the total hammer price will be divided equally and donated to three charities: The British Red Cross, Tusk and Brave Hearts of the North East.
Mark Knopfler is recognised as one of the world’s most influential musicians. He achieved international renown as the guitarist, singer and main songwriter of Dire Straits, and his extraordinary catalogue also includes multiple successful solo albums and film soundtracks.
Admired for his distinct and virtuoso finger-picking style, Knopfler chose each instrument in this collection for its individual sound and tone. As such, he has assembled a wide-ranging archive which includes iconic and world-famous names such as Fender, Gibson, Gretsch and Martin alongside custom-built and bespoke models. Highlights of this sale include:
1959 Vintage Gibson Les Paul Standard, which Mark Knopfler used for performances on the Sailing To Philadelphia Tour in 2001 and the Kill To Get Crimson Tour in 2008, as well as several recordings (estimate: £300,000-500,000).
1958 Gibson ES-335 which offers collectors an extremely rare opportunity to acquire a ‘blonde’ ES-335 with an unbound fingerboard. It is one of three vintage Gibson ES-335s that Mark purchased from Rudy Pensa in the late 1990s, two of which are included in this sale (estimate: £60,000-90,000).
1983 Les Paul Standard ’59 Reissue used to record both the title track and ‘Money For Nothing’ on Dire Straits’ 1985 album Brothers In Arms, as well as performances on the subsequent tour, and most famously on stage at Live Aid in 1985 when Dire Straits performed ‘Money For Nothing’ with Sting on vocals (estimate: £10,000-15,000).
A Red Schecter Telecaster purchased by Knopfler in 1984 and used to record the hit Dire Straits song ‘Walk Of Life’ and its accompanying music video (estimate: £4,000-6,000). This vermillion red workhorse has become one of his most recognisable and long-serving instruments, with a live performance history spanning Dire Straits’ 1985-86 Brothers in Arms Tour through to Knopfler’s 2008 Kill to Get Crimson Tour, with notable appearances at the Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute Concert in 1988 and on the 1996 live concert DVD A Night in London.
Mark Knopfler said: “Wherever I go I’m still crossing streets to look at guitars in the windows of music shops. I’ve done that since I was a little kid. I’ve lived with this love affair for over sixty years. That has meant a passion for all kinds of guitars: the impossible dreams and plenty of the less expensive ones too. As a career in music made it possible for me to realise some of those dreams, guitars of all shapes and sizes began to appear. Over the years I bought a range of acoustics and electrics. For whatever reason, a collection of beauties soon began to grow and a pretty sizeable rack of instruments would be on hand, either in the studio or in the wings of concert stages on tour. I’ve always had one or two of these lovely things to pick up and play at home when writing songs between tours, or in whatever hotel or dressing room when on the road.”
“It’s time to take some of these treasured six-string companions out of their cases and leave them in the care of Christie’s to allow them to have new adventures with new owners. You can be sure I’ll be sad to see them go but we’ve had wonderful times together and I can’t play them all. To you fellow players, enthusiasts and collectors, I wish you many good times with these old friends of mine.”
Amelia Walker, Christie’s Specialist Head of Private and Iconic Collections, London said: “We are thrilled to be offering this incredible group of guitars for sale, including so many that played a key role in the musical upbringing of generations of fans, young and old, around the world. From the ‘Money For Nothing’ Les Paul, to the Fender MK Signature Strat, these instruments tell the story of Mark Knopfler’s incredible career, including many that were played on his upcoming album, due for release in 2024. The Mark Knopfler Guitar Collection celebrates one of the greatest talents in British music and his position in the pantheon of guitar gods.”
The Mark Knopfler Guitar Collection live auction takes place at Christie’s, London on 31 January. A pre-sale exhibition of the full collection opens at Christie’s King Street headquarters on 19 January. For further information: christies.com
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Image: The Red Schecter Telecaster which became one of Mark Knopfler’s most recognisable and long-serving instruments and is included in The Mark Knopfler Guitar Collection sale at Christie’s © Christie’s Images Limited 2023