Mark Knopfler and his guitars

A travel acoustic double bass for David Gage.

Labelled internally Czech-Ease / Made in The Czech Republic / Exclusively for David Gage / Conceived by Ira Coleman / Designed by David Gage Strings / CE-1 / Serial #252 Date: 2007 / MADE IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC, the laminated arched top and back with a shaded finish of a brown colour.

See here two photos of the original travel case bearing the label MARK KNOPFLER / backline / load in - load out.

Purchased directly from David Gage String Instruments, New York, in August 2007, Mark Knopfler acquired this travel acoustic double bass for use at live promotional shows where an upright bass would be required as part of the band arrangement.

The CE-1 was sturdier and easier to transport on planes and trains than a standard upright bass. The instrument was first used by bassist Dudley Phillips for a series of five exclusive European showcases to promote the release of Knopfler’s 2007 solo studio album Kill to get crimson, commencing at the Meistersaal in Berlin on 10th September 2007, which was broadcast by the German television station RBB, and closing with the AVO Session at Festsaal Messe in Basel on 12th November 2007, which was broadcast by Swiss television station SF Zwei. See here a picture of Dudley Philips during the showcase in Amsterdam, 26th September 2007.

The travel bass was then carried on the 2008 Kill to get crimson tour as a stage spare for bassist Glenn Worf, used during the band’s acoustic performances at meet and greets, and thereafter as a spare on all subsequent tours that called for an upright bass. See here a picture of Mark Knopfler and the 2008 band during a meet and greet in Leipzig, 6th May 2008. Glenn Worf can be seen on it with this double bass.

This bass was auctioned at Christie's in London on 31st January 2024. It was sold for 6.930 Pounds.

	Brand	David Gage
	Type	CE-1
	Year	2007
	Serial number	252
	Additional info	A travel acoustic double bass for David Gage. Labelled internally Czech-Ease / Made in The Czech Republic / Exclusively for David Gage / Conceived by Ira Coleman / Designed by David Gage Strings / CE-1 / Serial #252 Date: 2007 / MADE IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC, the laminated arched top and back with a shaded finish of a brown colour. See here two photos of the original travel case bearing the label MARK KNOPFLER / backline / load in - load out. Purchased directly from David Gage String Instruments, New York, in August 2007, Mark Knopfler acquired this travel acoustic double bass for use at live promotional shows where an upright bass would be required as part of the band arrangement. The CE-1 was sturdier and easier to transport on planes and trains than a standard upright bass. The instrument was first used by bassist Dudley Phillips for a series of five exclusive European showcases to promote the release of Knopfler’s 2007 solo studio album Kill to get crimson, commencing at the Meistersaal in Berlin on 10th September 2007, which was broadcast by the German television station RBB, and closing with the AVO Session at Festsaal Messe in Basel on 12th November 2007, which was broadcast by Swiss television station SF Zwei. See here a picture of Dudley Philips during the showcase in Amsterdam, 26th September 2007. The travel bass was then carried on the 2008 Kill to get crimson tour as a stage spare for bassist Glenn Worf, used during the band’s acoustic performances at meet and greets, and thereafter as a spare on all subsequent tours that called for an upright bass. See here a picture of Mark Knopfler and the 2008 band during a meet and greet in Leipzig, 6th May 2008. Glenn Worf can be seen on it with this double bass. This bass was auctioned at Christie's in London on 31st January 2024. It was sold for 6.930 Pounds.