Mark Knopfler and his guitars

The logo TEISCO applied to the headstock and SPECTRUM 5 applied to the pickguard, with applied nameplate on the back, MODEL NO. SPECTRUM 5 / SERIAL NO. 194135 / JAPAN.

Mark Knopfler purchased this guitar from Neal’s Guitars in Coatesville, Pennsylvania, in January 2004 ahead of recording sessions at the legendary Shangri-La studios in Malibu, California, for his fourth solo studio album Shangri-La from February to March 2004. Knopfler used the sunburst Spectrum 5, together with a Ramirez classical guitar, to record Postcards from Paraguay. Keyboardist Guy Fletcher photographed Mark posing with the guitar outside Shangri-La for his 2004 online studio diaries (see left picture). Together with a sunburst Spectrum bass (see below), this Spectrum 5 was later seen at British Grove Studios, photographed by Fletcher during week seven of recording sessions for Knopfler’s 2007 album Kill to get crimson.

This guitar was auctioned at Christie's in London on 31st January 2024. It was sold for 32.760 Pounds.

Mark Knopfler purchased this bass in January 2004 from Fat Dog’s Subway Guitars in Berkeley, California, forming a pair with the Spectrum 5 electric guitar (see above). Photographed by co-producer Guy Fletcher, Knopfler was captured playing the sunburst Spectrum bass at British Grove Studios in 2006 (see left picture) during early demo recordings for his 2007 solo studio album Kill to get crimson. When the full band joined them to commence recording sessions in January 2007, bassist Glenn Worf used the Spectrum to record his bass parts for the album’s lead single True love will never fade, while Knopfler laid down the lead guitar on a Teisco Spectrum 5 (see red Teisco electric guitar without serial number).

This guitar was auctioned at Christie's in London on 31st January 2024. It was sold for 20.160 Pounds.

The body with a Candy Apple Red finish, label on the back of the headstock STEEL REINFORCED NECK, together with a tremolo bar.

Purchased in 2004 from Fat Dog’s Subway Guitars in Berkeley, California, Mark Knopfler used this Teisco guitar to record the song True love will never fade at British Grove Studios for his 2007 solo studio album Kill to get crimson.

Inspired by Sarah Hall’s 2005 novel The Electric Michelangelo, the song was released as the album’s lead single in September 2007. Knopfler performed the single on this red Spectrum 5 as part of the World Café broadcast live from British Grove Studios on 19th November 2007, which could be heard on almost 200 stations worldwide.

This guitar was auctioned at Christie's in London on 31st January 2024. It was sold for 37.800 Pounds.

The logo TEISCO applied to the headstock and SPECTRUM 5 applied to the pickguard, with applied nameplate on the back MODEL NO. SPECTRUM 5 / SERIAL NO. 253337 / JAPAN, the body of a Candy Apple Red finish, together wih a tremolo bar.

One of a handful of Teisco Spectrum 5 guitars that Mark Knopfler purchased in 2004 to try out for sound on different songs, this guitar didn’t make it onto a record at the time and was kept for occasional studio use.

This guitar was auctioned at Christie's in London on 31st January 2024. It was sold for 22.680 Pounds.

The logo TEISCO / Del Ray applied to the tremelo cover, with applied nameplate on the back MODEL NO. Spectrum 5 / SERIAL NO. 220872 / JAPAN, the body of an ivory colour, together with a tremolo bar and cover.

Mark Knopfler purchased this guitar from Sound Stage Studio in Nashville, Tennessee, in July 2006. Although the 2007 single True love will never fade was recorded on one of his red Teisco Spectrum 5 guitars, Knopfler opted to record the official music video for the song using this ivory Spectrum 5 instead, perhaps finding that it would appear brighter and bolder in black and white. The filming of the music video, showing the guitar in colour, can be seen in the Kill to get crimson official album documentary directed by Tom Bird.

This guitar was auctioned at Christie's in London on 31st January 2024. It was sold for 30.240 Pounds.

The model name Phantom - 22 engraved on the pickguard, the double cutaway body in the form of a lyre, the finish in a green sunburst colour, together with a tremolo bar.

This guitar was purchased by Mark Knopfler from Coleman Music in China Grove, North Carolina, in August 2004 and kept for studio use. See here a picture of the backside of the guitar and here of the backside of the headstock.

This guitar was auctioned at Christie's in London on 31st January 2024. It was sold for 20.160 Pounds.

This is a Japanese made electric guitar which was auctioned for a charity (National Independent Talent Organization) in December 2020. It was one of the guitars owned by Mark Knopfler.

Mark said about it: "I felt I could discover things when I bought this classic Teisco TG-64 but diversions came up: European and US tours, recording and travelling, and I never gave it the chance it deserves. It’s perfectly original and in great shape, so I’m certain it has a soulful future with a guitar junkie somewhere.” -Mark Knopfler

The guitar was sold for 13.500 US Dollars

	Brand	Teisco
	Type	Spectrum 5
	Year	Circa 1966-1969
	Serial number	194135
	Additional info	The logo TEISCO applied to the headstock and SPECTRUM 5 applied to the pickguard, with applied nameplate on the back, MODEL NO. SPECTRUM 5 / SERIAL NO. 194135 / JAPAN. Mark Knopfler purchased this guitar from Neal’s Guitars in Coatesville, Pennsylvania, in January 2004 ahead of recording sessions at the legendary Shangri-La studios in Malibu, California, for his fourth solo studio album Shangri-La from February to March 2004. Knopfler used the sunburst Spectrum 5, together with a Ramirez classical guitar, to record Postcards from Paraguay. Keyboardist Guy Fletcher photographed Mark posing with the guitar outside Shangri-La for his 2004 online studio diaries (see left picture). Together with a sunburst Spectrum bass (see below), this Spectrum 5 was later seen at British Grove Studios, photographed by Fletcher during week seven of recording sessions for Knopfler’s 2007 album Kill to get crimson. This guitar was auctioned at Christie's in London on 31st January 2024. It was sold for 32.760 Pounds.

	Brand	Teisco
	Type	Spectrum Bass
	Year	Circa 1966-1969
	Serial number	363666
	Additional info	Mark Knopfler purchased this bass in January 2004 from Fat Dog’s Subway Guitars in Berkeley, California, forming a pair with the Spectrum 5 electric guitar (see above). Photographed by co-producer Guy Fletcher, Knopfler was captured playing the sunburst Spectrum bass at British Grove Studios in 2006 (see left picture) during early demo recordings for his 2007 solo studio album Kill to get crimson. When the full band joined them to commence recording sessions in January 2007, bassist Glenn Worf used the Spectrum to record his bass parts for the album’s lead single True love will never fade, while Knopfler laid down the lead guitar on a Teisco Spectrum 5 (see red Teisco electric guitar without serial number). This guitar was auctioned at Christie's in London on 31st January 2024. It was sold for 20.160 Pounds.

	Brand	Teisco
	Type	Spectrum 5
	Year	Circa 1966-1969
	Serial number	-
	Additional info	The body with a Candy Apple Red finish, label on the back of the headstock STEEL REINFORCED NECK, together with a tremolo bar. Purchased in 2004 from Fat Dog’s Subway Guitars in Berkeley, California, Mark Knopfler used this Teisco guitar to record the song True love will never fade at British Grove Studios for his 2007 solo studio album Kill to get crimson. Inspired by Sarah Hall’s 2005 novel The Electric Michelangelo, the song was released as the album’s lead single in September 2007. Knopfler performed the single on this red Spectrum 5 as part of the World Café broadcast live from British Grove Studios on 19th November 2007, which could be heard on almost 200 stations worldwide. This guitar was auctioned at Christie's in London on 31st January 2024. It was sold for 37.800 Pounds.

	Brand	Teisco
	Type	Spectrum 5
	Year	Circa 1966-1969
	Serial number	253337
	Additional info	The logo TEISCO applied to the headstock and SPECTRUM 5 applied to the pickguard, with applied nameplate on the back MODEL NO. SPECTRUM 5 / SERIAL NO. 253337 / JAPAN, the body of a Candy Apple Red finish, together wih a tremolo bar. One of a handful of Teisco Spectrum 5 guitars that Mark Knopfler purchased in 2004 to try out for sound on different songs, this guitar didn’t make it onto a record at the time and was kept for occasional studio use. This guitar was auctioned at Christie's in London on 31st January 2024. It was sold for 22.680 Pounds.

	Brand	Teisco
	Type	Spectrum 5
	Year	Circa 1966-1969
	Serial number	220872
	Additional info	The logo TEISCO / Del Ray applied to the tremelo cover, with applied nameplate on the back MODEL NO. Spectrum 5 / SERIAL NO. 220872 / JAPAN, the body of an ivory colour, together with a tremolo bar and cover. Mark Knopfler purchased this guitar from Sound Stage Studio in Nashville, Tennessee, in July 2006. Although the 2007 single True love will never fade was recorded on one of his red Teisco Spectrum 5 guitars, Knopfler opted to record the official music video for the song using this ivory Spectrum 5 instead, perhaps finding that it would appear brighter and bolder in black and white. The filming of the music video, showing the guitar in colour, can be seen in the Kill to get crimson official album documentary directed by Tom Bird. This guitar was auctioned at Christie's in London on 31st January 2024. It was sold for 30.240 Pounds.