Fender
Brand Fender
Type Stratocaster
Year 1961
Serial number 68354
Additional info
The guitar was bought second-hand and had a 'natural wood' finish but was repainted in red by Steve Phillips. It is the second Stratocaster used from 1977 until 1980. Later, it was used for the studio recording of On every street (unsure if it was used on the song On every street or used on another track of that album from 1991) and Mark used the guitar on What it is during the Sailing to Philadelphia tour in 2001. This guitar was the basis for the Fender Stratocaster Mark Knopfler Signature Edition.

Click here for a picture of the early 80's which clearly shows the damage of the paint of this actual guitar. Click here for a nice magazine cover featuring Mark with this guitar and click here for another nice picture.

Click here for a photo of this famous Fender Stratocaster from 1961, taken from the 2001 Japanese magazine The guitar. And here and here other photos, taken from the Guitarist magazine, May 2024.

 

Brand Fender
Type Stratocaster
Year 1962
Serial number Unknown
Additional info
It was Mark's main guitar from 1977 until 1979. The guitar was used on the Dire Straits (1978) and Communiqué (1979) albums.

And you can see it in the videos of Sultans of swing, Wild west end, Lady writer and on various live shows like for example Rockpalast 1979.

Mark does not have this guitar anymore, it was auctioned for a charity.

 

Brand Fender
Type Stratocaster
Year 1970's
Serial number Unknown
Additional info Mark played this guitar on Water of love for the TV show Top Pop, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 25th November 1978. This is David's guitar, a Fender Stratocaster from the 1970s. The headstock is bigger than the usual Strats.

 

Brand Fender
Type Stratocaster
Year 1962
Serial number 80470
Additional info
This black Stratocaster was actually from David Knopfler, but Mark used it occasionally live on stage for Setting me up in the early days of Dire Straits between May and June 1979. David bought this guitar in 1977 and after being stripped back to blonde, he had it re-sprayed in black by Steve Phillips.

 

Brand Fender
Type Stratocaster
Year Unknown
Serial number Unknown
Additional info
This black Stratocaster seems to be from Mark Knopfler himself. It was used in 1983 on the Love over gold tour to play Portobello Belle. The picture on the left is taken at the Jaap Edenhal, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 14th June 1983. Click here for another picture of Mark together with Mel Collins performing Portobello Belle.

 

Brand Fender
Type Stratocaster
Year Unknown
Serial number Unknown
Additional info
This is a late 80's American Standard Stratocaster. I have no further information on this guitar, except that it was played and signed by Mark Knopfler and later displayed, probably for an auction.

Click here for another picture on which the sign is sharp enough to read. It says:

"This guitar was signed by Mark Knopfler in 1989. He played it during a concert at the Sky Dome, and donated it after the show. May 5, 2001 - The Rosemont Theater".

I never heard of a concert at the Sky Dome, so to me it is unknown from which date that concert is. I assume that the guitar was played and signed in 1989, but apart from charity shows in Egham and Newcastle, I don't know other shows Dire Straits played that year. I also don't see the connection with the Rosemont Theater, except that Mark played at that venue on 5th May 2001 during the Sailing to Philadelphia tour.

Unsure if this is the famous #80470 model from 1961 that was auctioned for a charity, but I don't think so.

 

Brand Fender
Type Stratocaster
Year Unknown
Serial number Unknown
Additional info
According to this article, this candy-apple red Fender Stratocaster was used on Mark's work on Local Hero and was played on the track Why worry.

The guitar was also played by Mark at a charity concert for M.S. Therapy Centre Middlesbrough, 17th May 1997 and could be won in a prize draw. Mark himself drew the winning ticket out of a box onstage and the lucky winner (Richie Holmes) got it from Mark himself after the show in the dressing room. Click also here to get details of that concert.

 

Brand Fender
Type Stratocaster
Year 1954
Serial number 059
Additional info
1954 was the first year of mass production for the Fender Stratocaster. Stratocasters from this year are highly sought after and consequently extremely hard to get and very expensive. Mark's guitar is from the third month of manufacture. Mark Knopfler got this guitar from his friend Paul Kennerly, and he calls it the "Jurassic Strat".

The guitar was used on You don't know you're born (2002), Everybody pays, Summer of love, Our Shangri-La (2004), The car was the one, Remembrance Day (2009). On tour, Mark used it for songs like I'm the fool, So far away, Our Shangri-La and Skydiver.

The Japanese magazine The guitar (2001) featured a nice photo of this guitar. Vintage Guitar magazine (February 2014) also published a nice photo.

 

Brand Fender
Type Stratocaster
Year 2004
Serial number Unknown
Additional info
The 2004 Fender Stratocaster is a 1954-spec model made to commemorate the Strat's (then) 50th anniversary.

It has toured with Knopfler's and Neil Diamond's sideman Richard Bennett, who played it from 2005 to 2019. Knopfler used this on the tracks Tunnel 13 and Before my train comes, on the album One deep river, while Richard Bennet played it on the track This one's not going to end well.  Source: Guitarist magazine, May 2014.

The guitar can also be found on the card that is part of the box-set of One deep river.

 

Brand Fender
Type Stratocaster
Year Unknown
Serial number Unknown
Additional info
At the charity gig in Beaulieu (28th July 2002), Mark Knopfler played a vintage Fender Stratocaster with a rosewood neck. It is also different from the guitar below as this guitar is a two-tone sunburst while the guitar below is a three-tone sunburst.

 

Brand Fender
Type Stratocaster
Year Unknown
Serial number Unknown
Additional info I found this picture on the internet, if I remember right I saved it from Guy Fletcher's site. Since the guitar has a rosewood neck, it's not the Jurassic Strat from 1954 or Guy's Mexican Stratocaster which can be seen on the picture below.

 

Brand Fender
Type Stratocaster
Year Unknown
Serial number Unknown
Additional info Mark Knopfler used this guitar during his promotional tour for The Ragpicker's Dream album in 2002. It is not one of the other sunburst Stratocasters listed above. You can see this guitar has two string trees and below the Fender logo you can see a serial number.Most likely, this is a photo of the same guitar.

 

Brand Fender
Type Stratocaster
Year Unknown
Serial number Unknown
Additional info Mark never used it this guitar himself. Guy Fletcher bought this brand new Mexican Fender Stratocaster as a gift for a friend and he liked to get Mark to give his appraisal. The guitar received the thumbs up from MK!

 

 

Brand Fender
Type Stratocaster
Year 1956
Serial number Unknown
Additional info
This is a Custom Shop 1956 fiesta red with gold hardware, Birdseye maple neck Fender Stratocaster which Hank Marvin gave to Mark Knopfler. This guitar can be seen in the documentary 'The Fender Stratocaster - Curves, contours and bodyhorns' where Mark is holding the guitar in his house. Click here to see a capture of that documentary.

 

Brand Fender
Type Stratocaster
Year Unknown
Serial number Unknown
Additional info
Mark used this white Fender on the recording of Chet Atkins and Friends, 1st and 2nd May 1987. This guitar has black elements and black knobs. Click here for another picture.

 

Brand Fender
Type Stratocaster
Year 1965
Serial number Unknown
Additional info
Mark Knopfler bought this guitar in September 1999. The guitar was used on Sailing to Philadelphia on the Sailing to Philadelphia album. The guitar was also used in the promo concerts in 2000 and on Sailing to Philadelphia during the Sailing to Philadelphia tour 2001. On the Privateering tour 2013, Mark used it to play Gator blood. On the Tracker tour, it was used to play Mighty man. Click here for another nice picture of Mark with this guitar.

The Japanese magazine The guitar featured a great article in 2001 listing all of Mark Knopfler's guitars which he used on the Sailing to Philadelphia tour 2001. The article featured seperate photos of each of these guitars. Click here for a photo of the Fender Stratocaster from 1965.

 

Brand Fender
Type Stratocaster - Mark Knopfler Artist's Prototype
Year 2002
Serial number -
Additional info The decal logo Fender STRATOCASTER / WITH SYNCHRONIZED TREMOLO and ORIGINAL / Contour / Body, the neck plate unstamped, the finish of a red colour.

While the first Signatures were in live use from Knopfler’s 2005 Shangri-La tour onwards, the prototype itself was not seen on stage until Mark played five exclusive 2009 showcases in the UK and Europe to promote the release of the Get Lucky album.

The prototype guitar later joined Knopfler on his Privateering tour for performances of the songs I used to could and 5.15 am.

Click here for some more info.

This guitar was auctioned at Christie's in London on 31st January 2024. It was sold for 113.400 Pounds.

 

Brand Fender
Type Stratocaster
Year Probably 2006
Serial number -
Additional info The Variety Club have presented Mark Knopfler with their highest accolade, the Silver Heart, at a special Tribute Lunch held at the Civic Centre in Newcastle-upon-Tyne on Thursday 19th October 2006. Around 700 people packed the Banqueting Hall to hear Jools Holland MC the Tribute with contributions from, among others, John Illsley, fellow Geordies Jimmy Nail, Tim Healey, Alan Shearer, and legendary Shadows guitarist, Bruce Welch. Filmed tributes were also featured from various contributors including Eric Clapton, Sting, Emmylou Harris and Lord David Puttnam. Surrounded by friends and well-wishers, Mark spoke eloquently about his early life, of growing up in Newcastle and his deep affection for Northumberland. Mark Knopfler and Guy Fletcher also performed Wild theme at the Luncheon at the Civic Centre at the end of the afternoon.

That day, Mark donated two signed Fender Stratocaster guitars which raised £5,000 each. This is one of them, signed on the body of the guitar.

 

Brand Fender
Type Stratocaster
Year Probably 2006
Serial number -
Additional info The Variety Club have presented Mark Knopfler with their highest accolade, the Silver Heart, at a special Tribute Lunch held at the Civic Centre in Newcastle-upon-Tyne on Thursday 19th October 2006.

That day, Mark donated two signed Fender Stratocaster guitars which raised £5,000 each. This is one of them, signed on the pickguard.

 

Brand Fender
Type Stratocaster - Mark Knopfler Signature Edition
Year 2010
Serial number SE08395
Additional info Bearing the logo Fender / STRATOCASTER and ORIGINAL / Contour / Body / Mark Knopfler at the headstock, stamped on the neck plate SE08395, the body of Ash, the custom colour finish in Hot Rod Red, fitted with three single coil Danelectro 'lipstick' pickups.

Mark Knopfler and his band joined Bob Dylan for a series of shows around England and Europe in autumn 2011. Mark opened the show followed by a set performed by Bob Dylan. On various shows, Mark also played guitar on some of Dylan's songs. Most of the time with his old Les Paul but on some tracks Mark used a Fender Stratocaster with Lipstick-Pickups.

The pictures on the left are taken during Forever young, played on the last day of this joint tour. It was the the final track of Dylan's set with Mark Knopfler on guitar and vocals. Recorded at Hammersmith Apollo, London, UK, 21st November 2011. According to Guy Fletcher, it is Mark's own guitar. The pickups were put in by Seymour Duncan. It's the guitar that Mark warms up on in the dressing room each night.

This guitar was auctioned at Christie's in London on 31st January 2024. It was sold for 126.000 Pounds.

 

Brand Fender
Type Stratocaster - Mark Knopfler Signature Edition
Year 2003
Serial number SE 00000 / SE 00001
Additional info
In July 2003, Fender released a Mark Knopfler Signature Edition of the Stratocaster, made to Mark Knopfler's specs. Mark uses this guitar on stage since the Shangri-La tour in 2004. Nice detail of the guitar is that it features Mark's signature on the headstock.

On tour, Mark uses more of these Signature Edition Stratocasters on stage, so there are more serial numbers, but at least Mark has the very first one ever made with this unique five zero serial number. Click here for a nice add that was part of the Shangri-La tour programma. Click here for another nice promo picture.

 

Brand Fender
Type Stratocaster - Mark Knopfler Signature Edition
Year 2013
Serial number SE11955
Additional info The decal logo Fender STRATOCASTER / WITH SYNCHRONIZED TREMOLO applied to the headstock with facsimile signature Mark Knopfler, the neck plate stamped SE11955, the body of ash, the custom colour finish in Hot Rod red.



Knopfler’s guitar tech Glenn Saggers recalls that the Signature Stratocasters would all arrive with different weights. As Knopfler noted to Guitarist magazine in 2004, the weight of swamp ash can vary considerably. Mark would pick the guitars he liked for his own use based on their weight and kept at least two Signature Strats in his study for songwriting.

To avoid having to retune the guitars, he would have one tuned to E and one to C. As well as spending time in his study, this Signature Strat was used to record the song Every heart in the room, which was a deluxe bonus track on Knopfler’s 2018 solo studio album Down the road wherever.

This guitar was also used on the yet unreleased track Big Mac from the 2018 project to rewrite his acclaimed Local Hero soundtrack for the stage. The guitar was also taken on the 2015 Tracker tour for a specific song that never made it on to the set list.


This guitar was auctioned at Christie's in London on 31st January 2024. It was sold for 107.100 Pounds.

 

Brand Fender
Type Stratocaster - Mark Knopfler Signature Edition
Year 2013
Serial number SE12178
Additional info The decal logo Fender STRATOCASTER / WITH SYNCHRONIZED TREMOLO applied to the headstock with facsimile signature Mark Knopfler, the neck plate stamped SE12178, the body of ash, the custom colour finish in Hot Rod red.


Knopfler’s guitar tech Glenn Saggers recalls that the Signature Stratocasters would all arrive with different weights and Mark would pick the guitars he liked for his own use accordingly, as the weight of a guitar is very important to him. As Knopfler noted to Guitarist magazine in 2004, the weight of swamp ash can vary considerably. Mark would pick the guitars he liked for his own use based on their weight and kept at least two Signature Strats in his study for songwriting. To avoid having to retune the guitars, he would have one tuned to E and one to C.
 

See here for another picture of this guitar.



This guitar was auctioned at Christie's in London on 31st January 2024. It was sold for 126.000 Pounds.

 

Brand Fender
Type Stratocaster - Mark Knopfler Signature Edition
Year Most likely 2009
Serial number SE 06406
Additional info
On 12th September 2009, Mark Knopfler, Guy Fletcher, Luke Brighty and John McCusker performed at a private, invitation only fundraising event for the Pallant House art gallery in Chichester. Mark played one of his own MK signature Strats during the show and this actual guitar has been auctioned on Ebay to raise funds for the gallery. It raised an amazing £6,300 which went to the Pallant House Gallery Appeal Fund. See one more picture (taken by Guy Fletcher) of this actual guitar during rehearsals at British Grove for several events: The Prince's Trust (9th September), Taratata (11th September) and finally the Pallant event on 12th September.

 

Brand Fender
Type Stratocaster - Mark Knopfler Signature Edition
Year Most likely 2009
Serial number Unknown
Additional info
News from November 2009: StarCards.org will auction a collection of signed Great Ormond Street Hospital playing cards by legendary & renowned guitar players from the 5th November 2009, including Mark Knopfler, Eric Clapton, Gary Moore, Steve Vai, Francis Rossi, Rick Parfitt, Phil Hilborne, Neil Murray, Paul Carrack, Joe Brown, Scott Mckeon, and Ramon Diaz.

The highlight of the auction is a Fender Stratocaster Mark Knopfler signature model guitar donated by Fender UK and Bonnersmusic.co.uk of Eastbourne with a hard case as well as a unique display cabinet donated by Wallsoffame.co.uk. The Fender will be signed and personalised by Mark for the winning bidder and will be on display at Bonners until the 15th November. The auction starts on the 5th November and finishes 10 days later on Sunday 15th November.

It raised an amazing £7,100 and was personalised by Mark for the winning bidder in Canada.

So, not a guitar that Mark Knopfler owned and played himself before it was framed, but I thought it would be nice enough to list it here.

 

Brand Fender
Type Stratocaster - Mark Knopfler Signature Edition
Year Most likely 2011
Serial number Unknown
Additional info
On 19th May 2011, Mark Knopfler played at a special fundraising charity gig before an invited audience at the newly opened Corinthia hotel in London. The event was in aid of The Gender Rights & Equality Action Trust (GREAT). Among the highlights of the evening was the auction of Mark's guitar which he used on his performance. The guitar was sold for a very impressive £75,000!

A
s no photography was allowed during Mark's performance, I don't have any pictures of Mark and the actual guitar. The picture on the left shows an identical guitar. It's the official promo photo from Fender featuring the Stratocaster Mark Knopfler Signature Edition, dated from 2004.

 

Brand Fender
Type Stratocaster - Mark Knopfler Signature Edition
Year 2013
Serial number Unknown
Additional info Mark Knopfler has donated one of his iconic red Fender Stratocaster guitars raising money for stage crew charity Stagehand’s #ILoveLive campaign, which is providing financial help for all UK stage crew who are in the greatest need.

The guitar was to be the second Stratocaster on the Down the road wherever 2019 tour, until it was strung with a heavier gauge string in Verona and used for On every street. The guitar was played at the Verona concert of the European leg and on all of the US dates of the Down the road wherever tour.

The auction ended on 17th December 2020 and raised £68,733!


Mark says:

‘I used this Stratocaster on the song ‘On Every Street’ towards the end of a set. I’d play it through the song then Richard Bennett would join in on his Strat and we’d double the playout figure to strengthen it when the band kicked in with the soprano sax blowing over the top. Live music needs an army of dedicated people who make it happen everywhere, from pubs and clubs to arenas. They need a helping hand now. Please support Stagehand’

See some more details of this guitar here.

 

Brand Fender
Type Stratocaster - Mark Knopfler Signature Edition
Year 2011
Serial number SE 10134
Additional info On 12th June 2021, Mark Knopfler has donated a signed 2011 Fender Signature Stratocaster guitar in aid of the Streets of London – ‘Come On Home’ fundraiser campaign. With this move, Mark once again showed that he does good to the environment, especially for the people from London. Mark Knopfler is supporting this campaign, which is raising vital funds to help homeless people off the streets in the capital. See here for another picture of the signed guitar.

The iconic 2011 Fender Signature Stratocaster from Mark Knopfler’s collection was picked for its tone, playability, and weight. It is strung with D’ Addario EXL110 gauge strings.

The fundraiser campaign ended on 25th June and Mark's guitar raised £40,330 !

 

Brand Fender
Type Stratocaster - Mark Knopfler Signature Edition
Year 2008
Serial number Unknown
Additional info This 2008 Fender Stratocaster - Mark Knopfler Signature Edition has been refitted with Callahan pickups and it featured on the album One deep river. Source: Guitarist magazine, May 2014.

See here for another picture of this guitar. Note the black pickup selector switch tip on Mark's signature model Strat!

 

Brand Fender
Type Stratocaster
Year Most likely 2006
Serial number Unknown
Additional info On 9th March 2006, Mark Knopfler made a special appearance at a charity event, raising £20,000 in the process. The star-studded gala in aid of Starlight Children’s Foundation was hosted by comedian and playwright Ben Elton, and raised enough funds to fulfill the dreams of one hundred seriously and terminally ill children. The event took place at the London Hilton on Park Lane hotel.

Eighteen year old James Mayley was invited along to the evening to have his Starlight wish granted. James, a devoted Knopfler fan, has spent the last two years fighting a Ewing’s sarcoma. His wish was for a hot rod red, left-handed Stratocaster guitar. His day took an exciting and unexpected turn when his hero presented the guitar in person!

Knopfler then took to the stage in front of the 650-strong audience with an electron blue Standard Stratocaster guitar, raising £20,000 for Starlight Children's Foundation. The song he played on this guitar was Wild theme from his Local hero soundtrack.

The event, named The Starlight Ball, was a resounding success, raising over £300,000 for Starlight's seriously and terminally ill children.

 

Brand Fender
Type Stratocaster
Year Unknown, most likely 2002
Serial number Unknown
Additional info Mark Knopfler used this pink Fender Stratocaster on 23rd July 2002. It was a charity show on behalf of Save the baby.

Mark used this guitar that evening to play Your own sweet way, What it is, So far away and Going home. After the concert, the guitar was signed by Mark and sold to raise extra money for the charity. Click here for another picture of Mark and this pink Fender.

 

Brand Fender
Type Stratocaster
Year Unknown, most likely 2002
Serial number Unknown
Additional info Mark Knopfler used this green Fender Stratocaster on 24th July 2002. It was a charity show on behalf of Teenage Cancer Trust.

Mark used this guitar that evening to play Your own sweet way. After the concert, the guitar was signed by Mark and sold to raise extra money for the charity.

 

Brand Fender
Type Stratocaster
Year Unknown, most likely 2002
Serial number Unknown
Additional info Mark Knopfler used this blue Fender Stratocaster on 25th July 2002. It was a charity show on behalf of Leuka 2000.

Mark used this guitar that evening to play Your own sweet way, What it is and Going home. After the concert, the guitar was signed by Mark and sold to raise extra money for the charity.

 

Brand Fender
Type Stratocaster
Year Unknown
Serial number Unknown
Additional info Another green Fender Stratocaster, but a different one compared to the guitar of the concert from 24th July 2002 (rosewood neck instead of maple). This guitar is signed by Mark Knopfler and displayed at the Hard Rock Cafe in Newcastle. Unknown if this guitar belonged to Mark or if it was just signed by him.

According to the sign below the guitar, the suit was made for Mark and worn by him during public appearances. I doubt that myself as I never saw a picture of Mark in this (ugly!) suit.

 

Brand Fender
Type Stratocaster
Year Unknown
Serial number Unknown
Additional info This blue Fender Stratocaster can be seen at the Rock & Grill bar in Salou, Spain. Mark Knopfler signed it.

 

Brand Fender
Type Stratocaster
Year Unknown, most likely 2002
Serial number Unknown
Additional info On 1st December 2002, Mark Knopfler did a performance of Why aye man at the Aids-gala, Germany. After the song, Mark donated a Fender Stratocaster to be auctioned for the charity. In the show, he signed it to raise extra money. Mark says: "Well, I would like to give the gift of music to the good cause. I have a guitar, one of my Fender guitars, a guitar I loved very much." Well, in another broadcast you can see this same guitar again and see the cards hanging to the headstock, so I really think it's "just" a brand new guitar and not one of Mark's personal guitars. Anyway, I thought it would still be nice to list it here.

 

Brand Fender
Type Stratocaster
Year Unknown
Serial number Unknown
Additional info On 2nd April 1984, Mark accompanied his brother David Knopfler onstage for David's song Madonna's daughter. Performed at the Ariston Theatre, San Remo, Italy. Click here and here for extra pictures.

 

Brand Fender
Type Jaguar
Year 1965
Serial number L64495
Additional info

The decal logo Fender JAGUAR and Offset Contour Body applied to the
headstock, the neck plate stamped L64495, the custom colour finish probably 'Surf Green', together with a tremelo bar.


Mark Knopfler purchased this guitar from Rumble Seat Music in Ithaca, New York, on 20th January 2004, just a week or so before commencing recording sessions at the legendary Shangri-La Studios in Malibu, California, for his fourth solo studio album Shangri-La that February.

The Fender Jaguar was delivered directly to Shangri-La. Knopfler’s guitar tech Glenn Saggers told us that, once purchased, every guitar would spend time in Mark’s hands so he could get an idea of the sound and where a particular guitar might fit in a particular song.

 

This guitar was auctioned at Christie's in London on 31st January 2024. It was sold for 75.600 Pounds.

 

Brand Fender
Type Telecaster Thinline
Year 1969
Serial number 226254
Additional info
This guitar is actually from David Knopfler, but Mark used it live on Water of love in the early days of Dire Straits and David used it on Wild west end. The Telecaster Thinline was originally a hollow-bodied guitar with f-holes. To make it look like a solid body guitar, the f-holes were later filled by Steve Phillips who also painted it black. Click here for another nice picture of Mark with this guitar.

 

Brand Fender
Type Telecaster Custom
Year Unknown
Serial number Unknown
Additional info Mark Knopfler is pictured here with a black (?) Fender Telecaster Custom. Click here for another picture which shows a similar guitar in its entirety.

 

Brand Fender
Type Telecaster Custom
Year 1966
Serial number 178112
Additional info
This is Mark's sunburst Telecaster Custom. It was bought in the early days of Dire Straits (1977-1978). It was then played by David Knopfler. Later, on the On Location world tour 1980-1981, Mark played the guitar again. Unsure on which song, most likely Portobello Belle.

Later Mark used this guitar on The Notting Hillbillies album Missing... presumed having a good time (1990) and live for That's alright mama with The Notting Hillbillies in 1990 and on Setting me up during the On every street tour 1991-1992.

Later, it was also played by Guy Fletcher on the live version of Why aye man. In 2013, Mark used the guitar again to play Father and son on the Privateering tour and Tracker tour. Click here for another nice photo of this guitar (right).

 

Brand Fender
Type Telecaster
Year 1954
Serial number 4545
Additional info
Mark used this guitar when touring with The Notting Hillbillies, and later it was also used for songs like A night in summer long ago (1996), Setting me up (1997, 1998, 1999), Prairie wedding (2001, 2010, 2013) and Belle Starr (2006).

The Japanese magazine The guitar featured a great article in 2001 listing all of Mark Knopfler's guitars which he used on the Sailing to Philadelphia tour 2001. The article featured seperate photos of each of these guitars. Click here for a photo of this Fender Telecaster from 1954.

\

Brand Fender
Type Electric XII
Year 1966
Serial number 129700
Additional info
Acquired by Mark Knopfler circa 1979 during the early days of Dire Straits, the electric 12-string has been in the studio from time to time to try out different sounds for different songs, although Knopfler doesn’t recall using it on a Dire Straits recording.

The 12-string was used during recording of the Charlie Rich song Feel like going home on the 1990 Notting Hillbillies album Missing...Presumed having a good time, the entirety of which was recorded in the home studio of Mark’s Notting Hill mews house. With haunting vocals by Brendan Croker, Feel like going home was released as a single in April 1990.

See here and here for other pictures of this guitar.
 

This guitar was auctioned at Christie's in London on 31st January 2024. It was sold for 63.000 Pounds.

 

Brand Fender
Type Duo Sonic II
Year Unknown
Serial number Unknown
Additional info
This picture is taken by Guy Fletcher in British Grove Studios in May 2011. The Duo Sonic II is indicated by the red arrow. Click here for a better picture of a similar guitar.

 

Brand Fender
Type Precision Bass
Year 1964
Serial number L31687
Additional info

The decal logo Fender / PRECISION BASS / PAT. 2,968,204 2,976,755 2,573,254 DES. 187,001 at the headstock, neckplate stamped L31687, the finish of a custom colour and probably Sonic Blue.


Acquired by Mark Knopfler in 2004 for use by the bassists employed on his early promotional tours, this Precision Bass was thereafter kept for studio use.

Bassist Glenn Worf used the Precision to record the unreleased track A dream or two from Knopfler’s 2012 solo studio album Privateering and the deluxe bonus track My heart has never changed on the 2015 album Tracker.

Knopfler told: 'I play bass very badly. There’s the wire wound and the flat wound thing. I really enjoyed having a wire wound bass, but also to keep a flat wound bass, because a lot of the records would have flat wound strings on those basses. And then I just had totally impractical things… they’re just beautiful objects. If you know what you’re doing, you can coax really good sounds out of them.'

 

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

 

Brand Fender
Type Precision Bass
Year 1964
Serial number Unknown
Additional info
The bass guitar can be found on the card that is part of the box-set of One deep river.

 

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