Guitars owned by Dire Straits’ Mark Knopfler sell for more than £8 million
The guitars of Mark Knopfler, the iconic Dire Straits musician, have sold for over £8million at auction, surpassing initial estimates by a significant margin.
A collection of over 120 guitars and amplifiers belonging to Knopfler, encompassing notable pieces. On was instrument was the 1983 Gibson Les Paul, used in recording ‘Money For Nothing’ and ‘Brothers In Arms’ along with its appearance at the iconic Live Aid concert in 1985, were auctioned off and sold for £693,000.
A quarter of the proceeds from the sale will be donated to several charities, including the Red Cross, wildlife advocates Tusk, and the children’s non-profit Brave Hearts of the North East.
The auction witnessed participation from registered bidders and buyers hailing from 61 countries. The ultimate total, inclusive of the buyer’s premium, was confirmed at £8,840,160.
Knopfler said the action had been “an incredible journey,” adding, “I am so pleased that these much-loved instruments will find new players and new songs as well as raising money for charities that mean a lot to me.”
He added: “It has been heart-warming to witness how much these guitars mean to so many people and I am also pleased that they will continue to give joy to many through the songs recorded over the years with me. To you fellow players, enthusiasts and collectors, I wish you all good things.”
Knopfler’s 1988 Pensa-Suhr MK-1, a guitar played by the musician during Nelson Mandela’s 70th birthday tribute concert at Wembley Stadium, fetched an astounding £504,000, surpassing the initial estimate of £8,000.
Additionally, the Red Schecter Telecaster, acquired by the guitar virtuoso in 1984 for recording the Dire Straits hit ‘Walk Of Life’, was sold for £415,800, significantly exceeding its estimated value of £6,000, per BBC.
Speaking to BBC News about the guitars in November 2023, Knopfler said: “I hope they all get played, I don’t think they do too well living in a case all their lives,” adding, “We’ve had great times together, so I am sad to see some of them go – but I’ve got enough left to play. More than enough.”
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