A Mark In Time
Mark Knopfler Discussion => Mark Knopfler Discussion Forum => Topic started by: Jules on November 21, 2023, 07:44:14 AM
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https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-67475099
Dire Straits star Mark Knopfler is to auction more than 120 of his guitars and amps, with 25% of the proceeds going to charity.
The sale includes the 1983 Les Paul that Knopfler used to record the hits Money For Nothing and Brothers In Arms, and which he played on stage at Live Aid in 1985.
The singer-songwriter told the BBC he wanted the instruments to find loving homes.
"I hope they all get played," he said. "I don't think they do too well living in a case all their lives."
The collection, which will be auctioned at Christie's in London next January, spans the entirety of Knopfler's 50-year career.
Among the lots is a 1959 Gibson Les Paul with a sunburst finish, known as the "Holy Grail of electric guitars", which has an estimate of £300,000 to £500,000.
At the other end of the scale, fans can acquire a mandolin, previously owned by blues legend Yank Rachell, for an estimated £300 to £500.
"I like the cheap ones as much as the expensive ones," said Knopfler.
The 74-year-old has been called one of the greatest guitar virtuosos of all time, known for the fluid and cinematic solos of songs like Sultans of Swing and Telegraph Road.
Born in Scotland but raised in England, he never took a lesson and ultimately developed a pick-free playing style of his own.
"Playing with your fingers," he has said, "has something to do with immediacy and soul."
Trembling fingers
Knopfler said his love affair with the guitar began in childhood, as he watched Elvis Presley and Hank Marvin of The Shadows.
"It came with such a sense of adventure and fun and freedom. I wanted to be part of it all."
Growing up in Newcastle, Knopfler would spend hours gazing at the displays in JG Windows (a shop he still visits to this day), dreaming of the day he could have a guitar of his own.
"I can still remember the first time I plucked up enough courage to pick one off the wall, with trembling fingers," he said.
"It was a Spanish guitar, and one of the Geordies in the shop said: 'If you drop that, I'll drop you'.
"I didn't even know how to play. I was just desperate to have it in my hands."
For months, he begged his father for a Fiesta Red Fender Stratocaster, just like the one he'd seen Hank Marvin play on the cover of an EP. Unfortunately, they were too expensive, even on an architect's salary. Eventually, Knopfler was given a twin-pick-up Höfner Super Solid, which cost £50, in the early 1960s.
"I never actually got much of a sound out of the Höfner but I just fell in love with it," he said.
Now, that model has become the first lot in his auction, with an estimated value of £1,000 to £1,500.
Asked why he'd decided to part with such beloved instruments, Knopfler simply replied: "I think it's just age.
"I'm looking now at about 20 guitars that I use to make records and there are at least 100 other ones that aren't going to get played.
"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."
Nightmare shortcuts
Knopfler formed Dire Straits in 1977 with his younger brother David, bassist John Illsley, and drummer Pick Withers.
Their laid-back, blues-tinged rock was a hit on both sides of the Atlantic, with hit albums including Communiqué, Love Over Gold and Making Movies - often considered their finest moment.
But they became superstars with 1985's multi million-selling Brothers in Arms, which spawned several hit singles including Walk Of Life and Money For Nothing, a satire on rock excess in the MTV era.
Knopfler juggled the band's career with session work for Bob Dylan, Van Morrison and Scott Walker, and penned the title track of Tina Turner's hit album Private Dancer.
He also expanded his horizons with film soundtracks for Local Hero and Cal, both of which drew on his Celtic roots.
After Dire Straits disbanded in 1995, he moved onto a successful career as a solo artist, exploring his interests in folk, country and roots music on albums like 2004's Shangri-La, the 2006 Emmylou Harris duets album All the Roadrunning, and 2018's Down The Road Wherever.
He spoke to the BBC from a recording studio in Chiswick, west London, where he was working on his 10th solo album.
"I've had a bit of a writing jag and I've got quite a lot of songs, so I'm hoping that I can get an EP out as well as an LP," he said.
Once named the 27th best guitar player of all time by Rolling Stone magazine, he was self-deprecating about his abilities - suggesting he'd become lazy with the advancing years.
"As my hands deteriorate, I've found that I play more like a plumber all the time," he said.
"I tend now to play parts of chords, rather than fingering the whole damn thing. I use these shortcuts that would be a nightmare for a guitar teacher."
And he added that songwriting, rather than technique, was the biggest reason for his success.
"Being a guitarist is way down the list. It's not as important to me as trying to write a good song, and then trying to make a good record of it.
"You're just trying to get the emotion of the thing across. It's basically telling a story."
The star's guitar collection will go on display in New York and London before the sale on 31 January, 2024.
Proceeds will benefit organisations including the Red Cross, the wildlife conservationists Tusk and children's charity Brave Hearts of the North East; amongst others.
And Knopfler admitted that some of the money he retains could be re-invested in new guitars.
"There's every danger of that," he laughed. "I guess I'm not impervious to temptation. It's quite possible I can have my head turned.
"In other words, what have I learned? Not a lot."
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Putting his house in order ...
LE
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"detoriating hands"....:-(
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Finally some news!
We've got an EP and an LP coming, fantastic news!
On the other hand I think his admission that he struggles to play the guitar buries any remaining hope for any kind of live concert.
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Oh no!
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Finally some news!
We've got an EP and an LP coming, fantastic news!
On the other hand I think his admission that he struggles to play the guitar buries any remaining hope for any kind of live concert.
I think that is his typical joke that he plays like a plumber.
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Although this is great for the charities, I never thought I would see the day Mark would get rid if so many guitars, I have always wondered how many he owns. I am wondering if David Gilmour had a word with him about it. On the plus side, we are getting an EP too, great news. Maybe this also explains why the band got together in the pub recently, to record the EP? And maybe there is information about that and the auction in Diary 4?
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Wow. Makes sense anyway.
Imagine the price of his original late 80's Pensa Suhr.
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From a practical point of view, if he's playing a certain number of guitars for the last, let's say, 20 years, it's nonsense having so many others on their cases that you are not going to use anymore.
What I don't get it's why he's selling his very first guitar, which has a sentimental thing for him as it was bought by his father.
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I remember David Gilmour doing the same, and what an insane thing it was, with videos, websites and all. Great idea, and a big surprise.
Mark, however, is probably a bit too optimistic about his guitars being played after the auction, as most of the guitars most likely would become acquired by a collector and sit in the case even harder, prior to be sold later as "MK owned" guitar to another collector and put under a glass display.
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Another story WITH interview:
https://www.christies.com/en/stories/mark-knopfler-guitar-collection-a9058db914514f9b83516d99ff7c15f4
preview of the auction:
https://www.christies.com/en/auction/collection-sale-21929-cks/
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Anybody else feeling sad about this?
I mean, they are just wood and wires at the end of the day but after the retirement from touring it just feels like something that has been so important in my life is fading away...
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Anybody else feeling sad about this?
I mean, they are just wood and wires at the end of the day but after the retirement from touring it just feels like something that has been so important in my life is fading away...
Sad of course, but the absolutely right, perfect thing to do. If his '59 Les Paul will generate £500,000 alone, that also means quite a help to A LOT of people. Not bad for a simple old wooden box with wires! Mark is a class act till the end, doing right things and respecting his talent for as long as possible, he deserves nothing but respect.
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From a practical point of view, if he's playing a certain number of guitars for the last, let's say, 20 years, it's nonsense having so many others on their cases that you are not going to use anymore.
What I don't get it's why he's selling his very first guitar, which has a sentimental thing for him as it was bought by his father.
Owning and buying guitars is very far from the practical behaviour :D
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Anybody else feeling sad about this?
I mean, they are just wood and wires at the end of the day but after the retirement from touring it just feels like something that has been so important in my life is fading away...
Of course. He's getting rid of all those guitars that have been so iconic for all of us. It's like we're saying goodbye to our old friends.
I've always wondered what had happened to the Pensa-Suhr, apparently it has been stored in his garage since 1995.
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Another story WITH interview:
https://www.christies.com/en/stories/mark-knopfler-guitar-collection-a9058db914514f9b83516d99ff7c15f4
preview of the auction:
https://www.christies.com/en/auction/collection-sale-21929-cks/
Wow, the red Schecter and Pensas are there!
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Another story WITH interview:
https://www.christies.com/en/stories/mark-knopfler-guitar-collection-a9058db914514f9b83516d99ff7c15f4
preview of the auction:
https://www.christies.com/en/auction/collection-sale-21929-cks/
Thanks for the links.
It is actually the first time in some years now that I see Mark talking more than just one or two sentences, so it is a great joy to me to see and hear him again!
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The estimated prices are *way* too low.
The 59 LP will be easily above 1 million
Pensa Suhr will get 3 times higher than estimated (probably more)
And more…
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The estimated prices are *way* too low.
The 59 LP will be easily above 1 million
Pensa Suhr will get 3 times higher than estimated (probably more)
And more…
I agree. Also red Schecter tele might be way over 10000.
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The estimated prices are *way* too low.
The 59 LP will be easily above 1 million
Pensa Suhr will get 3 times higher than estimated (probably more)
And more…
I agree. Also red Schecter tele might be way over 10000.
Yeah but remember, MK is not David Gilmour, and some guitars are bound to get fairly low prices. Not a lot of people realise just how cool some of these guitars are.
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The estimated prices are *way* too low.
The 59 LP will be easily above 1 million
Pensa Suhr will get 3 times higher than estimated (probably more)
And more…
I agree. Also red Schecter tele might be way over 10000.
Yeah but remember, MK is not David Gilmour, and some guitars are bound to get fairly low prices. Not a lot of people realise just how cool some of these guitars are.
Sure, but I know how many people are searching those old Scheters even without connection to MK.
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The estimates on these auctions are always ridiculous.
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Roads feature in many of Knopfler’s songs, partly because he has been a touring minstrel for so long, but also because the highway is such an inexhaustible metaphor for life (‘A million miles our vagabond heels / Clocked up beneath the clouds’). It is no surprise that the cover of his 2018 album, Down The Road Wherever, depicts an arrow-straight interstate, tapering to a flat American horizon. Listening to the music, you feel that Knopfler is constantly glancing back to see how far he has travelled, or else looking up ahead to the next lonely billboard or way-marker.
‘That’s absolutely right,’ he says. ‘I’ve just been recording some stuff for a little EP, and roads run through all those nursery rhymes.’
Nice, can't wait for this EP!
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31.01.2024 11AM GMT, put it in your calendars yall
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31.01.2024 11AM GMT, put it in your calendars yall
Thank you for the reminder, I'll be sure to place a bid on a printed booklet: https://store.christies.com/product/the-mark-knopfler-guitar-collection (https://store.christies.com/product/the-mark-knopfler-guitar-collection)
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31.01.2024 11AM GMT, put it in your calendars yall
Thank you for the reminder, I'll be sure to place a bid on a printed booklet: https://store.christies.com/product/the-mark-knopfler-guitar-collection (https://store.christies.com/product/the-mark-knopfler-guitar-collection)
I've already bought it!
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I fully understand why he would be doing this, except for the Hofner. That one must have some other kind of value for him.
Also, not until now I see that the 1984 Pensa is purple. I always thought it was black, even from the So Far Away video. ;D
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The estimated prices are *way* too low.
The 59 LP will be easily above 1 million
Pensa Suhr will get 3 times higher than estimated (probably more)
And more…
I agree. Also red Schecter tele might be way over 10000.
Yeah but remember, MK is not David Gilmour, and some guitars are bound to get fairly low prices. Not a lot of people realise just how cool some of these guitars are.
Expect the guy from guitarmotel.com to grab every single of them.
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I fully understand why he would be doing this, except for the Hofner. That one must have some other kind of value for him.
Also, not until now I see that the 1984 Pensa is purple. I always thought it was black, even from the So Far Away video. ;D
Dunno, it depends on how attached you become to guitars. I gifted my first guitar to a friend once I got a nicer one, don't know where it's now.
I never really had any attachment to instruments, it's, after all, an instrument, a tool, not a piece of your body. But not everybody is wired like that.
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31.01.2024 11AM GMT, put it in your calendars yall
Thank you for the reminder, I'll be sure to place a bid on a printed booklet: https://store.christies.com/product/the-mark-knopfler-guitar-collection (https://store.christies.com/product/the-mark-knopfler-guitar-collection)
I've already bought it!
pre ordered you mean
did so too. price is ok. but shipping for 25gbp??
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I fully understand why he would be doing this, except for the Hofner. That one must have some other kind of value for him.
Also, not until now I see that the 1984 Pensa is purple. I always thought it was black, even from the So Far Away video. ;D
same here, i always assumed it was some kind of blue
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The estimated prices are *way* too low.
The 59 LP will be easily above 1 million
Pensa Suhr will get 3 times higher than estimated (probably more)
And more…
I agree. Also red Schecter tele might be way over 10000.
Yeah but remember, MK is not David Gilmour, and some guitars are bound to get fairly low prices. Not a lot of people realise just how cool some of these guitars are.
Expect the guy from guitarmotel.com to grab every single of them.
By the way, "The David Gilmour Collection, the largest and most comprehensive sale of guitars ever offered at auction, sold for $21,490,750"
21 and a half million dollars for DG guitars. Given Mark is at least 10 times less famous, let's estimate his collection to go for 2 and a half million.
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The estimated prices are *way* too low.
The 59 LP will be easily above 1 million
Pensa Suhr will get 3 times higher than estimated (probably more)
And more…
I agree. Also red Schecter tele might be way over 10000.
Yeah but remember, MK is not David Gilmour, and some guitars are bound to get fairly low prices. Not a lot of people realise just how cool some of these guitars are.
just for the record, the DG collection (125 lots vs the 120 for MK) went for a total of some 21 million.
The nile rodgers one for 1,6
the original LP played by LP himself for 930K
it is all relevant...
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Here is a brief video, I hope there is a longer one to come.
https://youtu.be/U5YRueSKzYQ?si=Y5_tRtPhCX0gIkiT
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Here is a brief video, I hope there is a longer one to come.
https://youtu.be/U5YRueSKzYQ?si=Y5_tRtPhCX0gIkiT
Longer video is on Christie's channel:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xr64mBz6-4A
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Thanks.
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I fully understand why he would be doing this, except for the Hofner. That one must have some other kind of value for him.
Also, not until now I see that the 1984 Pensa is purple. I always thought it was black, even from the So Far Away video. ;D
Dunno, it depends on how attached you become to guitars. I gifted my first guitar to a friend once I got a nicer one, don't know where it's now.
I never really had any attachment to instruments, it's, after all, an instrument, a tool, not a piece of your body. But not everybody is wired like that.
I guess you're right. I'm just thinking that the sheer age of it (ofc he has older guitars in his collection) and that it's a sort of novelty guitar would make it fun to have on the wall.
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I don't know about anyone else but this makes me sad ! Seeing the Pensa on there really feels like a moment in time. This all makes perfect sense and I know he's keeping some but it's all a bit final.
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I don't know about anyone else but this makes me sad ! Seeing the Pensa on there really feels like a moment in time. This all makes perfect sense and I know he's keeping some but it's all a bit final.
I can understand that most of those guitars are tools that he doesn't use, but the Hofner is something else...
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My understanding is the estimates are based on the market, putting aside the MK factor. All the prices make sense. Of course nobody is gonna go there to buy a red Schecter but to buy Mark Knopfler’s red Schecter - and that’s when the estimates are thrown out of the window. I’m sure a certain Joe Bonamassa is excited.
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I don't know about anyone else but this makes me sad ! Seeing the Pensa on there really feels like a moment in time. This all makes perfect sense and I know he's keeping some but it's all a bit final.
I can understand that most of those guitars are tools that he doesn't use, but the Hofner is something else...
I am with you on this. The Hofner has had such an emotional significance for him (and almost no financial one) that I would think he would let go of it only in the face of death. :think :think :think
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If my favorite guitarist sells his guitars, I can only think that the tenth album will be the last. But I try not to think like that.
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If my favorite guitarist sells his guitars, I can only think that the tenth album will be the last. But I try not to think like that.
He's not selling ALL his guitars, but the ones he doesn't use!
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If my favorite guitarist sells his guitars, I can only think that the tenth album will be the last. But I try not to think like that.
He's not selling ALL his guitars, but the ones he doesn't use!
Yes, I know, but my first thought was sad and reflective.
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If my favorite guitarist sells his guitars, I can only think that the tenth album will be the last. But I try not to think like that.
He's not selling ALL his guitars, but the ones he doesn't use!
Yes, I know, but my first thought was sad and reflective.
This news makes me a little sad... but happy for the charitable side of the initiative, great MK!
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This image broke my heart, this guitar is so iconic in my semantic universe😭 , in addition Pensa Suhr...
There is a guitar there that is a pharaonic artifact, they have an inestimable historical value for the work of his musical career, but he has already sold some legendary ones like the Fender with a maple neck, which he used on the Rockpalast 79 and his Schecter sunburst which he used for TOL and TR...
It's strange that he sells his first guitar, which he got from his father.
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If my favorite guitarist sells his guitars, I can only think that the tenth album will be the last. But I try not to think like that.
Don’t, it probably isn’t. Mark’s right, it’s every guitar player’s sin, no matter if you’re an icon or a bedroom guitarist. We haven’t seen some of those guitars in literally decades. The blue LP has barely been played at all. I just hope the important pieces go to real musicians. I see Jason Isbell going for the 59 burst and Brad Paisley drooling over the signature strat.
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If my favorite guitarist sells his guitars, I can only think that the tenth album will be the last. But I try not to think like that.
Don’t, it probably isn’t. Mark’s right, it’s every guitar player’s sin, no matter if you’re an icon or a bedroom guitarist. We haven’t seen some of those guitars in literally decades. The blue LP has barely been played at all. I just hope the important pieces go to real musicians. I see Jason Isbell going for the 59 burst and Brad Paisley drooling over the signature strat.
:thumbsup
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If my favorite guitarist sells his guitars, I can only think that the tenth album will be the last. But I try not to think like that.
Mark's 74 now. He can still release another album when he's 76 or 77. He seems to have the energy to keep writing songs and making records, so I think he shall do that until he really can't.
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I hope too.
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On the plus side he looks well in the video :)
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If my favorite guitarist sells his guitars, I can only think that the tenth album will be the last. But I try not to think like that.
Don’t, it probably isn’t. Mark’s right, it’s every guitar player’s sin, no matter if you’re an icon or a bedroom guitarist. We haven’t seen some of those guitars in literally decades. The blue LP has barely been played at all. I just hope the important pieces go to real musicians. I see Jason Isbell going for the 59 burst and Brad Paisley drooling over the signature strat.
Isbell is relatively successful but I'd be surprised if he was in a position to afford two big name 'bursts.
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I don't know about anyone else but this makes me sad ! Seeing the Pensa on there really feels like a moment in time. This all makes perfect sense and I know he's keeping some but it's all a bit final.
I feel the same, almost crying watching the video. The '59 and '83 Les Paul, Schecter Tele, Pensa-Suhr MK1, Martin signature...
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Really mixed feelings about this.
It's definitely making the next record the last one. Can't see anything else.
Also, I'd like to think that MK wants to know where and to whom his fine instruments will end up. It's a better option than never knowing.
Lastly, this auction will also be know as the "Bonamassa Big Sweep" ;D
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The red Schecter Tele is the shocker to me, he's used it at every one of his shows that I've seen, going back to the early nineties. It hasn't exactly been gathering dust. Hate to say it, but this one more than any other suggests he's done touring for good.
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Really mixed feelings about this.
It's definitely making the next record the last one. Can't see anything else.
Also, I'd like to think that MK wants to know where and to whom his fine instruments will end up. It's a better option than never knowing.
Lastly, this auction will also be know as the "Bonamassa Big Sweep" ;D
Not so sure about the next album being his last.
He says in the interview about the MK1: ‘I recorded so much with it, and now I’m brave enough to know that future songs won’t call for it.’
So he does mentions 'future songs'. Sounds hopefull...
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The red Schecter Tele is the shocker to me, he's used it at every one of his shows that I've seen, going back to the early nineties. It hasn't exactly been gathering dust. Hate to say it, but this one more than any other suggests he's done touring for good.
Is it used on stage since Cannibals in the 2008 tour?
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Yes, it's another milestone. I suspected he stopped playing the Dire Straits numbers with the long "twiddly" solos because his hands were becoming less dextrous, although Guy would faithfully deflect questions like this. I used to be able to have a fair bash at ToL & TR but at age 68 I know I'd struggle now (even if I could remember them) as my hands are slowly seizing up (I can still manage Sultans). So, no more touring followed by a downsizing of his guitar collection. To be fair he doesn't need back-ups if he's not touring, so he can probably dispose of some of the duplicates, but it is a surprise to see the '59 Les Paul go. We know he's been using the '58 on the last few tours so presumably that's his favourite, despite the wooden plug in the front. The '59 looks in better condition and will probably make more in an auction. I knew he'd gone off the MK1 Pensa Suhr, partly because the neck was too thin. I don't think the purple Pensa/Suhr in the auction preview is the "you & your friends" one, I've got a photo of him playing that and it looks black AND the pickup configuration is different (the black one has a neck pickup). The purple one is more likely to be the synclavier one used on So Far Away. (it's got a lot of extra knobs on ! )
If he's keeping around 20 that gives me scope for another one or two ;D, although I have been considering disposing of a couple of my less played ones
I have to admit to still having my first cheap, plywood acoustic, but only because it's worth nothing!, I moved my first few electric and acoustic guitars on as I bought better ones, but still find it hard to let any of them go. Maybe when I'm 74 I'll think differently, When you buy a guitar you've got to think that you are just the custodian and It's likely going to outlive you.
Anybody else feeling sad about this?
I mean, they are just wood and wires at the end of the day but after the retirement from touring it just feels like something that has been so important in my life is fading away...
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The red Schecter Tele is the shocker to me, he's used it at every one of his shows that I've seen, going back to the early nineties. It hasn't exactly been gathering dust. Hate to say it, but this one more than any other suggests he's done touring for good.
I haven't seen him use that one since 2008.
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So nobody is going to talk about the fact that Mark not only mentioned John Suhr in an interview about auctioned guitars, but praised his work as well? That's the most amazing detail about this whole thing. Dogs and cats living together! Mass hysteria!
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So nobody is going to talk about the fact that Mark not only mentioned John Suhr in an interview about auctioned guitars, but praised his work as well? That's the most amazing detail about this whole thing. Dogs and cats living together! Mass hysteria!
I don't think MK has ever dissed John or anything, it's more that he's just been super loyal to his mate Rudi.
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The red Schecter Tele is the shocker to me, he's used it at every one of his shows that I've seen, going back to the early nineties. It hasn't exactly been gathering dust. Hate to say it, but this one more than any other suggests he's done touring for good.
I haven't seen him use that one since 2008.
The only thing we know for sure is that he’ll never play Walk of Life again…
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Yes, it's another milestone. I suspected he stopped playing the Dire Straits numbers with the long "twiddly" solos because his hands were becoming less dextrous, although Guy would faithfully deflect questions like this. I used to be able to have a fair bash at ToL & TR but at age 68 I know I'd struggle now (even if I could remember them) as my hands are slowly seizing up (I can still manage Sultans). So, no more touring followed by a downsizing of his guitar collection. To be fair he doesn't need back-ups if he's not touring, so he can probably dispose of some of the duplicates, but it is a surprise to see the '59 Les Paul go. We know he's been using the '58 on the last few tours so presumably that's his favourite, despite the wooden plug in the front. The '59 looks in better condition and will probably make more in an auction. I knew he'd gone off the MK1 Pensa Suhr, partly because the neck was too thin. I don't think the purple Pensa/Suhr in the auction preview is the "you & your friends" one, I've got a photo of him playing that and it looks black AND the pickup configuration is different (the black one has a neck pickup). The purple one is more likely to be the synclavier one used on So Far Away. (it's got a lot of extra knobs on ! )
If he's keeping around 20 that gives me scope for another one or two ;D, although I have been considering disposing of a couple of my less played ones
I have to admit to still having my first cheap, plywood acoustic, but only because it's worth nothing!, I moved my first few electric and acoustic guitars on as I bought better ones, but still find it hard to let any of them go. Maybe when I'm 74 I'll think differently, When you buy a guitar you've got to think that you are just the custodian and It's likely going to outlive you.
Anybody else feeling sad about this?
I mean, they are just wood and wires at the end of the day but after the retirement from touring it just feels like something that has been so important in my life is fading away...
About the age-dexterity thing, a few years ago I watched Pat Martino (who is 77 ATM ) playing a 2 hour set full of solos various orders of magnitude more complex that Mark's. Not to open any side discussion, but it might be either - laziness / lack of interest or some thing in the lines of health issues.
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About the age-dexterity thing, a few years ago I watched Pat Martino (who is 77 ATM ) playing a 2 hour set full of solos various orders of magnitude more complex that Mark's. Not to open any side discussion, but it might be either - laziness / lack of interest or some thing in the lines of health issues.
Obviously everyone's body is different. If MK says it's an age/dexterity issue, why question it?
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The only thing we know for sure is that he’ll never play Walk of Life again…
He played it (kind of) on a Strat in 2014 or something like that ;D.
But kidding aside, we'll never see him live again. I think that has been clear for years now.
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Obviously everyone's body is different. If MK says it's an age/dexterity issue, why question it?
Exactly, I'm 45 and unfortunately I'm starting to develop some arthritic issues that mean my guitar playing days may be numbered.
People who can play guitar to a virtuosic degree in their 70s are very much in the minority I would say...
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Those guitars deserve to be played, as a player myself I would love to afford one of them and use it everyday like my own guitars. It makes me sad that also Mark hopes that somebody is going to play them but most likely they'll all end on a case not being played. I understand they are a piece of history and they have to be preserved it's just so many mixed feelings right now ...
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People who can play guitar to a virtuosic degree in their 70s are very much in the minority I would say...
It was reported Keith Emerson committed suicide because he found he couldn't play keyboards to the standard he expected of himself, with hand and finger issues, which depressed him sadly.
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People who can play guitar to a virtuosic degree in their 70s are very much in the minority I would say...
It was reported Keith Emerson committed suicide because he found he couldn't play keyboards to the standard he expected of himself, with hand and finger issues, which depressed him sadly.
It's very sad. I'm not a professional musician but I like getting out and gigging in the pubs with my little band. My attitude is that you just have to deal with the cards life deals you. I'll never complain about getting old as there are so many people not afforded that privilege.
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Sure, but when you are known as one of the all time great guitar players, it's hard to deal with not being able to be that person any more.
I get frustrated when I hear myself play these days, compared to 1992. I'm not going to kill myself, or even stop playing, but it's still frustrating....and a little depressing.
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Sure, but when you are known as one of the all time great guitar players, it's hard to deal with not being able to be that person any more.
I get frustrated when I hear myself play these days, compared to 1992. I'm not going to kill myself, or even stop playing, but it's still frustrating....and a little depressing.
Wow, for the record your youtube covers of your 92' self are pretty spot on!
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I think it's very sad indeed. There's a lot of iconic guitars and a lot of memories there and you can't buy them. What use is all the money to him?
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I think it's very sad indeed. There's a lot of iconic guitars and a lot of memories there and you can't buy them. What use is all the money to him?
Keeping British Grove alive?
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What use is all the money to him?
You can just as easily ask what use the guitars are to him.
Remember that he has to pay to safely store them as well. Chris Evans said a while back that MK had a big warehouse that he was jealous of. I imagine it being like the end of Raiders of the Lost Ark :)
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If my favorite guitarist sells his guitars, I can only think that the tenth album will be the last. But I try not to think like that.
He's not selling ALL his guitars, but the ones he doesn't use!
Yes, I know, but my first thought was sad and reflective.
Same feelings here. But yes there are still many guitars left that brings back hope for more music to come our way by our hero.
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If my favorite guitarist sells his guitars, I can only think that the tenth album will be the last. But I try not to think like that.
He's not selling ALL his guitars, but the ones he doesn't use!
Yes, I know, but my first thought was sad and reflective.
Same feelings here. But yes there are still many guitars left that brings back hope for more music to come our way by our hero.
:thumbsup
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About the age-dexterity thing, a few years ago I watched Pat Martino (who is 77 ATM ) playing a 2 hour set full of solos various orders of magnitude more complex that Mark's. Not to open any side discussion, but it might be either - laziness / lack of interest or some thing in the lines of health issues.
Obviously everyone's body is different. If MK says it's an age/dexterity issue, why question it?
Exactly!
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there is the Signature strat, but not the 61 original one...
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So nobody is going to talk about the fact that Mark not only mentioned John Suhr in an interview about auctioned guitars, but praised his work as well? That's the most amazing detail about this whole thing. Dogs and cats living together! Mass hysteria!
Like John once said: He and MK was good friends and John doesn't know why MK suddenly stopped to talk with him...
And, above all, this is a REAL auction.
So, MK needs to do real-talk about gear and the real story about his guitars.
Far as i know, the recent Pensas with back mounted humbuckers are authorized by John Suhr.
(i belive i heard John talking about it on the GuitarWank Podcast with Scott Henderson and Bruce Forman)
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Watching the video now, the Hofner was the big surprise to me.
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Gilmour sold his ‘top’ guitars and still about to release a CD and probably tour.
MK kept his ‘top’ guitars (National, Strat, 58 and so on).
Yet, I don’t think he’ll tour. Maybe just one-off performances.
Like Gilmour the incentive isn’t financial (although Gilmour gave it all to charity, I think) just releasing them out there - both to be played and to downsize the collection (handling so many instruments making sure they don’t rust etc. isn’t easy also).
I was glad to hear MK complimenting John Suhr, yet again the ‘Napkin’ story… as mentioned here, he clearly took a side. Also John IS a great luthier (not was).
As always, so great to hear MK heartwarming voice, especially when speaking about guitar.
Bitter sweet symphony
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31.01.2024 11AM GMT, put it in your calendars yall
Thank you for the reminder, I'll be sure to place a bid on a printed booklet: https://store.christies.com/product/the-mark-knopfler-guitar-collection (https://store.christies.com/product/the-mark-knopfler-guitar-collection)
They are available to pre-order - I've ordered a copy
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I did feel a tinge of sadness when I read the news about the auction. Especially the red walk of life telecaster. Not sure why, maybe because it was always played early on in a set and I was always on a high looking forward to the show. Who knows as I don’t. Im in the lucky location to be able to go to the presale viewing assuming its open to the general public.I did the same with the recent Freddie Mercury auction. The estimates at the FM auction were ridiculous, I think auctioneers call it “come and buy me valuations”. Hundreds of menial items valued at £50-100 all went for £1k+. I understand MK doesn’t have anywhere near the same appeal but their are only 120 lots which will push the price up as well.
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I did feel a tinge of sadness when I read the news about the auction. Especially the red walk of life telecaster. Not sure why, maybe because it was always played early on in a set and I was always on a high looking forward to the show. Who knows as I don’t. Im in the lucky location to be able to go to the presale viewing assuming its open to the general public.I did the same with the recent Freddie Mercury auction. The estimates at the FM auction were ridiculous, I think auctioneers call it “come and buy me valuations”. Hundreds of menial items valued at £50-100 all went for £1k+. I understand MK doesn’t have anywhere near the same appeal but their are only 120 lots which will push the price up as well.
Yeah, the Red Telecaster is certainly iconic, to me even more iconic than the 1983 Les Paul as Mark used it for longer. But still a one-trick pony, like a lot of Mark's guitars. I wonder how many people are rush-selling their entire collections of guitars inspired by MK in order to acquire enough money for "the real deal".
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I did feel a tinge of sadness when I read the news about the auction. Especially the red walk of life telecaster. Not sure why, maybe because it was always played early on in a set and I was always on a high looking forward to the show. Who knows as I don’t. Im in the lucky location to be able to go to the presale viewing assuming its open to the general public.I did the same with the recent Freddie Mercury auction. The estimates at the FM auction were ridiculous, I think auctioneers call it “come and buy me valuations”. Hundreds of menial items valued at £50-100 all went for £1k+. I understand MK doesn’t have anywhere near the same appeal but their are only 120 lots which will push the price up as well.
Yeah, the Red Telecaster is certainly iconic, to me even more iconic than the 1983 Les Paul as Mark used it for longer. But still a one-trick pony, like a lot of Mark's guitars. I wonder how many people are rush-selling their entire collections of guitars inspired by MK in order to acquire enough money for "the real deal".
I disagree that the Tele is more iconic. The LP was used on two of his most famous songs and at Live Aid as well as being used of the BIA world tour. It's the guitar that made that famous MFN riff!
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I did feel a tinge of sadness when I read the news about the auction. Especially the red walk of life telecaster. Not sure why, maybe because it was always played early on in a set and I was always on a high looking forward to the show. Who knows as I don’t. Im in the lucky location to be able to go to the presale viewing assuming its open to the general public.I did the same with the recent Freddie Mercury auction. The estimates at the FM auction were ridiculous, I think auctioneers call it “come and buy me valuations”. Hundreds of menial items valued at £50-100 all went for £1k+. I understand MK doesn’t have anywhere near the same appeal but their are only 120 lots which will push the price up as well.
It is open to the public.
I plan to take a daytrip to London to take a peak!
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I did feel a tinge of sadness when I read the news about the auction. Especially the red walk of life telecaster. Not sure why, maybe because it was always played early on in a set and I was always on a high looking forward to the show. Who knows as I don’t. Im in the lucky location to be able to go to the presale viewing assuming its open to the general public.I did the same with the recent Freddie Mercury auction. The estimates at the FM auction were ridiculous, I think auctioneers call it “come and buy me valuations”. Hundreds of menial items valued at £50-100 all went for £1k+. I understand MK doesn’t have anywhere near the same appeal but their are only 120 lots which will push the price up as well.
Yeah, the Red Telecaster is certainly iconic, to me even more iconic than the 1983 Les Paul as Mark used it for longer. But still a one-trick pony, like a lot of Mark's guitars. I wonder how many people are rush-selling their entire collections of guitars inspired by MK in order to acquire enough money for "the real deal".
I disagree that the Tele is more iconic. The LP was used on two of his most famous songs and at Live Aid as well as being used of the BIA world tour. It's the guitar that made that famous MFN riff!
Yes, my bad, probably. I'm just so much not into this at all...
Ok, this is the guitar, and? It's just like any other decent Les Paul out there with the exception it was owned by Mark Knopfler. If he buys an iPhone, it doesn't make this thing so much better suddenly. It's what you do with the damn thing that matters. I loved how one reviewer of a new crazy-fast Apple computer said something like "It won't help you become a better video editor and make better videos, you'll still be making bad videos... but faster".
I have no idea what's the best way to get rid of guitars used by famous people and on famous recordings, I guess there is no way except to auction them and hope for the best. In fact, it's the selling itself that transforms it from being an instrument to being a collector's item. I honestly thought these guitars were going to be a British Grove guitar park thing, like guitars you can use for recording or something, but Mark went the traditional way.
I wonder what he's going to do with his publishing, as everybody seems to agree artist's estate usually does a bad job of keeping the legacy alive.
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I highly doubt that’s an average LP. Have a look at Rhett Shull’s video on finding the best Les Paul, it’s very interesting. Mark must’ve played every Gibson Les Paul Standard he could put his hands on before choosing that one.
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https://www.christies.com/en/stories/mark-knopfler-guitar-collection-a9058db914514f9b83516d99ff7c15f4
I’ve just been recording some stuff for a little EP, and roads run through all those nursery rhymes.
The article - the interview ends at the most interesting moment.
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https://www.christies.com/en/stories/mark-knopfler-guitar-collection-a9058db914514f9b83516d99ff7c15f4
I’ve just been recording some stuff for a little EP, and roads run through all those nursery rhymes.
The article - the interview ends at the most interesting moment.
I'd say that some of the titles that appeared in iswc could be that little ep of nursery rhymes
T-316.772.805-0 WALKING OUT
T-316.772.806-1 NEW LINE CINEMA LOGO
T-316.772.807-2 CRASHED PLANE
T-316.772.808-3 BREEN SCHUMANN HOW ARE YOU
T-316.773.363-9 AS LOW AS IT GOES
T-318.603.417-9 KINGS FANFARE
T-319.245.622-3 IMPROVISATION
T-319.322.515-5 SIMPLE QUIRK OF FATE
T-319.322.516-6 ESCAPE FROM THE CIA
T-319.322.518-8 SHUMANN ARRIVES
T-319.322.519-9 TRIUMPHANT HOMECOMING
T-319.322.521-3 SCHUMANN WANTS TO BOOGIE
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Sure, but when you are known as one of the all time great guitar players, it's hard to deal with not being able to be that person any more.
I get frustrated when I hear myself play these days, compared to 1992. I'm not going to kill myself, or even stop playing, but it's still frustrating....and a little depressing.
I guess you must feel for what has happened to Phil Collins Chris?
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Although Mark has many iconic guitars that he is auctioning, he will still keep lots too, so, It might actually make recording go quicker, as he will have less guitars to try out on each song!! Also, it doesn't really mater if he has 120 guitars or 20 guitars, as we know it's all in the fingers, so, he will make them all sound great.
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About Pensa-Suhr MK-1:
I love that guitar, it made some unbelievable noises. ‘I recorded so much with it, and now I’m brave enough to know that future songs won’t call for it
:)
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Although Mark has many iconic guitars that he is auctioning, he will still keep lots too, so, It might actually make recording go quicker, as he will have less guitars to try out on each song!! Also, it doesn't really mater if he has 120 guitars or 20 guitars, as we know it's all in the fingers, so, he will make them all sound great.
Yes, I don't think he's really ever done anything better than the first album and how many guitars were used on that?
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Although Mark has many iconic guitars that he is auctioning, he will still keep lots too, so, It might actually make recording go quicker, as he will have less guitars to try out on each song!! Also, it doesn't really mater if he has 120 guitars or 20 guitars, as we know it's all in the fingers, so, he will make them all sound great.
Yes, I don't think he's really ever done anything better than the first album and how many guitars were used on that?
Dire Straits or Golden Heart? :D
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Ha, Dire Straits.
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:)
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https://www.christies.com/en/stories/mark-knopfler-guitar-collection-a9058db914514f9b83516d99ff7c15f4
I’ve just been recording some stuff for a little EP, and roads run through all those nursery rhymes.
The article - the interview ends at the most interesting moment.
I'd say that some of the titles that appeared in iswc could be that little ep of nursery rhymes
T-316.772.805-0 WALKING OUT
T-316.772.806-1 NEW LINE CINEMA LOGO
T-316.772.807-2 CRASHED PLANE
T-316.772.808-3 BREEN SCHUMANN HOW ARE YOU
T-316.773.363-9 AS LOW AS IT GOES
T-318.603.417-9 KINGS FANFARE
T-319.245.622-3 IMPROVISATION
T-319.322.515-5 SIMPLE QUIRK OF FATE
T-319.322.516-6 ESCAPE FROM THE CIA
T-319.322.518-8 SHUMANN ARRIVES
T-319.322.519-9 TRIUMPHANT HOMECOMING
T-319.322.521-3 SCHUMANN WANTS TO BOOGIE
Interesting! These titles aren't on any MK albums? Big question for Guy!? I should find the courage Lol
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They really seem to be soundtrack cues as previously discussed.
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If my favorite guitarist sells his guitars, I can only think that the tenth album will be the last. But I try not to think like that.
He's not selling ALL his guitars, but the ones he doesn't use!
Yes, I know, but my first thought was sad and reflective.
Same feelings here. But yes there are still many guitars left that brings back hope for more music to come our way by our hero.
Maybe so, but it's the fact it is the iconic ones he is selling that hold so many memories for fans like us - the ones used on his most famous songs and biggest tours. I just don't understand how a human being can have no sentiment. Even the Höfner!
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If my favorite guitarist sells his guitars, I can only think that the tenth album will be the last. But I try not to think like that.
He's not selling ALL his guitars, but the ones he doesn't use!
Yes, I know, but my first thought was sad and reflective.
Same feelings here. But yes there are still many guitars left that brings back hope for more music to come our way by our hero.
Maybe so, but it's the fact it is the iconic ones he is selling that hold so many memories for fans like us - the ones used on his most famous songs and biggest tours. I just don't understand how a human being can have no sentiment. Even the Höfner!
Yes, mixed feelings for sure. However, I know older people who start to sell/give away their important or even expensive items. Might be something, which we will understand when we get older.
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Yes, I don't think he's really ever done anything better than the first album and how many guitars were used on that?
I'd say six or maximum eight :
- the two fender strats (or maybe only one ?)
- The two nationals (I guess the Tricone on Water of love, and the Style O on Wild west end)
- an unknown acoustic on Water of love
- The black thinline Tele on setting me up
- maybe the LP special ? (not sure for this one)
- maybe the sunburst Telecaster ? (not sure for this one either)
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https://www.christies.com/en/stories/mark-knopfler-guitar-collection-a9058db914514f9b83516d99ff7c15f4
I’ve just been recording some stuff for a little EP, and roads run through all those nursery rhymes.
The article - the interview ends at the most interesting moment.
I'd say that some of the titles that appeared in iswc could be that little ep of nursery rhymes
T-316.772.805-0 WALKING OUT
T-316.772.806-1 NEW LINE CINEMA LOGO
T-316.772.807-2 CRASHED PLANE
T-316.772.808-3 BREEN SCHUMANN HOW ARE YOU
T-316.773.363-9 AS LOW AS IT GOES
T-318.603.417-9 KINGS FANFARE
T-319.245.622-3 IMPROVISATION
T-319.322.515-5 SIMPLE QUIRK OF FATE
T-319.322.516-6 ESCAPE FROM THE CIA
T-319.322.518-8 SHUMANN ARRIVES
T-319.322.519-9 TRIUMPHANT HOMECOMING
T-319.322.521-3 SCHUMANN WANTS TO BOOGIE
Interesting! These titles aren't on any MK albums? Big question for Guy!? I should find the courage Lol
I have had a look at the 77 films New Line have in development on there are a couple that could have something to do with those titles, for example the C.I.A. I haven't had the time to check them all, plus there isn't much information anyway.
https://www.movieinsider.com/c16/new-line-cinema/status/development?page_offset=0
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https://www.christies.com/en/stories/mark-knopfler-guitar-collection-a9058db914514f9b83516d99ff7c15f4
I’ve just been recording some stuff for a little EP, and roads run through all those nursery rhymes.
The article - the interview ends at the most interesting moment.
I'd say that some of the titles that appeared in iswc could be that little ep of nursery rhymes
T-316.772.805-0 WALKING OUT
T-316.772.806-1 NEW LINE CINEMA LOGO
T-316.772.807-2 CRASHED PLANE
T-316.772.808-3 BREEN SCHUMANN HOW ARE YOU
T-316.773.363-9 AS LOW AS IT GOES
T-318.603.417-9 KINGS FANFARE
T-319.245.622-3 IMPROVISATION
T-319.322.515-5 SIMPLE QUIRK OF FATE
T-319.322.516-6 ESCAPE FROM THE CIA
T-319.322.518-8 SHUMANN ARRIVES
T-319.322.519-9 TRIUMPHANT HOMECOMING
T-319.322.521-3 SCHUMANN WANTS TO BOOGIE
Interesting! These titles aren't on any MK albums? Big question for Guy!? I should find the courage Lol
I have had a look at the 77 films New Line have in development on there are a couple that could have something to do with those titles, for example the C.I.A. I haven't had the time to check them all, plus there isn't much information anyway.
https://www.movieinsider.com/c16/new-line-cinema/status/development?page_offset=0
There is a character called "Schumann" in Wag The Dog, which was produced by New Line Cinema...
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https://www.christies.com/en/stories/mark-knopfler-guitar-collection-a9058db914514f9b83516d99ff7c15f4
I’ve just been recording some stuff for a little EP, and roads run through all those nursery rhymes.
The article - the interview ends at the most interesting moment.
I'd say that some of the titles that appeared in iswc could be that little ep of nursery rhymes
T-316.772.805-0 WALKING OUT
T-316.772.806-1 NEW LINE CINEMA LOGO
T-316.772.807-2 CRASHED PLANE
T-316.772.808-3 BREEN SCHUMANN HOW ARE YOU
T-316.773.363-9 AS LOW AS IT GOES
T-318.603.417-9 KINGS FANFARE
T-319.245.622-3 IMPROVISATION
T-319.322.515-5 SIMPLE QUIRK OF FATE
T-319.322.516-6 ESCAPE FROM THE CIA
T-319.322.518-8 SHUMANN ARRIVES
T-319.322.519-9 TRIUMPHANT HOMECOMING
T-319.322.521-3 SCHUMANN WANTS TO BOOGIE
Interesting! These titles aren't on any MK albums? Big question for Guy!? I should find the courage Lol
I have had a look at the 77 films New Line have in development on there are a couple that could have something to do with those titles, for example the C.I.A. I haven't had the time to check them all, plus there isn't much information anyway.
https://www.movieinsider.com/c16/new-line-cinema/status/development?page_offset=0
There is a character called "Schumann" in Wag The Dog, which was produced by New Line Cinema...
And his name was Breen?
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I haven't seen the movie in 25 years. Wiki says the character is William. But there is also apparently a plane crash and the CIA features.
My guess (and it is just a guess) is that these titles relate to music cues from Wag The Dog and not new tracks, but of course I'd be delighted to be proved wrong.
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https://www.christies.com/en/stories/mark-knopfler-guitar-collection-a9058db914514f9b83516d99ff7c15f4
I’ve just been recording some stuff for a little EP, and roads run through all those nursery rhymes.
The article - the interview ends at the most interesting moment.
I'd say that some of the titles that appeared in iswc could be that little ep of nursery rhymes
T-316.772.805-0 WALKING OUT
T-316.772.806-1 NEW LINE CINEMA LOGO
T-316.772.807-2 CRASHED PLANE
T-316.772.808-3 BREEN SCHUMANN HOW ARE YOU
T-316.773.363-9 AS LOW AS IT GOES
T-318.603.417-9 KINGS FANFARE
T-319.245.622-3 IMPROVISATION
T-319.322.515-5 SIMPLE QUIRK OF FATE
T-319.322.516-6 ESCAPE FROM THE CIA
T-319.322.518-8 SHUMANN ARRIVES
T-319.322.519-9 TRIUMPHANT HOMECOMING
T-319.322.521-3 SCHUMANN WANTS TO BOOGIE
Interesting! These titles aren't on any MK albums? Big question for Guy!? I should find the courage Lol
I have had a look at the 77 films New Line have in development on there are a couple that could have something to do with those titles, for example the C.I.A. I haven't had the time to check them all, plus there isn't much information anyway.
https://www.movieinsider.com/c16/new-line-cinema/status/development?page_offset=0
There is a character called "Schumann" in Wag The Dog, which was produced by New Line Cinema...
Actually those titles fit with things that happens in Wag the dog... The plane crashed in the movie? Schumann was Woody HArrelson character?
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I haven't seen the movie in 25 years. Wiki says the character is William. But there is also apparently a plane crash and the CIA features.
My guess (and it is just a guess) is that these titles relate to music cues from Wag The Dog and not new tracks, but of course I'd be delighted to be proved wrong.
I think you're right and those titles fit with being Wag the dog cues, the new line cinema logo has music from MK as far as I remember and all titles make sense with concrete scenes from the movie.
So apparently nothing new in those titles.
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Quite a nice interview about the auction on BBC Newshour this morning: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w172z09rywglk49.
Apols if the link is tricky, the show is still on air., but it's probably half way through the one hour show.
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Quite a nice interview about the auction on BBC Newshour this morning: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w172z09rywglk49.
Apols if the link is tricky, the show is still on air., but it's probably half way through the one hour show.
Many thanks - I just listened. It began around 18 mins. :)
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Quite a nice interview about the auction on BBC Newshour this morning: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w172z09rywglk49.
Apols if the link is tricky, the show is still on air., but it's probably half way through the one hour show.
Many thanks - I just listened. It began around 18 mins. :)
I absolutely love MK laughing at about 22.22
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Can I ask for more details?
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Can I ask for more details?
You can just click on the link and listen
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Can I ask for more details?
You can just click on the link and listen
:thumbsup
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Of course, but this link is Israel and Hamas :o
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It's in there from minute 18. It''s a complete magazine wirh many themes and topics. MK is one of them, only a few minutes long.
LE
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Ok. Thank you LE:)
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Quite a nice interview about the auction on BBC Newshour this morning: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w172z09rywglk49.
Apols if the link is tricky, the show is still on air., but it's probably half way through the one hour show.
Many thanks - I just listened. It began around 18 mins. :)
I absolutely love MK laughing at about 22.22
He'll be laughing all the way to the bank after the auction!
You know what have been really nice? If he'd have put these guitars in a museum (perhaps at British Grove) for his fans to visit. He could've added other stuff too and I'm sure Guy and others would have kept mementos from various tours to add. I know I'd pay to go and see that, and as a permanent display it would be a regular income as well as being a part of his estate.
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Quite a nice interview about the auction on BBC Newshour this morning: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w172z09rywglk49.
Apols if the link is tricky, the show is still on air., but it's probably half way through the one hour show.
Many thanks - I just listened. It began around 18 mins. :)
I absolutely love MK laughing at about 22.22
He'll be laughing all the way to the bank after the auction!
You know what have been really nice? If he'd have put these guitars in a museum (perhaps at British Grove) for his fans to visit. He could've added other stuff too and I'm sure Guy and others would have kept mementos from various tours to add. I know I'd pay to go and see that, and as a permanent display it would be a regular income as well as being a part of his estate.
It's a nice idea but the reality of the situation is that MK is in no way popular enough to sustain interest in a permanent museum. The Beatles could. ABBA have one in Sweden. Elvis has Graceland but even then the numbers are following as his fans die off.
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That's not MK's style.
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Quite a nice interview about the auction on BBC Newshour this morning: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w172z09rywglk49.
Apols if the link is tricky, the show is still on air., but it's probably half way through the one hour show.
Thanks for the link (it works very well). :thumbsup Great to hear Mark's wonderful voice. He sounds good!
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The David Gilmour guitars auction on Christie's (in New York) is still available to watch in this link, with the prices the guitars reached:
https://www.christies.com/en/auction/auction-16980-nyr/browse-lots
I was specially curious about the Fender Stratocaster with the serial number 0001, and it was sold by A LOT
https://www.christies.com/lot/lot-6198082?ldp_breadcrumb=back&intObjectID=6198082&from=salessummary&lid=1
There is a virtual tour of the exhibition:
https://my.matterport.com/show/?m=pQbSASrVHwN&brand=0
There is also a website for the Eric Clapton auction at Christie's, also New York:
https://www.christies.com/en/auction/eric-clapton-guitars-in-aid-of-the-crossroads-centre-9604/
Here is something with a curious picture of MK I've never seen before:
https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-4894290
Can't find a virtual tour about this one, seems Clapton made two auctions, one in 1999 and other in 2004.
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The David Gilmour guitars auction on Christie's (in New York) is still available to watch in this link, with the prices the guitars reached:
https://www.christies.com/en/auction/auction-16980-nyr/browse-lots
I was specially curious about the Fender Stratocaster with the serial number 0001, and it was sold by A LOT
https://www.christies.com/lot/lot-6198082?ldp_breadcrumb=back&intObjectID=6198082&from=salessummary&lid=1
There is a virtual tour of the exhibition:
https://my.matterport.com/show/?m=pQbSASrVHwN&brand=0
There is also a website for the Eric Clapton auction at Christie's, also New York:
https://www.christies.com/en/auction/eric-clapton-guitars-in-aid-of-the-crossroads-centre-9604/
Here is something with a curious picture of MK I've never seen before:
https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-4894290
Can't find a virtual tour about this one, seems Clapton made two auctions, one in 1999 and other in 2004.
Thank you, interesting. Still can't wrap my head around 21 MILLION for a bunch of guitars. It's quite funny though, 120 grand for an old Gibson Chet Atkins... You can buy like 80 guitars just like this for this money. But I guess David Gilmour can sell a toothpick for $100,000 if he wants to. That's fame!
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Quite a nice interview about the auction on BBC Newshour this morning: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w172z09rywglk49.
Apols if the link is tricky, the show is still on air., but it's probably half way through the one hour show.
Many thanks - I just listened. It began around 18 mins. :)
I absolutely love MK laughing at about 22.22
[/quote
He'll be laughing all the way to the bank after the auction!
You know what have been really nice? If he'd have put these guitars in a museum (perhaps at British Grove) for his fans to visit. He could've added other stuff too and I'm sure Guy and others would have kept mementos from various tours to add. I know I'd pay to go and see that, and as a permanent display it would be a regular income as well as being a part of his estate.
It's a nice idea but the reality of the situation is that MK is in no way popular enough to sustain interest in a permanent museum. The Beatles could. ABBA have one in Sweden. Elvis has Graceland but even then the numbers are following as his fans die off.
A few donations to Hard Rock Cafes perhaps.
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The Gilmour prices are INSANE.
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Just a thought - but there’s logic behind the sale from a tax planning perspective.
He’s got too many guitars now, when MK eventually passes his family won’t want all of them! They will become part of his estate and the total value of his estate will be subject to 40% inheritance tax (less a small allowance). If they then sell his guitars and they sell for more than their estimate, the estate possibly pays capital gains tax at 28% on top. Result is guitars find a new home, charity doesn’t benefit and MK’s beneficiaries receive a fraction of their worth whilst the taxman looks on smiling away.
So as Mark says, let them go now to new homes where he hopes they will be played. He gets to smile knowing they have new homes and are being enjoyed. And more to the point, he is conducting an orderly transfer of some of his estate to his kids (or whoever) because as long as he survives 7 years if he gifts them the money then it stays out of inheritance tax. It’s sensible - the same as many artists have done with publishing rights.
So two take away messages:
1. He’s kept enough guitars to record with and they’re the staple ones he uses and is enjoying right now.
2. He’s tidied up the house a bit, protecting his estate a bit from the tax man knowing he expects to live at least another seven years (fantastic!) - and it’s likely he’ll do another record in that time.
No one likes talking about the tax situation when the inevitable happens but if you’re mega wealthy it makes a lot of sense to do so.
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Just a thought - but there’s logic behind the sale from a tax planning perspective.
He’s got too many guitars now, when MK eventually passes his family won’t want all of them! They will become part of his estate and the total value of his estate will be subject to 40% inheritance tax (less a small allowance). If they then sell his guitars and they sell for more than their estimate, the estate possibly pays capital gains tax at 28% on top. Result is guitars find a new home, charity doesn’t benefit and MK’s beneficiaries receive a fraction of their worth whilst the taxman looks on smiling away.
So as Mark says, let them go now to new homes where he hopes they will be played. He gets to smile knowing they have new homes and are being enjoyed. And more to the point, he is conducting an orderly transfer of some of his estate to his kids (or whoever) because as long as he survives 7 years if he gifts them the money then it stays out of inheritance tax. It’s sensible - the same as many artists have done with publishing rights.
So two take away messages:
1. He’s kept enough guitars to record with and they’re the staple ones he uses and is enjoying right now.
2. He’s tidied up the house a bit, protecting his estate a bit from the tax man knowing he expects to live at least another seven years (fantastic!) - and it’s likely he’ll do another record in that time.
No one likes talking about the tax situation when the inevitable happens but if you’re mega wealthy it makes a lot of sense to do so.
Somewhat a tough read but interesting nevertheless, thank you.
LE
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It's a great point but the reality of the situation is that rich people in the UK don't pay inheritance tax if they don't want to (MK might want to). The government has enabled numerous loopholes so that it is easily avoidable if you are wealthy enough.
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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.
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.
MK
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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.
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.
MK
"To you fellow players, enthusiasts and collectors, I wish you many good times with these old friends of mine."
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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.
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.
MK
"To you fellow players, enthusiasts and collectors, I wish you many good times with these old friends of mine."
I bet many guitar players would buy some. Joe Bonamassa usually buys guitars in this events.
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Have any of the Gilmour guitars resurfaced in the hands of players?
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Have any of the Gilmour guitars resurfaced in the hands of players?
Rhetorical question...
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.
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.
MK
"To you fellow players, enthusiasts and collectors, I wish you many good times with these old friends of mine."
I bet many guitar players would buy some. Joe Bonamassa usually buys guitars in this events.
To be honest, I never understood Joe's over obsession with guitars... You don't need a gazillion guitars to play the blues. Just like Mark said, you can't play them all anyway. At least Mark really gets to use the unique properties of his instruments. But to each their own. Any collector of anything is a bit crazy. I'm collecting songs I learned and have to admit, a little crazy too. Some collect cars, some collect guitars. It made me think though, instead of posh London auction Mark could've silently sell his guitars through Rudy Pensa (for instance) with the Knopfler tax included in the price. But it's way more complicated than a simple old-school auction.
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I bet many guitar players would buy some. Joe Bonamassa usually buys guitars in this events.
I bet about it too.
I believe many of these guitars will be sold by almost 'market value'
And, some of those guitars are a real 'possible dream'.
For those who buys Fender Custom Shops, Gibson Murphy Lab or PRS Private Stock, some of MK's guitars will be values lower than this famous brands.
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I bet many guitar players would buy some. Joe Bonamassa usually buys guitars in this events.
I bet about it too.
I believe many of these guitars will be sold by almost 'market value'
And, some of those guitars are a real 'possible dream'.
For those who buys Fender Custom Shops, Gibson Murphy Lab or PRS Private Stock, some of MK's guitars will be values lower than this famous brands.
I think you can forget about 'market value', it's not why they advertise the auction for more than 2 months ahead and promote it in flesh in two of the richest towns on Earth. The video on Christie's channel has 250K views in 3 days and everybody, I mean everybody who I know already know about it. So it's going to be a major battle of wallets.
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I bet many guitar players would buy some. Joe Bonamassa usually buys guitars in this events.
I bet about it too.
I believe many of these guitars will be sold by almost 'market value'
And, some of those guitars are a real 'possible dream'.
For those who buys Fender Custom Shops, Gibson Murphy Lab or PRS Private Stock, some of MK's guitars will be values lower than this famous brands.
Going by the prices Gilmour achieved it appears this is unlikely.
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To be honest, I never understood Joe's over obsession with guitars... You don't need a gazillion guitars to play the blues. Just like Mark said, you can't play them all anyway. At least Mark really gets to use the unique properties of his instruments.
When you got a great guitar, you'll need another one. Then, 2 more... it's a fibonacci sequence. ;D
I think Joe is one of that players that are playing a lot of his guitars on tours, recordings, etc. Every tour he is playing, at least, one or two different guitars from the previous tour. His vintage Telecasters, Strats, Les Pauls are always changing from tour to tour. Sometimes Joe lends some of his guitars to another players.
John McLaughlin once said that he don't like to see his guitars laying on cases, so he lends his 'unused' guitars for his friends knowing about they probably will return with some damage.
Bonamassa, always brings some different guitar to his records. So, his passion for guitars made them to appear little by little, tour by tour.
About that unique properties about MK's guitars.... i dont think that they have that uniqueness that people fantasies about.
When MK brings his "newest" Schecters to the stage, with his tapped-pickups. It was new for those who wasn't 'updated' about guitars at the time. OK, tapped-pickups was 'new' that time, but almost every Schecter (strat or tele) from late 70's until mid 90's has that kind of pickup.
The Pensa MK1 was unique... only by desing.
The Pensa MK2, a strat in a LP shape... look at the late 80's Valley Arts.
Maybe, in my opinion, the most unique was the red tele.
MK sig strat is a regular custom shop strat. Nothing really special or singular.
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Going by the prices Gilmour achieved it appears this is unlikely.
i never saw the 'Gilmour prices'
Can you share some? The cheapest ones, of course ;)
I am curious about it
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I think that if some of these iconic guitars that will be auctioned ended up in the hands of people like Bonamassa, John Mayer, it would be a good fate, have you ever thought about seeing one of them with the Pensa-suhr MK1 live...? Especially if it were appropriate for Dire Straits tribute bands to reference, any of these guitars would be well used, better than ending up in a collector's basement, in my opinion.
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Going by the prices Gilmour achieved it appears this is unlikely.
i never saw the 'Gilmour prices'
Can you share some? The cheapest ones, of course ;)
I am curious about it
https://www.christies.com/en/auction/The-David-Gilmour-Guitar-Collection-28021?intsaleid=28021&lid=1&saletitle=
Fair enought ;D
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Going by the prices Gilmour achieved it appears this is unlikely.
i never saw the 'Gilmour prices'
Can you share some? The cheapest ones, of course ;)
I am curious about it
https://www.christies.com/en/auction/The-David-Gilmour-Guitar-Collection-28021?intsaleid=28021&lid=1&saletitle=
Fair enought ;D
Yeah, when you have undoubtedly very nice, but essentially run of the mill guitars, going for 100k you know that mere mortals have no chance!
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Yeah, when you have undoubtedly very nice, but essentially run of the mill guitars, going for 100k you know that mere mortals have no chance!
Yep.
My chances to put my hands on one of these guitars will happen only if i buy the booklet.
#goforthebooklet
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These prices are the same as you’ll find in the market in case you look for those models. The increase will come with the bids, that’s when the MK factor is taken into consideration.
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Even Christie's estimations are off, a Pensa MK1 is north of 13K€ right now. Having seen the Gilmour numbers - where someone payd 40K$ for a dang Banjo- , that one will go well beyond the 200/300K€ mark for sure.
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steinberger in the gilmour collection went for 80K! imagine
the realised prices of ALL those guitars are just insane
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steinberger in the gilmour collection went for 80K! imagine
the realised prices of ALL those guitars are just insane
I'm not as familiar with Gilmour, was he even known to play the Steinberger? At least MK played his at the height of DS mania.
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steinberger in the gilmour collection went for 80K! imagine
the realised prices of ALL those guitars are just insane
I'm not as familiar with Gilmour, was he even known to play the Steinberger? At least MK played his at the height of DS mania.
I think Steinberger is the ultimate "try it once" guitar, so everybody needed to have one. Even some Russian/Soviet bands used it at the time (or at least a couple of decades later as this country was always far behind the rest world in everything anyway)... Seems like besides the wow factor headless guitar gives you, it's a pretty regular instrument. And it must be awkward to play because of its awkward shape. I hate playing instruments without body.
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This all makes the John Illsley Guitar Stories documentary more special, because we will at least still have that record of seeing Mark with some of these guitars, particularly his 1st guitar.
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This all makes the John Illsley Guitar Stories documentary more special, because we will at least still have that record of seeing Mark with some of these guitars, particularly his 1st guitar.
I wonder if he's selling his first Gibson too
(https://www.oneverybootleg.nl/MK_guitars_gibson7f.jpg)
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steinberger in the gilmour collection went for 80K! imagine
the realised prices of ALL those guitars are just insane
I'm not as familiar with Gilmour, was he even known to play the Steinberger? At least MK played his at the height of DS mania.
Here he is playing that guitar with Kate Bush.
https://youtu.be/Lk7AVm0Ome0?si=_Jw0-RQlkK1hrAFG
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steinberger in the gilmour collection went for 80K! imagine
the realised prices of ALL those guitars are just insane
I'm not as familiar with Gilmour, was he even known to play the Steinberger? At least MK played his at the height of DS mania.
Here he is playing that guitar with Kate Bush.
https://youtu.be/Lk7AVm0Ome0?si=_Jw0-RQlkK1hrAFG
Thanks! That was good, none more 80s!
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steinberger in the gilmour collection went for 80K! imagine
the realised prices of ALL those guitars are just insane
I'm not as familiar with Gilmour, was he even known to play the Steinberger? At least MK played his at the height of DS mania.
Here he is playing that guitar with Kate Bush.
https://youtu.be/Lk7AVm0Ome0?si=_Jw0-RQlkK1hrAFG
Thanks! That was good, none more 80s!
That's the same Secret Policeman Thirds Ball when MK played with Chet Atkins.
That's a legendary performance of that Bush iconic song!
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steinberger in the gilmour collection went for 80K! imagine
the realised prices of ALL those guitars are just insane
I'm not as familiar with Gilmour, was he even known to play the Steinberger? At least MK played his at the height of DS mania.
Another one:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tsw3nKDlBE
Here he is playing that guitar with Kate Bush.
https://youtu.be/Lk7AVm0Ome0?si=_Jw0-RQlkK1hrAFG
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steinberger in the gilmour collection went for 80K! imagine
the realised prices of ALL those guitars are just insane
I'm not as familiar with Gilmour, was he even known to play the Steinberger? At least MK played his at the height of DS mania.
Here he is playing that guitar with Kate Bush.
https://youtu.be/Lk7AVm0Ome0?si=_Jw0-RQlkK1hrAFG
Thanks! That was good, none more 80s!
That's the same Secret Policeman Thirds Ball when MK played with Chet Atkins.
That's a legendary performance of that Bush iconic song!
SWEET! (knew it of course, but was good to here it again)
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steinberger in the gilmour collection went for 80K! imagine
the realised prices of ALL those guitars are just insane
I'm not as familiar with Gilmour, was he even known to play the Steinberger? At least MK played his at the height of DS mania.
Here he is playing that guitar with Kate Bush.
https://youtu.be/Lk7AVm0Ome0?si=_Jw0-RQlkK1hrAFG
Thanks! That was good, none more 80s!
That's the same Secret Policeman Thirds Ball when MK played with Chet Atkins.
That's a legendary performance of that Bush iconic song!
SWEET! (knew it of course, but was good to here it again)
such a joy to watch. big hair galore..
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What a sad news ! It's not something to do when you're still alive.
Obviously there's no chance I can buy something. Christie's estimates are a joke. No need to give a try. :'(
But for sure I'll head to London , go to the preview to admire the beauties one last time before they are gone forever. :disbelief
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Who's going and when?
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I might go to New York, but still unsure
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Who's going and when?
London 20th January for me.
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Who's going and when?
London 20th January for me.
London 28th January
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Who's going and when?
London 20th January for me.
Wow me too.
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The 14 most expensive guitars sold at auction:
https://www.guitarworld.com/features/most-expensive-guitars-sold-at-auction
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There is one guy that looks very into buying guitars owned by famous artists:
https://www.jimirsaycollection.com/press-releases
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Here's a video of the David Gimlour guitar's exhibition for the auction. I think MK's one would be similar:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aB1INkjBxwE
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Who's going and when?
London 23th January
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Who's going and when?
London 20th January for me.
Wow me too.
Most excellent. Will whatsapp you :)
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Julien Bitoun's video on the subject
I've posted comments on his video, in particular concerning a few small details...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6SsaowwbIo
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Guy about Mark:
He has been mulling the idea of thinning out the collection for a long time. The sale in no way reflects on his enthusiasm for music creation. He’s as excited to come into the studio and record as ever.
:)
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Guy about Mark:
He has been mulling the idea of thinning out the collection for a long time. The sale in no way reflects on his enthusiasm for music creation. He’s as excited to come into the studio and record as ever.
:)
I had wondered if the death of Jack and Brendan had kick started this whole thing.
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I can understand that he gets rid of stuff. I like to collect things myself, and sometimes you just lose interest in certain things, and/or feel bad that they're just sitting in a box somewhere. However, I have thought about what I would do if I had alot of guitars - and rather than selling them, lending them to people who would actually use them for recording/touring would be my choice. Besides, I don't care about the looks of a guitar, so if I was a player and had a collection it would most likely be of dinged up examples that I liked the sound of. Hence less problematic if they get scratches and so on.
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Now the whole catalogue is available to search with a lot of information and new pictures:
https://www.christies.com/auction/the-mark-knopfler-guitar-collection-21929-cks
In one of the essays of one concrete guitar, there is the title of a new song maybe in the next MK record. I won't tell you so when you discover it it would be funnier!, the discovery, I mean.
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Got it, nice find Julio! Its all in a name ;)
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Now the whole catalogue is available to search with a lot of information and new pictures:
https://www.christies.com/auction/the-mark-knopfler-guitar-collection-21929-cks
In one of the essays of one concrete guitar, there is the title of a new song maybe in the next MK record. I won't tell you so when you discover it it would be funnier!, the discovery, I mean.
Goes without saying it's one of the weirdest collection of instruments to ever be sold at an auction. I'd kill to get one of these:
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For now, I noted the unknown title "Miles And Miles" but it's from the "Privateering" session.
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For now, I noted the unknown title "Miles And Miles" but it's from the "Privateering" session.
Where did you find that?
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For now, I noted the unknown title "Miles And Miles" but it's from the "Privateering" session.
Where did you find that?
https://www.christies.com/lot/lot-6465732?ldp_breadcrumb=back&intObjectID=6465732&from=salessummary&lid=1
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For now, I noted the unknown title "Miles And Miles" but it's from the "Privateering" session.
Nice find, didn't see that one, didn't had time to check every guitar one by one!
I'm happy to discover he's NOT selling his FIRST guitar!
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For now, I noted the unknown title "Miles And Miles" but it's from the "Privateering" session.
Where did you find that?
https://www.christies.com/lot/lot-6465732?ldp_breadcrumb=back&intObjectID=6465732&from=salessummary&lid=1
Wow, very interesting information!
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Wow! I didn't know about it:
As part of the promotional tour following the release of his second solo studio album Sailing To Philadelphia on 26 September 2000, Mark Knopfler visited Poland to film an intimate concert at the Lokomotywa Club in Warsaw on 7 December 2000 for broadcast on TVP-1 the following week. At the after-party, luthier Marek Witkowski presented Mark with this petite Witkwoski ST3 Junior guitar, which would be a convenient size for travelling. Often presented with guitars by their makers when on tour, Knopfler told us: 'I always try to see them, always try to play ‘em, and always gave them a fair shake because, you know, you realise what a thing you’ve taken on if you want to build something, and build something well.'
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C.F. MARTIN & CO., NAZARETH, PENNSYLVANIA, CIRCA 1917
AN ACOUSTIC GUITAR, OO-30
American multi-instrumentalist Greg Leisz used the OO-30 during recording of the bonus track 'Fat Chance Dupree', expected for release on Knopfler's tenth solo studio album in 2024.
a new title! bonus tracks! :lol
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C.F. MARTIN & CO., NAZARETH, PENNSYLVANIA, CIRCA 1917
AN ACOUSTIC GUITAR, OO-30
American multi-instrumentalist Greg Leisz used the OO-30 during recording of the bonus track 'Fat Chance Dupree', expected for release on Knopfler's tenth solo studio album in 2024.
a new title! bonus tracks! :lol
:thumbsup
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C.F. MARTIN & CO., NAZARETH, PENNSYLVANIA, CIRCA 1917
AN ACOUSTIC GUITAR, OO-30
American multi-instrumentalist Greg Leisz used the OO-30 during recording of the bonus track 'Fat Chance Dupree', expected for release on Knopfler's tenth solo studio album in 2024.
a new title! bonus tracks! :lol
So they already decided which tracks are going to be bonus!
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C.F. MARTIN & CO., NAZARETH, PENNSYLVANIA, CIRCA 1917
AN ACOUSTIC GUITAR, OO-30
American multi-instrumentalist Greg Leisz used the OO-30 during recording of the bonus track 'Fat Chance Dupree', expected for release on Knopfler's tenth solo studio album in 2024.
a new title! bonus tracks! :lol
So they already decided which tracks are going to be bonus!
it's all decided!! I thought the same thing after the discovery. Let's check if there is anything else on the list.
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C.F. MARTIN & CO., NAZARETH, PENNSYLVANIA, CIRCA 1917
AN ACOUSTIC GUITAR, OO-30
American multi-instrumentalist Greg Leisz used the OO-30 during recording of the bonus track 'Fat Chance Dupree', expected for release on Knopfler's tenth solo studio album in 2024.
a new title! bonus tracks! :lol
Please link.
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C.F. MARTIN & CO., NAZARETH, PENNSYLVANIA, CIRCA 1917
AN ACOUSTIC GUITAR, OO-30
American multi-instrumentalist Greg Leisz used the OO-30 during recording of the bonus track 'Fat Chance Dupree', expected for release on Knopfler's tenth solo studio album in 2024.
a new title! bonus tracks! :lol
Please link.
https://www.christies.com/lot/lot-6465795?ldp_breadcrumb=back&intObjectID=6465795&from=salessummary&lid=1
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C.F. MARTIN & CO., NAZARETH, PENNSYLVANIA, CIRCA 1917
AN ACOUSTIC GUITAR, OO-30
American multi-instrumentalist Greg Leisz used the OO-30 during recording of the bonus track 'Fat Chance Dupree', expected for release on Knopfler's tenth solo studio album in 2024.
a new title! bonus tracks! :lol
Please link.
https://www.christies.com/lot/lot-6465795?ldp_breadcrumb=back&intObjectID=6465795&from=salessummary&lid=1
Thank you :)
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Found 'Watch Me Gone' in https://www.christies.com/lot/lot-6465819?ldp_breadcrumb=back&intobjectid=6465819&from=salessummary&lid=1
and 'Smart Money' in https://www.christies.com/lot/lot-6465822?ldp_breadcrumb=back&intObjectID=6465822&from=salessummary&lid=1
and 'The Living End' https://www.christies.com/lot/lot-6465823?ldp_breadcrumb=back&intObjectID=6465823&from=salessummary&lid=1
Also unreleased track from Privateering ‘A Dream Or Two’ is mentioned in https://www.christies.com/lot/lot-6465807?ldp_breadcrumb=back&intObjectID=6465807&from=salessummary&lid=1
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Found 'Watch Me Gone' in https://www.christies.com/lot/lot-6465819?ldp_breadcrumb=back&intobjectid=6465819&from=salessummary&lid=1
and 'Smart Money' in https://www.christies.com/lot/lot-6465822?ldp_breadcrumb=back&intObjectID=6465822&from=salessummary&lid=1
:clap
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Found 'Watch Me Gone' in https://www.christies.com/lot/lot-6465819?ldp_breadcrumb=back&intobjectid=6465819&from=salessummary&lid=1
and 'Smart Money' in https://www.christies.com/lot/lot-6465822?ldp_breadcrumb=back&intObjectID=6465822&from=salessummary&lid=1
and 'The Living End' https://www.christies.com/lot/lot-6465823?ldp_breadcrumb=back&intObjectID=6465823&from=salessummary&lid=1
Also unreleased track from Privateering ‘A Dream Or Two’ is mentioned in https://www.christies.com/lot/lot-6465807?ldp_breadcrumb=back&intObjectID=6465807&from=salessummary&lid=1
It also mentions a deluxe version. it's all decided!!
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Found 'Watch Me Gone' in https://www.christies.com/lot/lot-6465819?ldp_breadcrumb=back&intobjectid=6465819&from=salessummary&lid=1
and 'Smart Money' in https://www.christies.com/lot/lot-6465822?ldp_breadcrumb=back&intObjectID=6465822&from=salessummary&lid=1
and 'The Living End' https://www.christies.com/lot/lot-6465823?ldp_breadcrumb=back&intObjectID=6465823&from=salessummary&lid=1
Also unreleased track from Privateering ‘A Dream Or Two’ is mentioned in https://www.christies.com/lot/lot-6465807?ldp_breadcrumb=back&intObjectID=6465807&from=salessummary&lid=1
:thumbsup
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So do I get it right that he is selling so many guitars he has just used to make a new album? What does that say about the guitars and the album? Strange somehow. Not exactly how I understood the idea of auctioning "unused" guitars.
The titles sound promising though.
LE
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So do I get it right that he is selling so many guitars he has just used to make a new album? What does that say about the guitars and the album? Strange somehow. Not exactly how I understood the idea of auctioning "unused" guitars.
The titles sound promising though.
LE
Agree on both terms, specially the first one, doesn't make sense with the supposed reason of selling guitars he doesn't use.
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Didn't have time to check if those are on iswc-net, if they are, maybe is possible to find more checking previous and next numbers.
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Can't wait to listen to "Fat Chance Dupree". A song with such a name must be a masterpiece!
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"The titles sound promising though"
I have the same feelings too.
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My 5 cents:
Kudos to the team working on this, the amount of details/photos/facts/quotes nailed perfectly is one of the best in MK-related project I ever seen.
I feel like this detailed information about the auction should've came out after the new album announcement, as it feels strange to see new songs.
Astonishing to see so many songs that were recorded but never released, boy we'll have some fun after 50 years when they will be finally released!
Nice to see Mark sells The Ragpicker's Dream Martin #2, it means he still holds the #1.
All the time reading this I think how great guitars Mark is not selling.
Imagine giving Mark Knopfler a guitar as a gift, and then seeing it at the auction.
Gotta admit, gifting MARK KNOPFLER a Gibson FLYING V and thinking it would suit him was very brave.
A lot of unreleased titles and from the new album sounds like a simple bluesy/folky numbers like Hot Dog.
The happiest guy to appreciate this auction will be Jeroen who can now update A LOT of guitars on his website with cool photos.
So do I get it right that he is selling so many guitars he has just used to make a new album? What does that say about the guitars and the album? Strange somehow. Not exactly how I understood the idea of auctioning "unused" guitars.
But the album was already recorded, so technically these guitars are of no use anymore. This article is a perfect example of Mark using a lot of guitars just for one song... If the guitar was used at all, it should consider itself lucky.
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"A lot of unreleased titles and from the new album sounds like a simple bluesy/folky numbers like Hot Dog"
:think
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"A lot of unreleased titles and from the new album sounds like a simple bluesy/folky numbers like Hot Dog"
:think
So you think "Fat Chance Dupree" is a short folky number or a deep emotional ballad akin to "When You Leave"? Unreleased Privateering stuff is definitely the blues. Anyway it's pointless to discuss the titles, it could be anything. I would choose not to see the titles, but it would make it extra hard to follow the catalog.
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Nothing is certain but "Watch Me Gone" and "The Living End" trigger my imagination.
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Some notable ausenses in the catalog:
- Black Pensa Suhr
- Neck and Neck Pensa Suhr
- Pensa MK2 - but there's the P90 -
- Pensa Super MK1? That one used in TR on 2005
- Alchemy era Schecters and black telecaster
Personally I have no doubts that the Pensa MK 1 will reach the highest price of all, maybe not far from the 7 digit range.
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Some notable ausenses in the catalog:
- Black Pensa Suhr
- Neck and Neck Pensa Suhr
- Pensa MK2 - but there's the P90 -
- Pensa Super MK1? That one used in TR on 2005
- Alchemy era Schecters and black telecaster
Personally I have no doubts that the Pensa MK 1 will reach the highest price of all, maybe not far from the 7 digit range.
Well not every guitar is in his possession anymore, I think he gives away a lot of his guitars. As you read it through you remember quite a lot of great guitars that are missing, so I want to see a parallel universe version of the auction where Mark sells his best guitars.
I think the 1959 Les Paul has a much better chance of breaking the two commas barrier, as Pensa MK1 is special exclusively to the club of MK fans, and hardcore ones at that, for everybody else it's a superstrat that happens to be Mark's main guitar for quite some time. Everybody wants a Gibson LP, including MK himself in "poverty" times.
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I remember Nathan Cavalieri already has his Fernandes, Ingo.Raven posted on his site that he got to play with the Schecter used on Tunnel and TR that was in hands of a particular person, so I guess some other of MK guitars would be the same case.
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Surprised to see the blue Pensa go ::)
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My 5 cents:
Kudos to the team working on this, the amount of details/photos/facts/quotes nailed perfectly is one of the best in MK-related project I ever seen.
Absolutely, and it makes the catalogue a must-have. I understand that you get all these lot gems printed and that you can order it? Really good detailed work as what I gave seen so far, haven't read all of it yet.
LE
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I’m quite sure the 59 will top all the rest significantly.
I wonder how many MK signature strats he has (beside the 2 very first ones), the 2 sold here are from 2013 with high serial # (also 2010 with ‘lipstick’ pickups)
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I think they have some info wrong...
Regarding his Hoffner it says MK was playing it with the Cafe Racers, but I remember reading long ago that MK left that guitar at home when he left Newcastle to Leeds and then London, and we've seen pictures of MK playing the red Gibson with the Cafe Racers and also with DS, like in the Farrer House gig picture.
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I think they have some info wrong...
Regarding his Hoffner it says MK was playing it with the Cafe Racers, but I remember reading long ago that MK left that guitar at home when he left Newcastle to Leeds and then London, and we've seen pictures of MK playing the red Gibson with the Cafe Racers and also with DS, like in the Farrer House gig picture.
The history of this guitar in particular is so strange. I remember hearing/reading David Knopfler actually owned it? Either way, the easay says it is NOT Mark's actual first guitar, but a replacement he acquired in 2002, so there are at least 2 Hörner's according to this. That's the important bit I think because people think they are going to buy Mark's first guitar when it's merely a duplicate. I mean how sentimental one could be to get a copy of your first guitar? Mark is on another level.
Also, about this: VALCO, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, CIRCA 1959 A SOLID-BODY ELECTRIC GUITAR, SUPRO DUAL TONE (https://www.christies.com/lot/lot-6465741?ldp_breadcrumb=back&intObjectID=6465741&from=salessummary&lid=1 (https://www.christies.com/lot/lot-6465741?ldp_breadcrumb=back&intObjectID=6465741&from=salessummary&lid=1))
Having mentioned that the Supro Dual Tone was just like a guitar he had growing up, Mark Knopfler received this guitar as a gift from mastering engineer Denny Purcell of Georgetown Masters in Nashville, during the mastering of his soundtrack album Metroland in July 1998. In the accompanying note, Purcell wrote: ‘Mark, it is such a pleasure for us to be able to give you a guitar just like one you once owned! What a wonderful connection to your past, our present.’ Knopfler told us: ‘This was just like my second grown-up guitar.’
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Surprised to see the blue Pensa go ::)
He's keeping the blue ice one
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The 1983 LP is THE guitar
I bet it is the one that will top the auction.
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Some notable ausenses in the catalog:
- Black Pensa Suhr
- Neck and Neck Pensa Suhr
- Pensa MK2 - but there's the P90 -
- Pensa Super MK1? That one used in TR on 2005
- Alchemy era Schecters and black telecaster
Both the Schecter Sunburst and Neck and Neck Pensa-Suhr from Knopfler´s (ex-)collection are now with this person in France:
https://www.guitarmotel.net/guitar/pensa-suhr-1990-flat-top-strat-played-by-mark-knopfler-on-neck-neck-duet-album-with-chet-atkins/
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The 1983 LP is THE guitar
I bet it is the one that will top the auction.
Used to record the Brothers In Arms album in Monserrat and taken on the following world tour. Got to be worthy for fans as well as any other music fan simply for historic reasons.
The Pensa MK1 is relatively unknown outside the circle. I never really liked the sound of it anyway. Maybe at the Prince's Trust 1988 and Knebworth 1990, but that's it.
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Some notable ausenses in the catalog:
- Black Pensa Suhr
- Neck and Neck Pensa Suhr
- Pensa MK2 - but there's the P90 -
- Pensa Super MK1? That one used in TR on 2005
- Alchemy era Schecters and black telecaster
Personally I have no doubts that the Pensa MK 1 will reach the highest price of all, maybe not far from the 7 digit range.
The black Schecter tele is in the auction.
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The 1983 LP is THE guitar
I bet it is the one that will top the auction.
I highly doubt it, the 59 will be well above it ::)
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Some notable ausenses in the catalog:
- Black Pensa Suhr
- Neck and Neck Pensa Suhr
- Pensa MK2 - but there's the P90 -
- Pensa Super MK1? That one used in TR on 2005
- Alchemy era Schecters and black telecaster
Both the Schecter Sunburst and Neck and Neck Pensa-Suhr from Knopfler´s (ex-)collection are now with this person in France:
https://www.guitarmotel.net/guitar/pensa-suhr-1990-flat-top-strat-played-by-mark-knopfler-on-neck-neck-duet-album-with-chet-atkins/
Apparently also the national tricone and the black Pensa...
Who is this and how is he has that guitars?
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The 1983 LP is THE guitar
I bet it is the one that will top the auction.
I think that would be the Pensa Suhr
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The 1983 LP is THE guitar
I bet it is the one that will top the auction.
I think that would be the Pensa Suhr
No, no, let’s wait and see
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Another model that I didn’t notice when going over the lots, unless I missed it, was the HD40MK signature Martin. I’m kind of glad about that because that model inspired a number of the songs on The Ragpicker’s Dream and that’s an album that means rather a lot to me. That being said, he could of course have already given his examples of that signature model to other players!
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The 1983 LP is THE guitar
I bet it is the one that will top the auction.
Used to record the Brothers In Arms album in Monserrat and taken on the following world tour. Got to be worthy for fans as well as any other music fan simply for historic reasons.
The Pensa MK1 is relatively unknown outside the circle. I never really liked the sound of it anyway. Maybe at the Prince's Trust 1988 and Knebworth 1990, but that's it.
If you go on the guitar forums it’s the Pensa that is most coveted. I’m not sure how wide you are extending the circle but it’s an iconic guitar.
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Indeed, they did a 360 view only for the MK1 and the 59 LP. They know these two are the jewels in the crown.
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The 1983 LP is THE guitar
I bet it is the one that will top the auction.
Used to record the Brothers In Arms album in Monserrat and taken on the following world tour. Got to be worthy for fans as well as any other music fan simply for historic reasons.
The Pensa MK1 is relatively unknown outside the circle. I never really liked the sound of it anyway. Maybe at the Prince's Trust 1988 and Knebworth 1990, but that's it.
If you go on the guitar forums it’s the Pensa that is most coveted. I’m not sure how wide you are extending the circle but it’s an iconic guitar.
The Pensa and the 59 LP will also be very high figure but none of these two are the one used to record and perform on stage Money For Nothing (and also Brothers In Arms) during the LiveIn'85/'86 tour.
(https://img.discogs.com/zdA34lx0pp2mtkqDs1-Cue504lc=/fit-in/600x600/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(90)/discogs-images/R-12018855-1526727510-2922.jpeg.jpg)
(https://img.discogs.com/VseD2sbtzeag8cBVltYzQ2mOayQ=/fit-in/600x593/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(90)/discogs-images/R-11087490-1509957608-1756.jpeg.jpg)
(https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Ftse2.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DOIP.jllEz4jbZA1Tm2Ov8qIwIAHaEK%26pid%3DApi&f=1&ipt=c4a4641f69d7c5b383d18bd889a4c5cf4b7febf068374a730327dc3406b53175&ipo=images)
This is no more a guitar for guitarist but for history.
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Yeah, we’ll see. Will be interesting to see what sells for more. The 59 has more intrinsic value than the others in that they regularly sell for circa $300k without a celebrity connection, but the others have more historic value to MK collectors. So ultimately it will come down to what value the highest bidder puts on the MK connection.
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Some notable ausenses in the catalog:
- Black Pensa Suhr
- Neck and Neck Pensa Suhr
- Pensa MK2 - but there's the P90 -
- Pensa Super MK1? That one used in TR on 2005
- Alchemy era Schecters and black telecaster
Both the Schecter Sunburst and Neck and Neck Pensa-Suhr from Knopfler´s (ex-)collection are now with this person in France:
https://www.guitarmotel.net/guitar/pensa-suhr-1990-flat-top-strat-played-by-mark-knopfler-on-neck-neck-duet-album-with-chet-atkins/
Apparently also the national tricone and the black Pensa...
Who is this and how is he has that guitars?
For all I know its a collection of about a 1/3 of all the Pensa-Suhr guitars produced (John Suhr 1986-91 era), by someone who has another job and loves guitars and Mark Knopfler; but then again I read somewhere the earliest one - black Pensa Suhr 1987 - is still in mr.Knopfler´s possession. That would indeed make sense, since it might be 85% of what Pensa-Suhrs mean to him, and he can still proceed with selling the one that is able to attract the highest bids of them all, the carved flame quilt maple-mahogany 1988 Pensa-Suhr, by which everyone remembers him from the early nineties. In my opinion its going to get the most attention: three probable bidders? - This parisian collector - Rudy Pensa (imagine the trophy it would be to keep the top guitar "he"´s ever made) - That american collector who has Clapton´s black Strat
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Some notable ausenses in the catalog:
- Black Pensa Suhr
- Neck and Neck Pensa Suhr
- Pensa MK2 - but there's the P90 -
- Pensa Super MK1? That one used in TR on 2005
- Alchemy era Schecters and black telecaster
Both the Schecter Sunburst and Neck and Neck Pensa-Suhr from Knopfler´s (ex-)collection are now with this person in France:
https://www.guitarmotel.net/guitar/pensa-suhr-1990-flat-top-strat-played-by-mark-knopfler-on-neck-neck-duet-album-with-chet-atkins/
Apparently also the national tricone and the black Pensa...
Who is this and how is he has that guitars?
For all I know its a collection of about a 1/3 of all the Pensa-Suhr guitars produced (John Suhr 1986-91 era), by someone who has another job and loves guitars and Mark Knopfler; but then again I read somewhere the earliest one - black Pensa Suhr 1987 - is still in mr.Knopfler´s possession. That would indeed make sense, since it might be 85% of what Pensa-Suhrs mean to him, and he can still proceed with selling the one that is able to attract the highest bids of them all, the carved flame quilt maple-mahogany 1988 Pensa-Suhr, by which everyone remembers him from the early nineties. In my opinion its going to get the most attention: three probable bidders? - This parisian collector - Rudy Pensa (imagine the trophy it would be to keep the top guitar "he"´s ever made) - That american collector who has Clapton´s black Strat
Gotta love it when somebody has an insane guitar collection that would put both Mark Knopfler's and David Gilmours collections to shame, and yet nobody knows who owns it. These collectors, man, always a little bit weird.
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If Mark wanted these to be played he could do so.
It is up to him.
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If Mark wanted these to be played he could do so.
It is up to him.
I think he gave away more guitars than I played in my entire life, so he has the right to sell some as well. The collectors nature of it is what always makes me sad.
Obviously, you won't give a 1959 Les Paul or Pensa-Suhr MK-1 to some random kid learning to play, but the prospect of a guitar hanging on a wall in some kind of Hard Rock Cafe or ending up a lot #1,000,000 in some weird collector's possession is worse than destruction or theft in my book. No way Mark is not aware about all this.
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If Mark wanted these to be played he could do so.
It is up to him.
I think he gave away more guitars than I played in my entire life, so he has the right to sell some as well. The collectors nature of it is what always makes me sad.
Obviously, you won't give a 1959 Les Paul or Pensa-Suhr MK-1 to some random kid learning to play, but the prospect of a guitar hanging on a wall in some kind of Hard Rock Cafe or ending up a lot #1,000,000 in some weird collector's possession is worse than destruction or theft in my book. No way Mark is not aware about all this.
He is aware (I'm quite sure he is) that most of them would end like that, actually if what he wants is make sure he makes money for himself and for the charities that get the 20% of the money, that's the ideal, going to collectors hands.
From a musical point of view, is a sad end for an instrument made to be played, but, those weren't being played much anyway.
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In classical music there is an organization that is lending very valuable instruments (six figure such as for some stradivarius) to musicians in their 20's or so.
But some instrument have historic value. I have no problem that the 1983 LP is ending displayed on a wall to the public.
The 59 LP has no real historic value but financial value and well imho it would be better in the hand of a real musician than in a private collection.
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In classical music there is an organization that is lending very valuable instruments (six figure such as for some stradivarius) to musicians in their 20's or so.
But some instrument have historic value. I have no problem that the 1983 LP is ending displayed on a wall to the public.
The 59 LP has no real historic value but financial value and well imho it would be better in the hand of a real musician than in a private collection.
The 59 is the only guitar that realistically can end up in a musician's hands. Kirk Hammett's and Joe Bonamassa's of this world can buy it, but the question is are they willing to pay the huuuuge Knopfler tax just to get an instrument that is already incredibly overly priced? I don't think so. So I bet that the 1959 LP will get to a collector too. Let alone MK-1 and other gems out of the bunch. After ALL MK signature Gibsons (150+75+50) went this way I can't see why it will change this time round.
The 1959 is so expensive simply because they made too few of them. With all due respect, I can't accept a high price on an item only because there were few of them made, it's an artificially created demand to solve the problem that should've not existed in the first place. I mean they made only 643 Les Pauls in 1959 in a whole year. They probably produce the same number of guitars in a day now.
I for one will never understand all this guitars and gear hype, to me it IS a slab of wood with strings, and collecting guitars to me is as pointless as collecting hammers or screwdrivers, or musician's pants. You just don't do it. So as much as Mark dreams about MK-1 having another song in it, truthfully, I think it already sang all the songs that were in store for this guitar. Now, it will go to the pile of overpriced collector's items.
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Excuse me but I am wrong if I say that in 1959 the Les Paul wasn't a commercial success ?
If they were so few produced it was because there were very limited interest for them.
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Excuse me but I am wrong if I say that in 1959 the Les Paul wasn't a commercial success ?
If they were so few produced it was because there were very limited interest for them.
Exactly! Les Paul is an atrociously designed guitar anyway. It won't stay in tune, it's too heavy, it's too fragile, too expensive, and not repair-friendly, but hey it looks beautiful, at least I can give it credit for in this department. It wasn't successful in 1958-1959, there were too few produced, and now it's seemingly a "holy grail" just because it's rare and expensive. Go figure... People are people and things like this will work 10,000 years from now. Something is produced too early, does not get enough attention for whatever reason, fails in sales, and then years later comes back as a holy grail. And yet, rest assured any decent LP will sound exactly the same as the 1959.
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Exactly! Les Paul is an atrociously designed guitar anyway. It won't stay in tune, it's too heavy, it's too fragile, too expensive, and not repair-friendly, but hey it looks beautiful, at least I can give it credit for in this department. It wasn't successful in 1958-1959, there were too few produced, and now it's seemingly a "holy grail" just because it's rare and expensive. Go figure... People are people and things like this will work 10,000 years from now. Something is produced too early, does not get enough attention for whatever reason, fails in sales, and then years later comes back as a holy grail. And yet, rest assured any decent LP will sound exactly the same as the 1959.
I know what you're coming from. I thought it was largely hype, until I got to spend some time with the Peter Green/Gary Moore/Kirk Hammett '59. It was incomparable to any other LP I've played, *especially* in terms of how it sounded. In MK's words "these guitars will spoil you". I'm sure some bursts are better then others, but a good one is not the same thing as "any decent Les Paul."
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pics from the NY exhibition :
https://www.facebook.com/groups/mark.knopfler.fans/posts/7027159730662910
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Exactly! Les Paul is an atrociously designed guitar anyway. It won't stay in tune, it's too heavy, it's too fragile, too expensive, and not repair-friendly, but hey it looks beautiful, at least I can give it credit for in this department. It wasn't successful in 1958-1959, there were too few produced, and now it's seemingly a "holy grail" just because it's rare and expensive. Go figure... People are people and things like this will work 10,000 years from now. Something is produced too early, does not get enough attention for whatever reason, fails in sales, and then years later comes back as a holy grail. And yet, rest assured any decent LP will sound exactly the same as the 1959.
I know what you're coming from. I thought it was largely hype, until I got to spend some time with the Peter Green/Gary Moore/Kirk Hammett '59. It was incomparable to any other LP I've played, *especially* in terms of how it sounded. In MK's words "these guitars will spoil you". I'm sure some bursts are better then others, but a good one is not the same thing as "any decent Les Paul."
ahem, sorry, what??? pls tell us more!
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It's interesting to read Lot 60 and find out Mark could have had a signature Gibson ES-335.
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It's interesting to read Lot 60 and find out Mark could have had a signature Gibson ES-335.
That would have been quite odd to me - he's not really "known" as a 335 player. But then I guess he wasn't known for Martins either.
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It's interesting to read Lot 60 and find out Mark could have had a signature Gibson ES-335.
That would have been quite odd to me - he's not really "known" as a 335 player. But then I guess he wasn't known for Martins either.
Agree, it would be strange to see that. What I am surprised the most is with the absence of a signature National guitar. It's such a good opportunity to charge double of already painfully overpriced guitar. But signature guitars, like knighthoods, are sometimes given too often, which cheapens the whole experience I think. Rick Beato recently got his signature Gibson guitar. Cool, what's next, Squier Pavel Fomenkov Signature Mini Stratocaster?
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Whatever the perceived value by people who have never played one, in terms of cold hard facts, this one sold recently for $585,000.
https://www.julienslive.com/lot-details/index/catalog/500/lot/219662/GIBSON-1959-GIBSON-LES-PAUL-STANDARD-SUNBURST-ELECTRIC-GUITAR
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Whatever the perceived value by people who have never played one, in terms of cold hard facts, this one sold recently for $585,000.
https://www.julienslive.com/lot-details/index/catalog/500/lot/219662/GIBSON-1959-GIBSON-LES-PAUL-STANDARD-SUNBURST-ELECTRIC-GUITAR
Wow, what a lucky guitar. A simple vintage Gibson, not owned by a famous musician, not owned by a famous guitar collector, with a plain top and...
Wait a minute, it looks like a new old stock guitar. So nobody played it in 60-odd years? I stand corrected, it's the unluckiest guitar on Earth :lol :lol :lol
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This guy made the BiA/MFN Les Paul:
https://www.lespaulforum.com/index.php?threads/mark-knopfler-christies-auction.221896/post-2937349
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This guy made the BiA/MFN Les Paul:
https://www.lespaulforum.com/index.php?threads/mark-knopfler-christies-auction.221896/post-2937349
Wow, what a great find! Thank you for this. The world is a small place. And poor ol' Mark, due to poverty had to buy a Custom Shop Les Paul instead of the 1959!
I think this is a perfect illustration of how ridiculous this whole thing is. A 1959 les Paul would be only 24 years old in 1983, for all intents and purposes just a slightly vintage guitar, and yet Mark already could not afford it after years of touring, recording and buying custom Schecters and whatnot.
Just make do with whatever you have on hand, and forget about these overpriced, overrated slabs of wood with strings.
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This guy made the BiA/MFN Les Paul:
https://www.lespaulforum.com/index.php?threads/mark-knopfler-christies-auction.221896/post-2937349
Wow, what a great find! Thank you for this. The world is a small place. And poor ol' Mark, due to poverty had to buy a Custom Shop Les Paul instead of the 1959!
I think this is a perfect illustration of how ridiculous this whole thing is. A 1959 les Paul would be only 24 years old in 1983, for all intents and purposes just a slightly vintage guitar, and yet Mark already could not afford it after years of touring, recording and buying custom Schecters and whatnot.
Just make do with whatever you have on hand, and forget about these overpriced, overrated slabs of wood with strings.
Yeah, the thing about not being able to afford it is bullshit, they were selling for under $10k in 1985:
https://www.lespaulforum.com/index.php?threads/vintage-59-worth-in-1982.137758/
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Exactly! Les Paul is an atrociously designed guitar anyway. It won't stay in tune, it's too heavy, it's too fragile, too expensive, and not repair-friendly, but hey it looks beautiful, at least I can give it credit for in this department. It wasn't successful in 1958-1959, there were too few produced, and now it's seemingly a "holy grail" just because it's rare and expensive. Go figure... People are people and things like this will work 10,000 years from now. Something is produced too early, does not get enough attention for whatever reason, fails in sales, and then years later comes back as a holy grail. And yet, rest assured any decent LP will sound exactly the same as the 1959.
I know what you're coming from. I thought it was largely hype, until I got to spend some time with the Peter Green/Gary Moore/Kirk Hammett '59. It was incomparable to any other LP I've played, *especially* in terms of how it sounded. In MK's words "these guitars will spoil you". I'm sure some bursts are better then others, but a good one is not the same thing as "any decent Les Paul."
That's why Mark said in the video unveiling his signature Les Paul, that it "works out of the box". I'm pretty sure 1959 is a great guitar, no doubt about it, but to replicate this experience today it needs to be a $5,000+ Custom Shop guitar with True Historic specs or whatever. It is true for any vintage guitar I think. I'm sure a vintage Höfner violin bass from the early 60s is nothing compared to modern versions, even made by Höfner themselves. It's just the way the world works now, planned obsolescence and greed...
Gibson however is notorious for having all sorts of quality control issues on their guitars. I knew a local luthier here in Moscow and he repaired so many brand-new Les Pauls, including Custom Shop ones!!! that honestly, I would rather just drool over pictures than buy this guitar again today. I owned a brand new Gibson Les Paul once and I'm happy I can talk about this experience in past tense. One of the worst guitars I ever played.
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This guy made the BiA/MFN Les Paul:
https://www.lespaulforum.com/index.php?threads/mark-knopfler-christies-auction.221896/post-2937349
Wow, what a great find! Thank you for this. The world is a small place. And poor ol' Mark, due to poverty had to buy a Custom Shop Les Paul instead of the 1959!
I think this is a perfect illustration of how ridiculous this whole thing is. A 1959 les Paul would be only 24 years old in 1983, for all intents and purposes just a slightly vintage guitar, and yet Mark already could not afford it after years of touring, recording and buying custom Schecters and whatnot.
Just make do with whatever you have on hand, and forget about these overpriced, overrated slabs of wood with strings.
Yeah, the thing about not being able to afford it is bullshit, they were selling for under $10k in 1985:
https://www.lespaulforum.com/index.php?threads/vintage-59-worth-in-1982.137758/
Interesting. So Mark could've easily made up this story just to be romantic? I'm pretty sure it wasn't as romantic as he describes it. He probably just wanted to try a Les Paul, and Rudy sold him a nice one. Maybe after the fact he wanted a vintage one, but it's true it wasn't as desirable and expensive back then.
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In the 80s it seems he was very much into new (for then) tech and not vintage stuff:
Schecters
Pensas (including synth guitars)
Gibson Chet Atkins
Ovations
Synclavier
Steinberger
New amps from various manufacturers
So it makes sense that he dismissed vintage gear at that point, and that he said he couldn't afford vintage instead of admitting that he had written the vintage stuff off.
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In the 80s it seems he was very much into new (for then) tech and not vintage stuff:
Schecters
Pensas (including synth guitars)
Gibson Chet Atkins
Ovations
Synclavier
Steinberger
New amps from various manufacturers
So it makes sense that he dismissed vintage gear at that point, and that he said he couldn't afford vintage instead of admitting that he had written the vintage stuff off.
yes indeed. eighties were about new tech, for mainly all guitarists
and then in the nineties, the vintage gear came again in fashion, and also the recording gear, analog sounboards etc...
the eighties were about digital recording, drum machines, and synthetisers
the nineties were the return of Big muffs, vintage amps and guitars, and so on..
because of : 1) grunge movement and 2) nostalgia of sixities with people like Kravitz for example
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I am amazed at the estimate for his 12 string Ovation, considering it was used to record Blind Willie McTell, which is such an historically important song.
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I am amazed at the estimate for his 12 string Ovation, considering it was used to record Blind Willie McTell, which is such an historically important song.
I think it was a huge mistake on Christie's side to call it an 'estimate' when in reality it's merely an estimated street price without any connections whatsoever. It accounts for age and average asking price and... That's it. Who cares about it anyway, personally, I never even looked at these numbers and it's strange to see them printed right beside all the guitars on the exhibition as if the price and the act of selling are the main event and the main reason for these guitars existing.
Put a headphone out there, some decent headphones, and play the songs where you can hear the damn thing on a loop, I don't care about the price...
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because of : 1) grunge movement
Yes, it's a little known fact that MK was a huge fan of grunge and of well know 1959 Les Paul player Kurt Cobain in particular ;)
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because of : 1) grunge movement
Yes, it's a little known fact that MK was a huge fan of grunge and of well know 1959 Les Paul player Kurt Cobain in particular ;)
:lol :lol :lol
ah ah ah. of course I meant that Grunge was a huge part in fact that guitarists in general wanted to go back to real instruments, and real ones, in contrary of the eighties when a lot of music was a bit "artificial"
for example, Gilmour used Boss stomboxes during eighties, but in 94, he went back to the big muff, and I am quite sure that the grunge movement had a little impact on that choice
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Neil Dorfsman about "Love over Gold" (Sound on Sound magazine, May 2006)
I think Mark was at a stage in his career where he was looking to do something other than straightforward rock music, He was always interested in doing a lot of different things. I remember him studying jazz and really woodshedding a lot on his guitar at home, and it knocked me out how adventurous he was, trying to expand his horizons.'
I think these words are still valid.
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Neil Dorfsman about "Love over Gold" (Sound on Sound magazine, May 2006)
I think Mark was at a stage in his career where he was looking to do something other than straightforward rock music, He was always interested in doing a lot of different things. I remember him studying jazz and really woodshedding a lot on his guitar at home, and it knocked me out how adventurous he was, trying to expand his horizons.'
I think these words are still valid.
What evidence do we have that he has tried to expand his guitar playing? All his comments have suggested the opposite.
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Neil Dorfsman about "Love over Gold" (Sound on Sound magazine, May 2006)
I think Mark was at a stage in his career where he was looking to do something other than straightforward rock music, He was always interested in doing a lot of different things. I remember him studying jazz and really woodshedding a lot on his guitar at home, and it knocked me out how adventurous he was, trying to expand his horizons.'
I think these words are still valid.
What evidence do we have that he has tried to expand his guitar playing? All his comments have suggested the opposite.
I remember Mark recommending the book "Atomic Power In Every Chord" or something. Well, I bought the book out of sheer interest even though I probably don't really need it, and you can see straight away Mark outright using each chord from page 1 onwards. He really used every chord imaginable in his music, so he studied quite a lot. And always implementing new knowledge into new songs. And yes, Chris, I'm defending Mark again, sorry ;D
Adventurous here means more or less "how this new bit off information can help my songs" rather than "let's do a jazzy polka with 15/16 middle eight and Phrygian tonality" type of experimentation.
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That ties in with the period Dorfsman refers to and ties in with what we know, I was wondering what evidence there is that MK has tried to work in a similar way since then.
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Neil Dorfsman about "Love over Gold" (Sound on Sound magazine, May 2006)
I think Mark was at a stage in his career where he was looking to do something other than straightforward rock music, He was always interested in doing a lot of different things. I remember him studying jazz and really woodshedding a lot on his guitar at home, and it knocked me out how adventurous he was, trying to expand his horizons.'
I think these words are still valid.
What evidence do we have that he has tried to expand his guitar playing? All his comments have suggested the opposite.
I think he improved quite a bit in the mid 80's early 90's.These improvisations with Atkins are pretty far of his typical Dm tonality comfort zone.
I would say that his most "advanced" guitar playing in terms of scale choice and whatnot can be seen in Planet Of New Orleans, whose solos evolved quite a lot during the OES tour. He was a bit sloppy on quite a few of these though.
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I find it absolutely hilarious that the very first pictures from the exhibition are coming from a CEO type. I think all these instruments are doomed.
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I find it absolutely hilarious that the very first pictures from the exhibition are coming from a CEO type. I think all these instruments are doomed.
CEO of Christies?
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Which pictures?
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Which pictures?
There are various pictures from the Christies New York showing floating about on FB.
I'm personally surprised how close you can get to the guitars.
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I went to the exhibition today, thought it worthwhile to take a short flight to see these instruments for possibly the last time. Yes, they are all out in the open. You could probably pick them up if you wanted to be rapidly and forcefully escorted out.
Spent a while talking to the chap who led the research part of the project, examined them, and did the appraisals. The estimates are.what he described as market value plus the typical Christies "spread", which is based on non-celebrity ownership.
I think the difficulty of accurately predicting the outcome is simply because no one knows what kind of emotional investment people might have to a particular.instrument. And in the case of the 59, it has so much value regardless of MK's ownership. Whereas a flying v copy given to him by his ex wife's brother *only* has value based on MK's ownership.
So, it's complicated.
Anyway, it was great to see these wonderful instruments right up close.
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This guy made the BiA/MFN Les Paul:
https://www.lespaulforum.com/index.php?threads/mark-knopfler-christies-auction.221896/post-2937349
who are you on that enemy forum? (kidding)
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I went to the exhibition today, thought it worthwhile to take a short flight to see these instruments for possibly the last time. Yes, they are all out in the open. You could probably pick them up if you wanted to be rapidly and forcefully escorted out.
Spent a while talking to the chap who led the research part of the project, examined them, and did the appraisals. The estimates are.what he described as market value plus the typical Christies "spread", which is based on non-celebrity ownership.
I think the difficulty of accurately predicting the outcome is simply because no one knows what kind of emotional investment people might have to a particular.instrument. And in the case of the 59, it has so much value regardless of MK's ownership. Whereas a flying v copy given to him by his ex wife's brother *only* has value based on MK's ownership.
So, it's complicated.
Anyway, it was great to see these wonderful instruments right up close.
interesting insights. thnx
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This guy made the BiA/MFN Les Paul:
https://www.lespaulforum.com/index.php?threads/mark-knopfler-christies-auction.221896/post-2937349
who are you on that enemy forum? (kidding)
Hammerhead, Nigel Tufnel avatar and basically all my posts relate to MK :)
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https://youtu.be/LB52JrENHzI?si=tkXb4Y7vGsTbExDi
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And here is the link to the PDF version of the Christie's catalogue: https://www.christies.com/PDF/catalog/2023/CKS21929_The_Mark_Knopfler_Guitar_Collection.pdf
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And here is the link to the PDF version of the Christie's catalogue: https://www.christies.com/PDF/catalog/2023/CKS21929_The_Mark_Knopfler_Guitar_Collection.pdf
Wow! Fantastic. Thank you very much :thumbsup
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And here is the link to the PDF version of the Christie's catalogue: https://www.christies.com/PDF/catalog/2023/CKS21929_The_Mark_Knopfler_Guitar_Collection.pdf
This is awesome! THANKS A LOT! :thumbsup
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And here is the link to the PDF version of the Christie's catalogue: https://www.christies.com/PDF/catalog/2023/CKS21929_The_Mark_Knopfler_Guitar_Collection.pdf
many thanks :thumbsup
as it is official on the Christie's site, I added it on my blog with the pdf embeded :
https://textes-blog-rock-n-roll.fr/le-catalogue-des-guitares-de-mark-knopfler-est-en-ligne/
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Many thanks from me too! :)
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Thanks! This document is a treasure!
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This book is a real Must Have! Absolute phantastic. So much to read, so many great pictures. Does anyone already received a physical copy?
LE
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Beautifully done catalog. Much of the text is recycled from old interviews, but there's a lot of new text and photos as well. I really like that John Suhr was given due credit.
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This book is a real Must Have! Absolute phantastic. So much to read, so many great pictures. Does anyone already received a physical copy?
LE
I believe the physical copies are due to be dispatched in January.
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This book is a real Must Have! Absolute phantastic. So much to read, so many great pictures. Does anyone already received a physical copy?
LE
I believe the physical copies are due to be dispatched in January.
Oh I wasn't aware of that, thank you!
LE
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I guess that makes sense that the physical copies will be available in January and cannot wait to recieve my copy. I should expect them to be available well before the viewing dates.
I am incidentally going to the viewing on the 20th January at Christies to view these unique instruments for the last time...
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Thanks for sharing the pdf of the catalogue.
Buyers premium lol.
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Oh, that PDF is great! Does anyone know how to download it from the website? ;-)
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Oh, that PDF is great! Does anyone know how to download it from the website? ;-)
Serious inquiry ?
Open the PDF in your browser
Right clic on the Mark Knopfler picture and choose "Save as..." in the menu.
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Thanks for sharing the pdf of the catalogue.
Buyers premium lol.
Yeah, Christies will make a good deal out of this so their efforts are worthwhile for them.
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Just a heads up for those that have ordered the brochure, my copy of the sales brochure is due to be delivered tomorrow- 4th January
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Just a heads up for those that have ordered the brochure, my copy of the sales brochure is due to be delivered tomorrow- 4th January
My copy arrived (I live in Italy) some minutes ago!!!
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Mine is stuck in Valencia's custom office. They are demanding me proof of what I bought and the payment.
Since Brexit, the custom office is hunger for taxes.
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Didn't notice this part of text by MK in the Christie's pdf:
( ) Here I must introduce a lifelong friend and fellow guitar maniac, Rudy Pensa, whom I first met
in his (then) tiny music store, Rudy’s Music Stop on 48th Street over forty years ago. Rudy was
a recent arrival in New York from Argentina. We became great friends and drew the first MK
Pensa Suhr guitar together on a napkin in Fritzel’s Coffee Shoppe on 48th. Now Rudy’s Music in
Soho is the most beautiful guitar store I’ve ever seen and Rudy has sourced me many fabulous
instruments over the years. I’m so glad he will be with me in London to be a part of this sale -
Rudy's enthusiasm and love for all guitars is totally infectious: if you see him or his daughter
Stephanie (also extremely knowledgeable) do try to say hello. ( )
I understand he will be during the sale and Rudy and his daughter the previous days, as he says if we see them, say Hi...
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Presumably Fritzel's coffee shop was hand made.
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It arrived today and first impressions are it's blooming heavy and outstanding!
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Looks fantastic.
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Looks fantastic.
So worth the money, I can tell you!
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Mine is stuck in Valencia's custom office. They are demanding me proof of what I bought and the payment.
Since Brexit, the custom office is hunger for taxes.
Yeah I have bought vinyl via eBay from the UK and I have the same problem. I will have to let it return as the options are all more expensive than the item itself.
LE
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Looks fantastic.
So worth the money, I can tell you!
I can imagine. I'll have to settle for the free PDF, though :)
It's a great document, though. It has amazing photos of the guitars and when they were used, new content written by people like Rudy Pensa and John Suhr, but also a collection of excerpts from old interviews and articles.
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Delivery today in Sweden. Can't wait!
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I got mine yesterday (Germany). Great photos.
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Just a heads up for those that have ordered the brochure, my copy of the sales brochure is due to be delivered tomorrow- 4th January
My copy arrived (I live in Italy) some minutes ago!!!
how long has it been since you placed the order and the actual arrival? :thumbsup
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Somewhat incredibly, my book that was supposed to arrive in Scotland three days ago is currently sitting in customs… in Cincinnati, Ohio! Thanks DHL!
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Genius ... :smack
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Somewhat incredibly, my book that was supposed to arrive in Scotland three days ago is currently sitting in customs… in Cincinnati, Ohio! Thanks DHL!
How the f'%'& did it end up there I wonder....
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Somewhat incredibly, my book that was supposed to arrive in Scotland three days ago is currently sitting in customs… in Cincinnati, Ohio! Thanks DHL!
Happened once to me too. Sent a package from the Middle East to Utrecht, Netherlands. Arrived in Amsterdam, then somehow went away to Skopje, North Macedonia (??) and then flown back to Amsterdam. Mindblowing
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I received a phone call from DHL with a full apology which was nice, and unusual for these types of corporations.
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Just a heads up for those that have ordered the brochure, my copy of the sales brochure is due to be delivered tomorrow- 4th January
My copy arrived (I live in Italy) some minutes ago!!!
how long has it been since you placed the order and the actual arrival? :thumbsup
I ordered it on 22 November and it arrived on 4 January (in Italy). But I think ordering it now (since it is already printed) will arrive sooner, assuming the copies are not sold out!
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Just a heads up for those that have ordered the brochure, my copy of the sales brochure is due to be delivered tomorrow- 4th January
My copy arrived (I live in Italy) some minutes ago!!!
how long has it been since you placed the order and the actual arrival? :thumbsup
I ordered it on 22 November and it arrived on 4 January (in Italy). But I think ordering it now (since it is already printed) will arrive sooner, assuming the copies are not sold out! :thumbsup
Thanks :thumbsup
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My copy arrived today (England). I'd drooled over the .pdf but there's some serious bedtime reading in the hard copy. ;D
I was fortunate enough to be approached by Christies to use one of my photos (p.241) and when I said they could use it for free as long as I got a photo credit, I was offered a catalogue free of charge. Very nice of them. I'm well pleased.
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My copy arrived today (England). I'd drooled over the .pdf but there's some serious bedtime reading in the hard copy. ;D
I was fortunate enough to be approached by Christies to use one of my photos (p.241) and when I said they could use it for free as long as I got a photo credit, I was offered a catalogue free of charge. Very nice of them. I'm well pleased.
That's very cool!
My copy also arrived today, having left Cincinnati yesterday :)
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I'm pleased it turned up with no further lateral excursions, after all, there are a lot of Scottish place names in New Zealand ;D
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Does anybody know how many days the auction will take place?
I can‘t imagine that 120 items can be sold on one day.
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Does anybody know how many days the auction will take place?
I can‘t imagine that 120 items can be sold on one day.
It will.
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Perhaps it is: Buy one, get one free😀
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Have you heard how fast an auctioneer speaks?!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPqzfiesoJY
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Wow😀😀😀
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like that auctioneer song actually...
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I think it might be a good idea to set up a separate thread on the day to discuss the auction live as most of us here will be glued to it if possible.
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“Part of the enjoyment for me is going back and playing like that with a pick. Plus there are other cheaper instruments with their own tone that I enjoy using, like Japanese guitars, amplifiers and microphones. Having your own studio is fantastic from that point of view. You don’t have to go nuts, but you can try a couple of things.”
Mark smiles at his own all-consuming fascination with the subject. “I think you’ve got to be slightly obsessed,” he says with a wry smile, “and I think I’m still not quite right in the head with all of that.”
:)
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Apparantly there was an event last night.
https://www.instagram.com/p/C2QZG37MNlA/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
Issy shared some stuff on her stories as well.
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Apparently Christie´s will upload a video about this today.
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This would make a great meme. ;D
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Apparently Christie´s will upload a video about this today.
https://www.instagram.com/p/C2QRVheL4z6/
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just not yet from the event itself i now notice...
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This would make a great meme. ;D
Mark looks like a TV evangelist praying for someone ;D
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Can we watch the auction per live stream?
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Can we watch the auction per live stream?
Yes, you have to register in the site and follow it like if you were to bid online, it's an option called Christie's live.
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https://youtu.be/NuURfFQlzK8?si=be2IZqcFr-e08_VO
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Wow! Thank you jbaent :)
Mark looks great.
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https://youtu.be/NuURfFQlzK8?si=be2IZqcFr-e08_VO
Thnx for posting!! Great video
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Thank you for sharing!
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Great to see him again. Mark in a really good mood. Totally messed up the few notes of BIA he played; his hands shaking badly. 😢
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Thanks for sharing!
It was a good watch and hearing Mark, some very funny moments as well!
A little hard when he tried to play the first notes of BIA.
A smail fragment about the upcoming album, mostly from Paul.
He says: You've got a new album on the way, more news comes on that not too far away..
Paul already heard it!
Mark then talks about the new Boswell guitar on the album.
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A smail fragment about the upcoming album, mostly from Paul.
He says: You've got a new album on the way, more news comes on that not too far away..
Paul already heard it!
Mark then talks about the new Boswell guitar on the album.
If he's already heard it, I want to hear it! The album can't be too far away then...I hope.
Acoustic guitar on 4 songs is interesting.
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Did he say "I used to have a strong left hand"? Indeed seeing him now, it is totally clear and obvious that touring is done. He never was so funny and relaxed for a long time though. I guess it all depends on how much me trusts the interviewer, and in this case, it is his personal journalist if you like to call it this way. Did this guy not also write the "essay" for the Live Box Set?
LE
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When he said "The Street goes on" at the end it struck me that this could be the album title.. :lol
LE
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He never was so funny and relaxed for a long time though. I guess it all depends on how much me trusts the interviewer, and in this case, it is his personal journalist if you like to call it this way. Did this guy not also write the "essay" for the Live Box Set?
LE
That and also the wine.
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Very true. The same when Johnnie Walker interviewed him, always more open and relaxed.
Did he say "I used to have a strong left hand"? Indeed seeing him now, it is totally clear and obvious that touring is done. He never was so funny and relaxed for a long time though. I guess it all depends on how much me trusts the interviewer, and in this case, it is his personal journalist if you like to call it this way. Did this guy not also write the "essay" for the Live Box Set?
LE
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He never was so funny and relaxed for a long time though. I guess it all depends on how much me trusts the interviewer, and in this case, it is his personal journalist if you like to call it this way. Did this guy not also write the "essay" for the Live Box Set?
LE
That and also the wine.
I did not detect any clues that wine was involved here?
LE
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Can we watch the auction per live stream?
Yes, you have to register in the site and follow it like if you were to bid online, it's an option called Christie's live.
At the end Paul also mentions that the auction will be live streamed on the Christie's website and youtube. So no need to register.
I did register, as I'm actually hoping to get lucky...
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He never was so funny and relaxed for a long time though. I guess it all depends on how much me trusts the interviewer, and in this case, it is his personal journalist if you like to call it this way. Did this guy not also write the "essay" for the Live Box Set?
LE
That and also the wine.
I did not detect any clues that wine was involved here?
LE
Yeah, he had a glass of red wine on the table.
Cheers Mark. Good boy
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Great to see him again. Mark in a really good mood. Totally messed up the few notes of BIA he played; his hands shaking badly. 😢
Noticed that too. Makes me very sad indeed. First saw it on the Bill Wyman 80's Party.
When performing his hands were really shaking badly.
Impossible to do a concert with these hands. :'(
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"Did this guy not also write the "essay" for the Live Box Set?
Yes . Paul Sexton. Journalist, broadcaster and author who has written about Dire Straits and Mark Knopfler since the band's early days.
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Great to see him again. Mark in a really good mood. Totally messed up the few notes of BIA he played; his hands shaking badly. 😢
Noticed that too. Makes me very sad indeed. First saw it on the Bill Wyman 80's Party.
When performing his hands were really shaking badly.
Impossible to do a concert with these hands. :'(
Happy to see Mark well. He seemed in good spirits too. Yes, the part where he played the BIA intro was difficult for him, but give the man a break, he's in his seventies and probably has better days and worse days playing. I will follow the auction closely, by the way.
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Why worry=Why bother :) :)
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https://youtu.be/NuURfFQlzK8?si=be2IZqcFr-e08_VO
Many thanks jbaent. Mark was very relaxed and he made me smile a lot! I'm looking forward to the new album even more - if that's possible. :)
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https://youtu.be/NuURfFQlzK8?si=be2IZqcFr-e08_VO
Many thanks jbaent. Mark was very relaxed and he made me smile a lot! I'm looking forward to the new album even more - if that's possible. :)
Same here. So glad to see him doing well and in such a good mood. This video made my day.
Thanks again for sharing, jbeant!
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Nice clip indeed! I love when Mark is impersonating people, he's really good at it. Regarding the failure to play the opening notes of BIA, that can be due to a number of things. I noticed that his body seemed very stiff. He had difficulty turning his head and had to turn his whole body. He was very chatty and very "on", which is not unusual when people have had a few glasses of wine. That may not be the case here, though.
Did he say "I used to have a strong left hand"? Indeed seeing him now,
He didn't say "I used to", but "I had a strong left hand then". The word "then" meaning "therefore". Because he started playing the guitar right handed but was in fact left handed, he then [therefore] had a stronger left hand [the hand used to press down the strings] because that is his dominant hand. But of course his hands are nothing now compared to what they were.
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Last night's anecdotes from the master got me thinking can anyone ever remember Sultans being played WITHOUT the 'twiddley bits'??
I'm looking forward in one way to the album but seeing the state of his hands have wondered if they are the reason it's taken so long. At the end of the day MK has nothing to prove to anyone...
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Nice clip indeed! I love when Mark is impersonating people, he's really good at it. Regarding the failure to play the opening notes of BIA, that can be due to a number of things. I noticed that his body seemed very stiff. He had difficulty turning his head and had to turn his whole body. He was very chatty and very "on", which is not unusual when people have had a few glasses of wine. That may not be the case here, though.
Did he say "I used to have a strong left hand"? Indeed seeing him now,
He didn't say "I used to", but "I had a strong left hand then". The word "then" meaning "therefore". Because he started playing the guitar right handed but was in fact left handed, he then [therefore] had a stronger left hand [the hand used to press down the strings] because that is his dominant hand. But of course his hands are nothing now compared to what they were.
Ah, thank you very much for explaining. Those are the details that often get lost because of the language barrier. His mood was great, but he looks really not in a very good condition, it is not meant from a nasty point of view but it's more that I am concerned. I hardly recognize the MK that I loved to see live on stage for decades. I wonder how he manages to play more than a couple of notes on the new record. I don't expect any worth mentioning soloing but only strumming at the most. I know of course that there is some studio wizardry. That solo on Pale Imitation is one of the most beautiful ones from the last albums.
It also struck me that I admire him for doing this whole auction thing. He keeps control over everything, and that means he controls what happens with all those really iconic guitars. It gives me the same "gulp" that MK felt when I think that those really really iconic guitars are not longer in his reach. Many of them I have seen live on stage, those moments he created with them are pure magic in my memory for ever, and of course he knows that he no longer would be able to create that magic, so instead of leaving it and just live on, he keeps control and decides what to do with them. That is so typical for him.
Another little detail: When that girl handed him the Martin, and after he played, when he gave it back, I was thinking, hopefully he is not too arrogant in ignoring her helping hand, and indeed he made that little funny remark to her, I love him for that. His whole personality shone very humble, reflected, wise, and with much self-irony.
I had a good laugh about him imitating Chet, that Guitar Store Georgie and the teacher, he indeed likes to do that obviously. I had an even bigger laugh when he started that red Fender story once more, with every same detail that we all are able to cite in our sleep (50 quid, big stretch for him, blew the radio) I really wonder if he himself is not bored by it in the meantime. But at the beginning of the talk he was very eloquent and hard to stop. I love this clip!
LE
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I could hear him talk for hours and never get bored, even if he always tells the same handful of stories we have heard trillions of times.
Considering the state of his hands, and by his own admission, I'm curious as to what will come out on the album guitar wise.
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I could hear him talk for hours and never get bored, even if he always tells the same handful of stories we have heard trillions of times.
Considering the state of his hands, and by his own admission, I'm curious as to what will come out on the album guitar wise.
Studio makes impossible things to happen.
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great video. Mark in such good mood
from my memory, it's the first time I heard Mark talking so much about his sister Ruth
I didn't know that it was his boyfriend who learned him the first steps of playing guitar
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I can't notice it :( At what point does Paul Sexton say he's listened to the new album?
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I can't notice it :( At what point does Paul Sexton say he's listened to the new album?
At around 19.25
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19:17 :lol
LE
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I can't notice it :( At what point does Paul Sexton say he's listened to the new album?
At around 19.25
Thank you border reiver:)
And LE:)
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Yes. He says: Wonderful record :)
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Just release it already :(
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Just release it already :(
AMIT exclusive preview! ;D
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A friend of mine was there and told me MK needed help for going up with that little step to sit on the stage and talk, that physically he was way worse than in 2019 and had a lot of difficulty to just walk.
Obviously you don't see that in the video.
Oh no... :'( :-\
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One of the Christies Instagram videos shows MK walking along viewing the exhibit and all seems normal (for a man that age).
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I had a good laugh about him imitating Chet, that Guitar Store Georgie and the teacher, he indeed likes to do that obviously. I had an even bigger laugh when he started that red Fender story once more, with every same detail that we all are able to cite in our sleep (50 quid, big stretch for him, blew the radio) I really wonder if he himself is not bored by it in the meantime. But at the beginning of the talk he was very eloquent and hard to stop. I love this clip!
LE
Of course, in this regard, MK is like Las Vegas. You can have a show there and play the same thing for decades, and the audience will be changed daily for you since it's such a travelling hub. So he can say the same stuff as repeatedly as he wants, as long as the audience is always new, which is usually the case. It's a bummer only for die-hards ;D
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The man will turn 75 in a matter of months. Think about people you have known that age. You can’t expect him to be physically the same as he was 40, 30 or even 10 years ago.
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The man will turn 75 in a matter of months. Think about people you have known that age. You can’t expect him to be physically the same as he was 40, 30 or even 10 years ago.
Totally right, and he had a serious injury from his bike accident which probably isn’t helping him. I went to Christies today and it was the most amazing and saddest thing at the same time. You have to go if you can. I touched the MFN guitar (twice). It was like meeting royalty if you’re into that thing. I hated the MFN guitar used in the 86 Sidney concert. So I gave that a kick.
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I know several people at 85 that are more fit and "lively" than MK was even 5-10 years ago. If you take the average 75 year old man that has no serious diagnosis (other than the typical "getting older" stuff), I find it unlikely that this person would be any less fit than MK is today. But, it's fine. Not everyone ages in the same speed, and someone has to be "below average" in this regard. I had a relative that moved like she was a typical 90 year old when she was 65, but still lived for another 20 years. Not that it was 20 happy years, but still. She hated that she couldn't do all the things she wanted to do anymore, getting tired for nothing, pains and so on. But, there is a lesson in all of this - take care of your body.
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I too went to Christie's yesterday and quickly caught the bug, "Mixed Emotions'. Evidently MK had already been in to the exhibition in the am to have a wander so, alas I missed him by an hour - not that I would have dared to speak to him. He is God after all! If you get the chance to go and see this wonderful exhibition then go as it really is good. Hats off to Christie's for how they have done this. Each guitar in a way has its own space and the way they are exhibited draw you in to read the back story of each guitar. The centre stage with the 'golden nuggets' is really effective and although I didn't leave my fingerprint on the VERY expensive '59, I was tempted! The signed guitar of the artists contributing to the TCT project drew a lot of interest as you would expect. Looking at them and having followed MK for over 40 years just brought up some many memories of seeing him and his colleagues live in so many places in Europe and if I felt like that, goodness knows what MK must be feeling! My only niggle - and I am nit picking here is that as stunning as the Dolby Atmos equipped music room was while I was there at least it was all Straits music coming through the speakers. Maybe I got my timing wrong but it would have been great to listen to 'Back on the Dance Floor' or 'River Towns' or 'Privateering' coming through those speakers. Like I say, I am being picky. Great day and one to remember for all sorts of reasons. I am sure the new music is going to echo if not better the music produced on these diamonds on display! Go and see!
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Mark sounded good, it's good to hear he has already started buying new guitars :)
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The man will turn 75 in a matter of months. Think about people you have known that age. You can’t expect him to be physically the same as he was 40, 30 or even 10 years ago.
By todays standard Mark is not good shape for a 75 years person.
I did not watch the entire video yet but before reading comment the snippet I saw already left me with a strange feeling.
I mean the way Mark is not moving on his chair got me the impression that it was staged for a disabled.
Of course I am influenced by what I already witnessed during the 2019 tour and the shock of Mark not wearing his traditionnal jean anymore (the one with a "repaired hole") but larges pants instead.
Both Eric Clapton and Keith Richards in comparaison looks better than him now.
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Everyone ages differently, look on the bright side, at least he is not in as bad a way as Phil Collins is :o
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People like Clapton, the Stones and McCartney are the exception rather than the rule. I really don’t think most 75 year olds could deal with what comes with going on tour or even playing one gig.
Anyway, the debate is kind of pointless. It’s pretty clear live is finished so we should look forward to the other forthcoming projects.
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"Anyway, the debate is kind of pointless. It’s pretty clear live is finished so we should look forward to the other forthcoming projects.
:thumbsup
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I agree, it's pointless talking about Mark's health, and it's really only his business. I am only interested in his music and songs.
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I am beginning to wonder if this will be his final album. The time taken is perhaps due to him returning to the studio for guitar overdubs and the fact he indicated he used a new acoustic on 4 tracks maybe says something too. He even recalled the American contingent.
He's always made a point of saying "the right guitar for the right song", but now he's selling so many of his legacy guitars that if he's looking for that sound he won't find it. I genuinely don't think the signs are good.
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"He's always made a point of saying "the right guitar for the right song", but now he's selling so many of his legacy guitars that if he's looking for that sound he won't find it"
I think he has this awareness. But the question about the last album remains open.
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I am beginning to wonder if this will be his final album. The time taken is perhaps due to him returning to the studio for guitar overdubs and the fact he indicated he used a new acoustic on 4 tracks maybe says something too. He even recalled the American contingent.
He's always made a point of saying "the right guitar for the right song", but now he's selling so many of his legacy guitars that if he's looking for that sound he won't find it. I genuinely don't think the signs are good.
dmg, I was quite astonished when I read your thoughts about this being the final album. I don't know since when, but for me it was pretty clear (for quite some time now) that it probably will be his last album. The way it comes to shape, almost six years now, to me it was pretty clear that this will be something big (maybe a double album?) to make it great as it would be the last one, and I was really astonished that you kept thinking it could NOT be his last one.
Funnily, the American contigent that you mention came in for the EP if I got it right, and also the talking about buying new guitars changed my mind a bit. The EP seems to be planned later or was not planned during the album recording. So my impression that this would be his last album, slowly fades. Guy (I know) mentioned also that Mark will go on writing songs, and maybe he has recognized that certain electric guitars or not playable for him anymore, maybe he changes to acoustic completely.
The way I think of MK is that he of course could keep in mind that it COULD be his last one. So he sure enough wil try to craft it the best he can, make it a milestone, another one.
LE
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As far as I see in the Christie's catalogue, he's selling many guitars that he is not playing for many many years, and the ones he did recently, he has others very similar, specially when it comes to acoustics, he's selling the Boswell he played live on Matschtick man and in the new album but he's saying he got some new Boswell that are smaller and sounds great...
He's selling most of his LP but I'm sure he's keeping one or two as he has many of them, sale with the Strats and some of the f holes Gibson guitars...
He's going to have enough guitars to search for sounds for studio records in the future, no worries about that.
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"He's going to have enough guitars to search for sounds for studio records in the future, no worries about that"
And I'm holding on to this hope :)
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"He's going to have enough guitars to search for sounds for studio records in the future, no worries about that"
And I'm holding on to this hope :)
It's not a hope. He kept many guitars, I don't know the numbers but I'm sure he has a lot of them yet.
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Hope. That the 10th album will not be the last.
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He still has lots of Fender Stratocasters and a few Telecasters, several Les Pauls, several Pensas (even the black Pensa-Suhr), Martin and Gibson acoustics, Monteleones, etc. etc., and a TON of amplifiers. The man still has plenty of grear to make great music.
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He still has lots of Fender Stratocasters and a few Telecasters, several Les Pauls, several Pensas (even the black Pensa-Suhr), Martin and Gibson acoustics, Monteleones, etc. etc., and a TON of amplifiers. The man still has plenty of grear to make great music.
Yes, and I am sure he will use these guitars as long as he his able to.
He is obsessed with it. I mean, writing and recording will always be a big part of his life. I don't see him walking the dogs all day long.
So let's think positive!
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I refer you to a quote from Guy in answer to a comment I made on his forum a month or so ago:
“He has been mulling the idea of thinning out the collection for a long time. The sale in no way reflects on his enthusiasm for music creation. He’s as excited to come into the studio and record as ever.”
Hopefully I’ll be at Christie’s to view the guitar collection tomorrow (Monday 22nd), assuming there are no serious knock-on effects to public transport resulting from Storm Isha…
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I was wrong when I said he was selling the Boswell, My mistake, I meant the Sobell, lot 114
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I can see him release another album in 2026 or 2027. He would be 77/78 years old by then, it's not impossible.
Live concerts of any kind, on the other hand, that's over.
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Unless it’s an album of outtakes I doubt it. Doesn’t mean he won’t still be a regular at the studio but more observational. Let’s see. No sense in speculating.
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I am beginning to wonder if this will be his final album. The time taken is perhaps due to him returning to the studio for guitar overdubs and the fact he indicated he used a new acoustic on 4 tracks maybe says something too. He even recalled the American contingent.
He's always made a point of saying "the right guitar for the right song", but now he's selling so many of his legacy guitars that if he's looking for that sound he won't find it. I genuinely don't think the signs are good.
dmg, I was quite astonished when I read your thoughts about this being the final album. I don't know since when, but for me it was pretty clear (for quite some time now) that it probably will be his last album. The way it comes to shape, almost six years now, to me it was pretty clear that this will be something big (maybe a double album?) to make it great as it would be the last one, and I was really astonished that you kept thinking it could NOT be his last one.
LE
I know what you mean and I too had my feelings, however recent events had cemented my thoughts in-line with your own initial ones.
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I don't think this will be his last album, he can't stop writing songs, so, why would he not record them? I think he has been busy over the last few years, apart from his album, there is the auction thing which he must have had a lot of involvement with, the Local Hero musical which seems never ending, the TV show with Brian Johnson, maybe more filming with Henrik Hansen!! We don't really know his full involvement in the Buddy Holly project, plus his own personal life etc. He might be a 'Slow Learner' but I am sure he keeps himself busy. I think only serious ill health will stop him recording.
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I don't think this will be his last album, he can't stop writing songs, so, why would he not record them? I think he has been busy over the last few years, apart from his album, there is the auction thing which he must have had a lot of involvement with, the Local Hero musical which seems never ending, the TV show with Brian Johnson, maybe more filming with Henrik Hansen!! We don't really know his full involvement in the Buddy Holly project, plus his own personal life etc. He might be a 'Slow Learner' but I am sure he keeps himself busy. I think only serious ill health will stop him recording.
Totally agree with you! :thumbsup
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Might be his last album. I also think there's also the option on him delegating guitar duties. Why not?
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I don't think this will be his last album, he can't stop writing songs, so, why would he not record them? I think he has been busy over the last few years, apart from his album, there is the auction thing which he must have had a lot of involvement with, the Local Hero musical which seems never ending, the TV show with Brian Johnson, maybe more filming with Henrik Hansen!! We don't really know his full involvement in the Buddy Holly project, plus his own personal life etc. He might be a 'Slow Learner' but I am sure he keeps himself busy. I think only serious ill health will stop him recording.
You've just given reasons why this is likely to be his last album. He's branched out doing other things in recent years, perhaps in full knowledge he needed an outlet for his songs. A musical is ideal for his songs where he doesn't have to play or even sing. Then there's this TV presenting malarky to keep him busy too.
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I think the other things I mention have been possible because he doesn't have to prepare and do a concert tour.
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I was there with my buddy Camerado last saturday and it was totally worth it! I met Dusty there, we had an amazing few hours. Pictures are on FB and the MK worldwide group.
https://www.facebook.com/stefan.esselink/posts/pfbid0cN3LLrxHH2jvCtxnP8gAQiKC4xM7HAFMogoWy3VLnVNwqBerKUduMA1x3QutfbZ9l (https://www.facebook.com/stefan.esselink/posts/pfbid0cN3LLrxHH2jvCtxnP8gAQiKC4xM7HAFMogoWy3VLnVNwqBerKUduMA1x3QutfbZ9l)
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If I was in London at an auction and I met Paul Sexton, I would definitely ask about the new MK album ;)
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How long do you need at the exhibition? Hoping to go on 30th.
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I think he may record another one after that one.
And play the guitar parts.
I don't see him delegating the guitar part to anybody else but instead doing it note by note by himself if needed.
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I think he may record another one after that one.
And play the guitar parts.
I don't see him delegating the guitar part to anybody else but instead doing it note by note by himself if needed.
The good thing about recording in a studio is that you can stop and start every time Is needed and you can build a guitar solo of 15 seconds in whatever number of days and takes that is needed to do a copy and paste that in the ends sounds great.
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Went to the auction viewing this evening. Totally worth it.
I was struck by the number of bass guitars there are in the auction. Probably 20 or 30. Highlight for me was BIA era guitars, including the synth Pensa.
There also are some star additions like the red tele and the 88 Pensa and Les Paul's but there are clearly a lot of gifted items here or frivolities. I only spotted one Dobro. So we can be safely assured MK will have a good stock still at hand. In fact there are so many guitars there that it does feel like an appropriate thing to sell them on with maximum impact and a portion to charity.
Funny things, possessions.
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Another video regarding this subject
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8VBRe0daX8
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Another video regarding this subject
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8VBRe0daX8
thnx, his enthusiasm was fun...
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––Look, ma! I can find information on the internet and make videos about it!
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And another video for those who cant visit the auction
https://youtu.be/hutGYrsDLU0?si=YHO8BzJS-cM3-Fqa
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Just a note to emphasise if you have any doubts about buying the catalogue then please don't. Yes it is expensive, but it's the best publication I've read on Dire Straits and Mark Knopfler, through the lens of guitars. So much detail in here. My friend had to nudge me into it but so glad I picked up a copy when visiting the acutionhouse.
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And another video for those who cant visit the auction
https://youtu.be/hutGYrsDLU0?si=YHO8BzJS-cM3-Fqa
Is that Dutchessy who we see here? ;D ;D
LE
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Just a note to emphasise if you have any doubts about buying the catalogue then please don't. Yes it is expensive, but it's the best publication I've read on Dire Straits and Mark Knopfler, through the lens of guitars. So much detail in here. My friend had to nudge me into it but so glad I picked up a copy when visiting the acutionhouse.
I agree. I received it last Friday and it’s phenomenal.
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And another video for those who cant visit the auction
https://youtu.be/hutGYrsDLU0?si=YHO8BzJS-cM3-Fqa
Is that Dutchessy who we see here? ;D ;D
LE
I thought exactly the same, actually I was looking for Dusty too!
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THERE IS A VIRTUAL TOUR!!!!
https://www.christies.com/en/events/private-and-iconic-collections/the-mark-knopfler-guitar-collection/highlights
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Welp, there goes that workday ;D
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Welp, there goes that workday ;D
I was thinking the same, with all the info about the new record and the virtual tour, plus preparing the travel to London, I don't know how could I be able to concentrate at work the remaining of the week!
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And another video for those who cant visit the auction
https://youtu.be/hutGYrsDLU0?si=YHO8BzJS-cM3-Fqa
Is that Dutchessy who we see here? ;D ;D
LE
I thought exactly the same, actually I was looking for Dusty too!
Don’t think so, must be some other old bald man!
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No i'm not in it
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THERE IS A VIRTUAL TOUR!!!!
https://www.christies.com/en/events/private-and-iconic-collections/the-mark-knopfler-guitar-collection/highlights
With mistakes... They have swapped at least 3 Gibsons...
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The 300-500K Gibson 59 was standing on the platform in the center.. In the Virtual tour it's hanging on the MFN spot. And the MFN guitar is swapped with another Gibson (1985)
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Paul Sexton interviews John Illsley tonight at 7pm at Christies. Rudy Pensa at 8:15. Portobello Gin tasting too!
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Visited Christie's today. I really enjoyed some time with all these guitars. Even those guitars, which have toured a lot are in a very good shape.
Today the 1985 LP reissue was alone in the Money for nothing chamber.
Two Soldano amp heads still had the latest presets on.
The staff there is very nice, I guess they are used to people with money. However, the free coffee was the most suitable thing for me...
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Paul Sexton interviews John Illsley tonight at 7pm at Christies. Rudy Pensa at 8:15. Portobello Gin tasting too!
I still have my bottle of Portobello Gin, unopened of course.
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From a photo on FB it looked like one of the twins was serving the gin at Christies.
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From a photo on FB it looked like one of the twins was serving the gin at Christies.
I heard one of them was there for sure, can't say who
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From today's Times. The luxury section! Sorry about the formatting and absence of the pictures - it's not that easy to copy'n'paste out of The Times website.
Would you like to own one of Mark Knopfler’s guitars?
For an estimated £1 million you can buy 113 of them at the musician’s upcoming charity auction
Mark Knopfler playing a Pensa guitar in Dire Straits in 1991
MICK HUTSON/REDFERNS
Simon de Burton
Friday January 26 2024, 12.01am, The Times
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Shortly before my 14th birthday in 1978, I inherited £250 from a great-aunt I had never met. If I had used it to buy Coca-Cola shares, then trading at 20p, that £250 would today be worth more than £55,000.
But I didn’t buy Coca-Cola shares.
Instead, I asked my mother to drive me to Debenhams where I went to the home entertainment department and blew £249.99 on a Sanyo music centre, splashing out another £2.49 to buy the debut LP by a band everyone was talking about called Dire Straits.
Knopfler playing a Schecter guitar in 1991
I then spent hours each evening, sitting in semi-darkness absorbing Mark Knopfler’s smoky voice, marvelling at the poetry of the album’s lyrics (“Now my conductress on the No 19, she was a honey. Pink toe nails and hands all dirty with the money”) and truly discovering music.
There must have been thousands of others of my age doing precisely the same thing — which suggests that there will be no shortage of baby boomer and Generation X bidders at Christie’s in London on Wednesday, January 31, when 113 guitars and 10 amplifiers belonging to the now 74-year-old Knopfler cross the block in a single-owner sale that is (very) conservatively estimated to raise more than £1 million.
According to Kerry Keane, a musical instruments consultant at Christie’s in the US, the Knopfler auction will be a match for other sell-offs by guitar greats, such as the collections of Eric Clapton (101 guitars, three guitar straps and two amplifiers sold in 1999 for $5 million, 88 more in 2004 for $7.4 million) and David Gilmour (122 guitars, one guitar case and two amplifiers, $21.5 million in 2019).
Knopfler’s guitars: a Fender, 2002; Gibson, 1983; Pensa Suhr, 1988; Gibson, 1959
Knopfler’s lots span the star’s 50-year career and include guitars that introduced Dire Straits fans to the jingly-jangly quick-picking combination of blues, rock, country and folk that became his trademark through tracks such as Down to the Waterline, Setting Me Up and Sultans of Swing (although the 1961 Fender Stratocaster used on the original recording of the last isn’t up for grabs).
But there’s no shortage of other great instruments. How about the 1983 Les Paul Standard ’59 reissue used to record the title track and Money for Nothing on the 1985 album Brothers in Arms? Estimated to fetch between £10,000 to £15,000. The red Schecter Telecaster that Knopfler bought the previous year and used to record Walk of Life? £4,000 to £6,000. The 1988 Pensa-Suhr MK-1 that was especially built for the frontman to play at Nelson Mandela’s 70th birthday tribute concert in Wembley Stadium? £6,000 to £8,000.
Schecter, 1983; Gibson, 1985; Gibson, 1958
The star of the auction, however, is likely to be the 1959 Vintage Les Paul Standard used on the Sailing to Philadelphia tour of 2001, the Kill to Get Crimson tour of 2008 and for multiple live performances of Brothers in Arms. Even without the Knopfler connection, a 1959 Les Paul Standard is a valuable collector’s item (in the early days of Dire Straits, the star could only afford a modern re-issue) and this example, which he has owned for more than 20 years, is tipped to realise up to £500,000.
The rise in value of artist-owned guitars — and rock’n’roll memorabilia in general — can be traced back to 1990, when Sotheby’s sold the Fender Stratocaster played by Jimi Hendrix at the Woodstock festival in 1969 for an unprecedented £198,000.
Back then, corporate buyers — notably the Hard Rock Café restaurant chain — were key in driving up prices for music memorabilia, leading to sales such as that of the famous painted drum skin from the Beatles’ Sgt Pepper album fetching more than £540,000, Bob Dylan’s hand-written lyrics for Like a Rolling Stone making £1.2 million, and the Steinway Z piano on which John Lennon wrote Imagine, which was bought by George Michael for £1.45 million.
According to Amelia Walker, Christie’s head of iconic collections, the buyer demographic has changed dramatically since those first auction milestones of the Nineties.
“The market has expanded to become far more global than it was back then,” she explains. “The Gilmour guitar sale demonstrated that, while the US is still the biggest market for rock’n’roll memorabilia, there are now buyers in Asia, the Middle East and many other parts of the world from which we wouldn’t have previously seen participation.”
One of the keys to the value of music memorabilia is provenance, which has to be cast iron. Knopfler’s collection (like Clapton’s and Gilmour’s before it) has been consigned direct from source, which makes it hugely desirable.
“The fact that this collection is being sold by Mark Knopfler not only gives buyers the assurance that every lot is of impeccable provenance, it adds a whole extra layer of appeal — these guitars have all been his companions and his tools of the trade, and the interest being shown in from people of all ages shows how the music of Dire Straits has crossed generations,” Walker says.
“There is probably no Dire Straits fan on earth who would not want to be able to play a Sultans of Swing solo on one of these instruments,” she adds.
And, as it turns out, part of the reason Knopfler is selling is that he wants other musicians to enjoy the guitars with which he has carved his career and to keep on using them.
He is also hoping to raise a substantial amount of money for three charities — the British Red Cross, Tusk, and Brave Hearts of the North East — to which he has pledged 25 per cent of the hammer price of each lot sold.
Estimates start at as little as £1,000, with many instruments being offered in the £2,000 to £6,000 range. But don’t expect too many bargains.
“It is very difficult to quantify the value of celebrity provenance, so the large majority of lots have been given estimates that roughly represent their retail value,” Walker says.
If only I had bought Coca-Cola shares instead of that Sanyo, I would certainly have been among the bidders.
But at least my Dire Straits album has gone up in value — according to the online dealer Rare Vinyl, it’s now worth £26.99.
christies.com
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I have to say, I think Christies have down an amazing job with this auction, it would have been easy to to have the auction and that's it, but all the other things, the great catalogue, the videos, interviews etc has been really good :clap
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I have to say, I think Christies have down an amazing job with this auction, it would have been easy to to have the auction and that's it, but all the other things, the great catalogue, the videos, interviews etc has been really good :clap
Yes, they are doing so many great things around it. They know their bussiness very well.
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I noticed they had this at Christies:
9pm | Lower Ryder Gallery
Crafting Harmony: Exploring Contrasts and Commonalities between Luthier-Crafted and Factory-Built Guitars
Discover the art of luthiery with Rosie Heydenrych, founder of Turnstone Guitar Company and Daisy Tempest, founder of Tempest Guitars, in conversation with Amelia Walker, Christie’s head of sale for The Mark Knopfler Guitar Collection
I wonder if Mark has new guitars on order from those companies too?
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Yes, they are doing so many great things around it. They know their bussiness very well.
Thing is, they will know that 99% of us mere mortals attending the viewing can't actually afford to buy a guitar at the prices they will end up going for. And they can't be making much profit on the catalogues given the high quality materials used and the cost of paying someone to write it, photo licensing costs etc.
So really we are very lucky to be able to view and have the catalogue, because if it was purely business it could be a completely closed shop with only "serious buyers" involved.
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Yes, they are doing so many great things around it. They know their bussiness very well.
Thing is, they will know that 99% of us mere mortals attending the viewing can't actually afford to buy a guitar at the prices they will end up going for. And they can't be making much profit on the catalogues given the high quality materials used and the cost of paying someone to write it, photo licensing costs etc.
So really we are very lucky to be able to view and have the catalogue, because if it was purely business it could be a completely closed shop with only "serious buyers" involved.
Yes, as fans we are lucky they care so much care for us when we are not going to be clients further than buying the catalogue.
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Also I had a free double espresso which probably would have cost a tenner in central London!
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Also I had a free double espresso which probably would have cost a tenner in central London!
You made my day ;D LOL
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Also I had a free double espresso which probably would have cost a tenner in central London!
If they have croissants also, I could save the breakfast in my hotel ;D :lol
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Also I had a free double espresso which probably would have cost a tenner in central London!
If they have croissants also, I could save the breakfast in my hotel ;D :lol
Didn't see croissants, they had chocolate biscuits in a jar but there was a posh looking person who looked like an actual potential buyer in front of me that I would have had to push out of the way to get one so I took my coffee and left :)
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Also I had a free double espresso which probably would have cost a tenner in central London!
If they have croissants also, I could save the breakfast in my hotel ;D :lol
Didn't see croissants, they had chocolate biscuits in a jar but there was a posh looking person who looked like an actual potential buyer in front of me that I would have had to push out of the way to get one so I took my coffee and left :)
Well, the chocolate biscuits were pretty tasty
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Paul Sexton interviews John Illsley tonight at 7pm at Christies. Rudy Pensa at 8:15. Portobello Gin tasting too!
any result from this?
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Paul Sexton interviews John Illsley tonight at 7pm at Christies. Rudy Pensa at 8:15. Portobello Gin tasting too!
any result from this?
Sexton 0 - Illsley 0 (AET). Sexton wins on penalties.
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Hi guys, new to the forum.
I've been down to christies and I'm thinking of going down on the auction day. As a huge fan, I am considering getting one of the cheaper lots.
Has anyone got a reasonable idea of what the guitars will fetch in relation to the estimates. I spoke to a guy while I was there, he said general rule is 4 to 6 times estimate.
I did see Gilmours went for much more than 4 to 6 of estimates. Has anyone got reasonable experience in things like this? Would love to get some info.
Thanks 😊
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Welcome!
Like you I looked at the Gilmour auctions:
I would expect a second hand Historic reissue Les Paul like this to sell for maybe £3,500, possibly £4,000 on a good day? He apparently recorded with it once.
https://www.christies.com/lot/lot-6198180?ldp_breadcrumb=back&intObjectID=6198180&from=salessummary&lid=1
It sold for £93,750 (plus auction fees etc).
Good luck!
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Exactly!!
Gilmours was all for charity, so I'm thinking maybe that increased prices a bit.
And people are saying he's a bigger name etc.
Not sure if there is anyone who is confident on predicting likely prices, so I know what to prepare for!
Also christies whack on 26% on top of sale price.
Shame lifelong fans have such a hard time winning these things!
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It is a shame but I don't know how else to do these things. I guess he could do a random lottery but people who aren't fans could still win and then sell themselves.
Are there any particular items you hope to go for?
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Exactly!!
Gilmours was all for charity, so I'm thinking maybe that increased prices a bit.
And people are saying he's a bigger name etc.
Not sure if there is anyone who is confident on predicting likely prices, so I know what to prepare for!
Also christies whack on 26% on top of sale price.
Shame lifelong fans have such a hard time winning these things!
To be honest, I don't think Mark's auction will yield prices as outrageous as Gilmour's. The latter is way, way, waaaaaay more popular than Mark, like you it or not. So naturally, he would sell even a Soviet-made acoustic guitar, which I would call a shitar (because it was my first guitar), for $100,000 in his auction. Do you think Mark's balalaika will go for $100,000? I don't think so.
I would try it, worth a try, and Mark's low profile is a huge bonus in this particular case.
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The latter is way, way, waaaaaay more popular than Mark, like you it or not.
I'm not an MK apologist but I'm not sure if DG is that much more popular than MK.
A crude measure - Spotify monthly listeners:
Pink Floyd: 18.7m
David Gilmour: 628k
Dire Straits: 17.7m
Mark Knopfler: 1.9m
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I'd agree, that his should yield much lower. But just with general auctions of celeb stuff, like I remember he sold a signed playing card thing, for maybe teenage cancer trust, and knopflers lot of exactly the same item, went for more than claptons or gilmours.
Even before Xmas, some small steps charity auctioned off celebs shoes.
Most went for £100 to £200, and Mark Knopflers went for 4.3k
So I'm slightly concerned 🤣
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The latter is way, way, waaaaaay more popular than Mark, like you it or not.
I'm not an MK apologist but I'm not sure if DG is that much more popular than MK.
A crude measure - Spotify monthly listeners:
Pink Floyd: 18.7m
David Gilmour: 628k
Dire Straits: 17.7m
Mark Knopfler: 1.9m
Good point, which of course, tells you about the popularity of the music, rather than the popularity of a personality. Mark is a more consistent and more prolific songwriter than David, let's face it, but David simply has to be more popular than Mark, no way it's not the case. Just walk outside and ask a random spectator if they know who David Gilmour is or who played guitar and sang in Pink Floyd, and what about Mark Knopfler? It's even difficult to pronounce the guy's name, let alone remember it!
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The latter is way, way, waaaaaay more popular than Mark, like you it or not.
I'm not an MK apologist but I'm not sure if DG is that much more popular than MK.
A crude measure - Spotify monthly listeners:
Pink Floyd: 18.7m
David Gilmour: 628k
Dire Straits: 17.7m
Mark Knopfler: 1.9m
Good point, which of course, tells you about the popularity of the music, rather than the popularity of a personality. Mark is a more consistent and more prolific songwriter than David, let's face it, but David simply has to be more popular than Mark, no way it's not the case. Just walk outside and ask a random spectator if they know who David Gilmour is or who played guitar and sang in Pink Floyd, and what about Mark Knopfler? It's even difficult to pronounce the guy's name, let alone remember it!
I don't know about other countries but here in the UK I genuinely think it would be about even.
MK had "guitar god" status and DG, while highly regarded for his tones and originality, never quite got there.
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The latter is way, way, waaaaaay more popular than Mark, like you it or not.
I'm not an MK apologist but I'm not sure if DG is that much more popular than MK.
A crude measure - Spotify monthly listeners:
Pink Floyd: 18.7m
David Gilmour: 628k
Dire Straits: 17.7m
Mark Knopfler: 1.9m
Good point, which of course, tells you about the popularity of the music, rather than the popularity of a personality. Mark is a more consistent and more prolific songwriter than David, let's face it, but David simply has to be more popular than Mark, no way it's not the case. Just walk outside and ask a random spectator if they know who David Gilmour is or who played guitar and sang in Pink Floyd, and what about Mark Knopfler? It's even difficult to pronounce the guy's name, let alone remember it!
I don't know about other countries but here in the UK I genuinely think it would be about even.
MK had "guitar god" status and DG, while highly regarded for his tones and originality, never quite got there.
All thanks to "Sultans Of Swing". Mark owes his whole life and career to that one song, without it he would be a niche musician and not a "guitar god" by any means. If we talk about Sultans, then yes, I'd say they are equal, but everybody seems to be obsessed with David's solos, you see kids everywhere playing "Time", "Comfortably Numb", "Shine On", "Marooned, and "Money" solos, Mark has nothing at all like this, only a bunch of people playing one song over and over again, and completely avoiding his entire discography.
Still, no way on this planet Mark's guitars are gonna raise 21 mil like David's, I think anybody can agree at least on that. And you likely won't have Jim Irsay buying a single lot for 4 million either. I'm curious to see the results and want to be wrong, but unfortunately, experience tells me it will not be spectacular.
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Just for fun, here are the Google search numbers for DG and MK since 2004, see if you can guess which is which :)
(You can cheat by looking at the file names, so don't do that)
(https://i.ibb.co/JmD95CT/2004MK.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/D97tVcH/DG2004.jpg)
PS I agree that MK's auction total will be less than DG's. There's quite a lot of stuff in MK's auction that isn't actually that great.
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Just for fun, here are the Google search numbers for DG and MK since 2004, see if you can guess which is which :)
PS I agree that MK's auction total will be less than DG's. There's quite a lot of stuff in MK's auction that isn't actually that great.
Haha! Now this chart basically tells us that both David and Mark are old socks that belong to a scrape yard rather than fancy auctions, so you might be right. It's like if you're 15 years old, and your friend is 25 years old it feels like the world of difference, but when you're 75 and your friend is 85 you both are just two old farts. David might be more popular than Mark, but in the world of John Mayers, Ed Sheerans and Taylor Swifts they are "pale blue dots".
To be honest, David's auction also had several ordinary instruments, some of which apparently were never even used by David, just owned. Mark's collection seems to be more consistent and used, again, thanks to his career simply being more consistent and prolific. A lot of songs, a lot of guitars, makes sense.
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My kids are 13 and 16. They have heard of Dire Straits and Mark Knopfler but only because of me, otherwise they would have no clue. They would have no clue about Pink Floyd or David Gilmour. They would know about Nirvana through tshirts.
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My kids are 13 and 16. They have heard of Dire Straits and Mark Knopfler but only because of me, otherwise they would have no clue. They would have no clue about Pink Floyd or David Gilmour. They would know about Nirvana through tshirts.
Coincidentally, it's David Gilmour's and Kurt Cobain's guitars that are famous for being the most expensive ones at auctions. Skystang 1 was just sold for 1.5 million recently, and Martin D-18 famously went for 6+ million. David's Black Strat went for 4 million dollars. I doubt MK will be in this category of famous. Now imagine if KURT COBAIN'S most famous and used guitar went for "only" 1.5 million as recently as a few months ago, no way Mark can beat that.
I wonder if his Teenage Trust guitar with signatures will raise the most money, that would be funny. Some really famous names on that one, Ringo Starr's signature alone is worth a lot, and it's only one of a bunch of legendary musicians who participated.
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Just a short notice that I ordered the catalogue on Wednesday (!) and it arrived today (!!) that's two days from London to Northern Germany. It's not in my hands but tomorrow morning I will fetch it from my neighbor who isn't at home tonight.
Now that's what I call a good service! No custom problems or anything. DHL I love you! :lol
LE
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Just a short notice that I ordered the catalogue on Wednesday (!) and it arrived today (!!) that's two days from London to Northern Germany. It's not in my hands but tomorrow morning I will fetch it from my neighbor who isn't at home tonight.
Now that's what I call a good service! No custom problems or anything. DHL I love you! :lol
LE
I am glad it worked out for you my friend!
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Thanks. I had some bad experience with custom with used records via eBay so I was sceptical. I am looking forward to read it over the weekend.
LE
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When it comes to auctions, the investment value takes over (almost) everything.
Gilmour catalogue is way, way (way) more promising in that perspective:
- The guitar which Wish You Were Here was composed on (+ tons of eternity songs)
- The 'first' fender strat
- THE BLACK STRAT and many more
For me Mark was always at #1 (Gilmour at #2, btw), yet Pesna Suhr is poor investment when is comes to 6 (or 7) digit price.
(Trogly (guitar show) who covered the catalogue hasn't even mentioned Pensa Suhr MK1 in particular).
Also the holy grail LP 59 will get the celebrity markup, yet it's nothing compared to Jimmy Page #1 or #2 for example (which I believe will be the most expensive guitar ever sold, if that happens).
The only MK one that could compete (some of) the Gilmour/EC ones is the BIA National.
If Mark had a specific red strat, well known by all (not by fans) - it might have been a different story.
Also Live Aid presence isn't that much of a factor (again for 6-7 digit value)
Nevertheless, as mentioned, the estimated prices are way below, there might be some surprises - both ways.
I think MK LP will top all the rest - by far, and in any case this is a landmark event for all MK fans, without buying any item (beside the catalogue)
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Interesting story and theory : The #0001 Stratocaster (https://www.gilmourish.com/?page_id=259)
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Just for fun, here are the Google search numbers for DG and MK since 2004, see if you can guess which is which :)
PS I agree that MK's auction total will be less than DG's. There's quite a lot of stuff in MK's auction that isn't actually that great.
Haha! Now this chart basically tells us that both David and Mark are old socks that belong to a scrape yard rather than fancy auctions, so you might be right. It's like if you're 15 years old, and your friend is 25 years old it feels like the world of difference, but when you're 75 and your friend is 85 you both are just two old farts. David might be more popular than Mark, but in the world of John Mayers, Ed Sheerans and Taylor Swifts they are "pale blue dots".
To be honest, David's auction also had several ordinary instruments, some of which apparently were never even used by David, just owned. Mark's collection seems to be more consistent and used, again, thanks to his career simply being more consistent and prolific. A lot of songs, a lot of guitars, makes sense.
Pretty sure those graphs are normalized according to the peak number, so everything is relative to that. It makes no sense that both would have EXACTLY 100 hits per day at their peak (during this period). So, impossible to compare actual numbers from that info.
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Also I had a free double espresso which probably would have cost a tenner in central London!
If they have croissants also, I could save the breakfast in my hotel ;D :lol
Didn't see croissants, they had chocolate biscuits in a jar but there was a posh looking person who looked like an actual potential buyer in front of me that I would have had to push out of the way to get one so I took my coffee and left :)
Terribly sorry. Didn’t mean to get in your way.
;D ;D
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Also I had a free double espresso which probably would have cost a tenner in central London!
If they have croissants also, I could save the breakfast in my hotel ;D :lol
Didn't see croissants, they had chocolate biscuits in a jar but there was a posh looking person who looked like an actual potential buyer in front of me that I would have had to push out of the way to get one so I took my coffee and left :)
Terribly sorry. Didn’t mean to get in your way.
;D ;D
I had someone in the know so there was cream cakes out for me. ;)
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Regarding the question of estimated selling prices, my view is that the selling price should be about 30% less compared to David Gilmour's guitars for three reasons:
1)The economy in 2019 and the economy in 2024 are not the same.
2)There is no charitable donation receipt for buyers, leading to lesser tax benefits (not to mention the reduced attachment to making charitable purchases).
3)Mark's reduced activity between 2018 and 2024, despite the upcoming release of a new album.
When David sold his guitars, he had just released Live at Pompeii 18 months earlier.
Five years is a significant span, especially for boomers, when considering the gap between Gilmour's guitar sale in 2019 and Knopfler's in 2024.
Moreover, it's important to remember that buyers are not just collectors.
At Gilmour's sale, there were many collectors and charity-minded individuals who knew nothing about guitars.
Just look at the prices achieved for the custom shop Gilmour Stratocasters sold for $100,000 versus the "real" 50s Telecasters...
More specifically, there are three categories of guitars:
Guitars that can exceed $500K-1M and are easily identifiable, like the 2 LPs, the Pensa-Suhr MK1, etc.
Guitars with a story linked to a specific song or documented in photographs: $60,000 to $200,000.
Instruments without a notable history: $30,000 to $60,000.
I was at the private event and am considering acquiring a guitar myself, but I don't expect to find one at a bargain price.
Just recently, Clapton's Crashocaster sold for $120,000 !
Best,
DZ
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Regarding the question of estimated selling prices, my view is that the selling price should be about 30% less compared to David Gilmour's guitars for three reasons:
1)The economy in 2019 and the economy in 2024 are not the same.
2)There is no charitable donation receipt for buyers, leading to lesser tax benefits (not to mention the reduced attachment to making charitable purchases).
3)Mark's reduced activity between 2018 and 2024, despite the upcoming release of a new album.
When David sold his guitars, he had just released Live at Pompeii 18 months earlier.
Five years is a significant span, especially for boomers, when considering the gap between Gilmour's guitar sale in 2019 and Knopfler's in 2024.
Moreover, it's important to remember that buyers are not just collectors.
At Gilmour's sale, there were many collectors and charity-minded individuals who knew nothing about guitars.
Just look at the prices achieved for the custom shop Gilmour Stratocasters sold for $100,000 versus the "real" 50s Telecasters...
More specifically, there are three categories of guitars:
Guitars that can exceed $500K-1M and are easily identifiable, like the 2 LPs, the Pensa-Suhr MK1, etc.
Guitars with a story linked to a specific song or documented in photographs: $60,000 to $200,000.
Instruments without a notable history: $30,000 to $60,000.
I was at the private event and am considering acquiring a guitar myself, but I don't expect to find one at a bargain price.
Just recently, Clapton's Crashocaster sold for $120,000 !
Best,
DZ
And Eric Clapton’s 1964 ‘The Fool’ Gibson SG was sold in 2023 for a record $1.27 million.
(https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/AZGxZyTGVmsS4ncxNELx2S-970-80.jpg.webp)
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Yesterday morning I spent one of the best mornings ever at Christie's...
It's not only that you can see all those guitars but also that you can see them so close so close that you may kiss them if you want or even touch the strings if it wasn't innapropiate, also there are people there that won't let you do that, but they let you to look at them that close or even sign them almost touching them without anyone threatening you to kick your ass... absolutely amazing how close you can see every single detail in every single guitar.
Also I spent an amazing two days in London with my Spanish friends and long time friend from The Netherlands, Mr Jeroen Van Tol, was amazing to finally meet him in person in probably one of the last chances that we would be able to do it more or less directly related with MK. Also we were joined by the great Witek from Poland, quite a nice guy and hugh collector. IN Christie's I saw also old friend Bruno (Tunnel85), always a pleaseure to see again such lovely people.
After a great morning full of emotions, when me and my gang, together with Witek we were getting ready to leave, two of my best friends from Spain made an stelar appearence, the great Direfran, nowadays known as FranWood (he buits the most wonderful guitars you would find personally, one by one) and Oscar Rosende, the founder of that band that Guy and PCM confused with a recording of them during Atarfe gig in 2008, nowadays the leader of a even better band like "Great Straits", I was in cloud number 9 and then arrives the ice on the cake, someone goes towards me and says "Hello Julio"... I looked at him, overexcited by all the great experiences of the morning without being able to recognize him at first sight... I stupidly said to him "Sorry, who are you..?" and then he looks at me and says "Julio, really?" and with the biggest embarrasement I ever experienced I recognized him, someone who last time I saw him was probably 2013, or 2015 (what a bad memory I have...) but we are always in close contact, the mighty Mimmo Carrata!!!! I was so happy and embarrased at the same moment that I can't truly express it but I'm sure he would forgive me, LOL
I would had liked to stay more time but my gand had a flight to catch that evening to we bid goodbyes to everyone, or I hope it was to everyone and left the building so happy and sad at the same time. I don't want that could had been the last time I see so wonderful people, but looks like we would need to find another excuse as Mr Knopfler doesn't seems to provide us more in the future....
Wait, what about the Local Hero Musical? I have a pub experience to live with Dusty, lol !!!!!
Thanks to everyone there for such an amazing day.
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Fantastic story Julio, great to read, must have been a great day!!
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Thank you for the great report jbaent. Witek from Poland? I think I've heard of him but I don't know him personally :)
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Yesterday morning I spent one of the best mornings ever at Christie's...
It's not only that you can see all those guitars but also that you can see them so close so close that you may kiss them if you want or even touch the strings if it wasn't innapropiate, also there are people there that won't let you do that, but they let you to look at them that close or even sign them almost touching them without anyone threatening you to kick your ass... absolutely amazing how close you can see every single detail in every single guitar.
Also I spent an amazing two days in London with my Spanish friends and long time friend from The Netherlands, Mr Jeroen Van Tol, was amazing to finally meet him in person in probably one of the last chances that we would be able to do it more or less directly related with MK. Also we were joined by the great Witek from Poland, quite a nice guy and hugh collector. IN Christie's I saw also old friend Bruno (Tunnel85), always a pleaseure to see again such lovely people.
After a great morning full of emotions, when me and my gang, together with Witek we were getting ready to leave, two of my best friends from Spain made an stelar appearence, the great Direfran, nowadays known as FranWood (he buits the most wonderful guitars you would find personally, one by one) and Oscar Rosende, the founder of that band that Guy and PCM confused with a recording of them during Atarfe gig in 2008, nowadays the leader of a even better band like "Great Straits", I was in cloud number 9 and then arrives the ice on the cake, someone goes towards me and says "Hello Julio"... I looked at him, overexcited by all the great experiences of the morning without being able to recognize him at first sight... I stupidly said to him "Sorry, who are you..?" and then he looks at me and says "Julio, really?" and with the biggest embarrasement I ever experienced I recognized him, someone who last time I saw him was probably 2013, or 2015 (what a bad memory I have...) but we are always in close contact, the mighty Mimmo Carrata!!!! I was so happy and embarrased at the same moment that I can't truly express it but I'm sure he would forgive me, LOL
I would had liked to stay more time but my gand had a flight to catch that evening to we bid goodbyes to everyone, or I hope it was to everyone and left the building so happy and sad at the same time. I don't want that could had been the last time I see so wonderful people, but looks like we would need to find another excuse as Mr Knopfler doesn't seems to provide us more in the future....
Wait, what about the Local Hero Musical? I have a pub experience to live with Dusty, lol !!!!!
Thanks to everyone there for such an amazing day.
Good to hear you had a nice time JBaent. Always lovely to meet up with old pals again. We all miss that. 😟
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Great stuff Julio. I’ve quit the booze but will start again for you :)
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Yesterday morning I spent one of the best mornings ever at Christie's...
It's not only that you can see all those guitars but also that you can see them so close so close that you may kiss them if you want or even touch the strings if it wasn't innapropiate, also there are people there that won't let you do that, but they let you to look at them that close or even sign them almost touching them without anyone threatening you to kick your ass... absolutely amazing how close you can see every single detail in every single guitar.
Also I spent an amazing two days in London with my Spanish friends and long time friend from The Netherlands, Mr Jeroen Van Tol, was amazing to finally meet him in person in probably one of the last chances that we would be able to do it more or less directly related with MK. Also we were joined by the great Witek from Poland, quite a nice guy and hugh collector. IN Christie's I saw also old friend Bruno (Tunnel85), always a pleaseure to see again such lovely people.
After a great morning full of emotions, when me and my gang, together with Witek we were getting ready to leave, two of my best friends from Spain made an stelar appearence, the great Direfran, nowadays known as FranWood (he buits the most wonderful guitars you would find personally, one by one) and Oscar Rosende, the founder of that band that Guy and PCM confused with a recording of them during Atarfe gig in 2008, nowadays the leader of a even better band like "Great Straits", I was in cloud number 9 and then arrives the ice on the cake, someone goes towards me and says "Hello Julio"... I looked at him, overexcited by all the great experiences of the morning without being able to recognize him at first sight... I stupidly said to him "Sorry, who are you..?" and then he looks at me and says "Julio, really?" and with the biggest embarrasement I ever experienced I recognized him, someone who last time I saw him was probably 2013, or 2015 (what a bad memory I have...) but we are always in close contact, the mighty Mimmo Carrata!!!! I was so happy and embarrased at the same moment that I can't truly express it but I'm sure he would forgive me, LOL
I would had liked to stay more time but my gand had a flight to catch that evening to we bid goodbyes to everyone, or I hope it was to everyone and left the building so happy and sad at the same time. I don't want that could had been the last time I see so wonderful people, but looks like we would need to find another excuse as Mr Knopfler doesn't seems to provide us more in the future....
Wait, what about the Local Hero Musical? I have a pub experience to live with Dusty, lol !!!!!
Thanks to everyone there for such an amazing day.
now actually sad that the thought to go to london for this never even crossed my mind....
Great to hear about the fun times you had, many folks i would have loved to have seen (again)
e.g. the great Bruno, Jeroen, Fran etc.. oh yes and Dusty i guess
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i am just thinking about the poor christies lady that needs to stands in the hall that has Song for Sonny Liston on repeat, ALL day, and not even the full song... da horror
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i am just thinking about the poor christies lady that needs to stands in the hall that has Song for Sonny Liston on repeat, ALL day, and not even the full song... da horror
She must be a die-hard MK fan as we already got used to it! :lol
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A friend of mine visited the exhibition this weekend, and he got to see the back of the MK1. It was very worn, with lots of scratches from Mark's belt buckle ("buckle rash"). Also the heads on the neck mounting screws were in pretty rough shape. Looked as someone had try to fasten them with scissors ... Actually strange that Glenn Saggers hadn't replaced them back in the day.
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Apparantly lot 32, which is the Pensa red flame from 1993, is pulled from the auction.
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Apparantly lot 32, which is the Pensa red flame from 1993, is pulled from the auction.
Interesting. I did wonder whether something like this might happen. Mark did say in the interview at the start of the viewing period that there were a couple he was regretting. By Wednesday we might find that half the guitars in the catalogue are no longer for sale ;D
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I am truly enjoying looking thru the catalog and thinking I could actually bid on one of Mark’s guitars. But I am also in a total panic thinking this may be a signal of pending retirement and I may never get to hear Mark play in person again.
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Apparantly lot 32, which is the Pensa red flame from 1993, is pulled from the auction.
I wonder why... MK had regrets? Someone made a high private purchase? Someone fell over it and damaged it? LOL
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I saw some pictures on FB from someone visiting the exhibition yesterday and it wasn't there anymore as well.
I wonder what happened...
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Apparantly lot 32, which is the Pensa red flame from 1993, is pulled from the auction.
I wonder why... MK had regrets? Someone made a high private purchase? Someone fell over it and damaged it? LOL
Yes. One of those 3 is the right answer
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Christie's confirms by email that MK had retired that guitar to keep it for him.
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Christie's confirms by email that MK had retired that guitar to keep it for him.
"Hey Christie's, I changed my mind, I'll play this guitar until I fall over."
Don't even try to understand MK, it's like trying to understand the static noise.
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Christie's confirms by email that MK had retired that guitar to keep it for him.
"Hey Christie's, I changed my mind, I'll play this guitar until I fall over."
Don't even try to understand MK, it's like trying to understand the static noise.
I understand him. He might also would like to give/sell it directly to someone with more decent price.
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Imagine poor Mark having sleepless nights and a broken heart about the auction starting tomorrow.
LE
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Christie's confirms by email that MK had retired that guitar to keep it for him.
"Hey Christie's, I changed my mind, I'll play this guitar until I fall over."
Don't even try to understand MK, it's like trying to understand the static noise.
I understand him. He might also would like to give/sell it directly to someone with more decent price.
So you understand Mark Knopfler? I have a lot of questions for you then :lol :lol :lol
After two exhibitions in London and New York, thousands of people visited, catalogues thought-out, printed and sold, guitars documented and photographed, interviews and videos made, one day before the auction, you retrieve from the auction... No, not any of the iconic guitars, no, no, no, that would be too predictable for Mark Knopfler. Not like retrieving a guitar from an auction IS predictable in the first place... But you do it with a rather standard Pensa guitar that nobody would think of.
Anyway, I know he's got his reasons, but I give up trying to understand what's happening.
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He played "Learning the Game" on it, so there is a Buddy Holly relation. More important, he played Golden Heart on it during the early first years with Kitty, so maybe sentimental reasons or Kitty said to him "if that guitar goes, I will be going too." ;D
LE
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Imagine poor Mark having sleepless nights and a broken heart about the auction starting tomorrow.
LE
If only we could reach him through the light years of the cosmos and know what he feels... Like maybe using Twitter or something.
Being an MK fan today is like having a Time Machine that brings you 100 years back when moving images and B&W movies were a novelty.
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He played "Learning the Game" on it, so there is a Buddy Holly relation. More important, he played Golden Heart on it during the early first years with Kitty, so maybe sentimental reasons or Kitty said to him "if that guitar goes, I will be going too." ;D
LE
Well, Kitty is one slow learner then too! Double the slow learners, double the fun.
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He played "Learning the Game" on it, so there is a Buddy Holly relation. More important, he played Golden Heart on it during the early first years with Kitty, so maybe sentimental reasons or Kitty said to him "if that guitar goes, I will be going too." ;D
LE
Affectionally called "The Kittycaster" ;D
Of course, not to be confused with the "Hello Kitty Stratocaster"
(https://guitar.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/hello-kitty-strat-squier@2000x1500.jpg)
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Sorry for the large image. Is there no way a resizing option can be implemented in the forum software?
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Does anybody have an idea how fast the auction will go through tomorrow? Of course it depends on the starting price and how far the bidding goes. I will be on the plane without wifi acces quite soon after the start of the auction.
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Sorry for the large image. Is there no way a resizing option can be implemented in the forum software?
Easy, you can just add width and height numbers in the first [img] tag and make the image as big or as small as you want. The trick is to know the original size and just scale it at equal symmetrical proportions. If one side gets smaller 2 times, the other should too.
Example:
[img width=1000 height=500]
[img width=1100 height=600]
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Sorry for the large image. Is there no way a resizing option can be implemented in the forum software?
Just don't upload large images haha. ;D
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Does anybody have an idea how fast the auction will go through tomorrow? Of course it depends on the starting price and how far the bidding goes. I will be on the plane without wifi acces quite soon after the start of the auction.
I asked and they said that it is of course difficult to estimate, but they will probably do 40-60 lots in an hour.
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Does anybody have an idea how fast the auction will go through tomorrow? Of course it depends on the starting price and how far the bidding goes. I will be on the plane without wifi acces quite soon after the start of the auction.
I asked and they said that it is of course difficult to estimate, but they will probably do 40-60 lots in an hour.
I guess some lots will go fast like the Eko or Teisco...
I think the video of the Black Strat of Gilmour is around 1 minute and reached three millions
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Does anybody have an idea how fast the auction will go through tomorrow? Of course it depends on the starting price and how far the bidding goes. I will be on the plane without wifi acces quite soon after the start of the auction.
I asked and they said that it is of course difficult to estimate, but they will probably do 40-60 lots in an hour.
I guess some lots will go fast like the Eko or Teisco...
I think the video of the Black Strat of Gilmour is around 1 minute and reached three millions
Yes. I only now realised that there is an option to make a pre-bidding and that makes it a lot faster.
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Sorry for the large image. Is there no way a resizing option can be implemented in the forum software?
Just don't upload large images haha. ;D
;D
I know, and I even tried to search for a smaller one, but Google only has a filter for medium and large images. But it is annoying,though, as other forums, such as The Gear Page, TDPRI, and many others have a resizing feature, plus a much more modern and user friendly interface.
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Sorry for the large image. Is there no way a resizing option can be implemented in the forum software?
Just don't upload large images haha. ;D
;D
I know, and I even tried to search for a smaller one, but Google only has a filter for medium and large images. But it is annoying,though, as other forums, such as The Gear Page, TDPRI, and many others have a resizing feature, plus a much more modern and user friendly interface.
Yeah, the forum is getting just as old as Mark.. I wanted to update 2 years ago but didn't get to it. Last time i did an update some things got broken and it was a helluva job to fix..
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Sorry for the large image. Is there no way a resizing option can be implemented in the forum software?
Just don't upload large images haha. ;D
;D
I know, and I even tried to search for a smaller one, but Google only has a filter for medium and large images. But it is annoying,though, as other forums, such as The Gear Page, TDPRI, and many others have a resizing feature, plus a much more modern and user friendly interface.
Yeah, the forum is getting just as old as Mark.. I wanted to update 2 years ago but didn't get to it. Last time i did an update some things got broken and it was a helluva job to fix..
It's not like we're constantly exchanging images here, even MK&DS pictures thread is not that popular anyway, so a simple HTML solution is all you really need. AMIT is beautiful in its simplicity, no bells and whistles are needed.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=op4sbl5n8CM
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*Entirely personal view here* - ....but should have kept the Pensa Mk1.... ??? :think :hmm
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*Entirely personal view here* - ....but should have kept the Pensa Mk1.... ??? :think :hmm
Actually he's right, he kept the right Pensa. From the ones in Christie's. The best of his Pensas, the black one, he still has it.
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*Entirely personal view here* - ....but should have kept the Pensa Mk1.... ??? :think :hmm
Actually he's right, he kept the right Pensa. From the ones in Christie's. The best of his Pensas, the black one, he still has it.
Maybe I am just biased due to the live performance of YAYF from OTN.....but yeah (for looks), I also love the blue Pensa and he still has one of those IIRC...
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=op4sbl5n8CM
I lost it when the video started right with the host acknowledging that it's an ordinary Les Paul. If you think about it, worshipping guitars is such a bizarre part of the music industry. It's the strangest kind of fetish. It's like worshipping brushes and paint Leonardo used to paint Gioconda with. It's an instrument after all. Someone told Chet Atkins, "Man, that guitar sure sounds good!" Chet set the guitar down on a chair and asked him, "Ok, how does it sound now?"
Worship the art, not the artist. Worship the sounds, not the instruments. I'll be happy tomorrow when this thing is finally over and all these guitars will be sold to collectors. No particular feelings about it. The best part about it is that we have a great catalogue with (unfortunately) not the biggest part of the instruments Mark used to create his music with, their fate after the fact doesn't concern me in the slightest.
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Great video that - thanks for posting. One glaring error about using the '83 Les Paul for a decade though. Don't remember seeing it after Sydney '86.
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I lost it when the video started right with the host acknowledging that it's an ordinary Les Paul. If you think about it, worshipping guitars is such a bizarre part of the music industry. It's the strangest kind of fetish. It's like worshipping brushes and paint Leonardo used to paint Gioconda with. It's an instrument after all. Someone told Chet Atkins, "Man, that guitar sure sounds good!" Chet set the guitar down on a chair and asked him, "Ok, how does it sound now?"
Worship the art, not the artist. Worship the sounds, not the instruments. I'll be happy tomorrow when this thing is finally over and all these guitars will be sold to collectors. No particular feelings about it. The best part about it is that we have a great catalogue with (unfortunately) not the biggest part of the instruments Mark used to create his music with, their fate after the fact doesn't concern me in the slightest.
[/quote]
Stop kidding us on man! :lol
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Maybe I am just biased due to the live performance of YAYF from OTN.....but yeah (for looks), I also love the blue Pensa and he still has one of those IIRC...
Yes, I believe the blue Pensa MKD/MK90 in the auction was built as a touring back-up for his original MKD at some point prior to the Tracker tour, so presumably he has retained the original.
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In my book the MK1 will remain the most gorgeous guitar he owned in his entire career. What a piece of beauty - and what a sound! -
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Stop kidding us on man! :lol
I'm not kidding. The truth is Mark could've used any instrument, it could be any other Les Paul on the planet, it could be any other Pensa. I mean he had to use something, right? You can't use air guitar to play and record the song. But the fact that it's this particular instrument doesn't change a thing. It all will turn to dust one day, like any material thing, and any instrument has a shelf life. Now I am kidding, but you get the point. I'm just not a gearhead. Lucky the ones who are!
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Are the guitars auctioned in the order they appear in the catalogue ?
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Did any of our Russian members bidding on the Babalaika?
:lol
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Are the guitars auctioned in the order they appear in the catalogue ?
They will be so potential bidders know when their lot is about to come up.
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Did any of our Russian members bidding on the Babalaika?
:lol
I'll bet lots of fans will have been eyeing that up as one they can afford to bid on hence the final hammer price will be much higher than expected.
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Did any of our Russian members bidding on the Babalaika?
:lol
I'll bet lots of fans will have been eyeing that up as one they can afford to bid on hence the final hammer price will be much higher than expected.
Hammer and sickle price you mean? :)
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Did any of our Russian members bidding on the Babalaika?
:lol
I'll bet lots of fans will have been eyeing that up as one they can afford to bid on hence the final hammer price will be much higher than expected.
Hammer and sickle price you mean? :)
:lol
Missed gag opportunity there.
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Did any of our Russian members bidding on the Babalaika?
:lol
I'll bet lots of fans will have been eyeing that up as one they can afford to bid on hence the final hammer price will be much higher than expected.
Hammer and sickle price you mean? :)
:lol
Missed gag opportunity there.
LOL. The balalaika was a gift from the "Shangri-La" casino in Moscow while they were still legal in Russia back in 2005, I can't believe how long ago it was.
I love the coincidence of the tour name and the casino name. And I'm pretty sure there was this badge on the headstock with the words "USSR" and Soviet seal of quality ( :lol :lol :lol ) but at some point it was righteously erased from the headstock. I have no other idea why it has this black spot on the headstock.
As for bidding, sure I'd like to see a man who will bid on this. And ask him WHY... :lol
(https://sun9-47.userapi.com/impf/G5AXmiQxyDJHIpfOfTL3WeJtuGo4vVpwyJkzgg/KFQz5Jx-W2Y.jpg?size=948x458&quality=95&sign=b5856e276505f0b22150d71a8ac90f89&type=album)
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Great video that - thanks for posting. One glaring error about using the '83 Les Paul for a decade though. Don't remember seeing it after Sydney '86.
Didn’t he use it for You And Your Friend?
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Great video that - thanks for posting. One glaring error about using the '83 Les Paul for a decade though. Don't remember seeing it after Sydney '86.
Didn’t he use it for You And Your Friend?
yes indeed :thumbsup
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It was a lot to take in.
At the very top it must have been a yard sale. The Pensa MK1 and LP59 should have gone way higher.
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@SackJonni
What about your point? You answered your question. You said "I don't think you can say anything about Mark's popularity. Let alone prove anything."
I say — just compare it to other auctions and guitars being sold, and Mark is extremely humble at this, to say the least. Winners are lucky for such a bargain.
@hunter v2.0
GFY
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quick calculation is 8.8 million pounds / 10.3 million euro / 11.1 million USD. Not clear if this includes VAT which would be another 20%. Presume the prices listed on christies website are the auction price plus the christie fee but not VAT.
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quick calculation is 8.8 million pounds / 10.3 million euro / 11.1 million USD. Not clear if this includes VAT which would be another 20%. Presume the prices listed on christies website are the auction price plus the christie fee but not VAT.
Also, if you count in inflation, if we compare it to David's auction held in 2019, it drops it off by another 20%.
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I lost my bet
The iconic Les Paul from the 80's made it for GBP 592,200 and reached second behing the '59 :disbelief
If only I had been a millionaire :smack
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quick calculation is 8.8 million pounds / 10.3 million euro / 11.1 million USD. Not clear if this includes VAT which would be another 20%. Presume the prices listed on christies website are the auction price plus the christie fee but not VAT.
Also, if you count in inflation, if we compare it to David's auction held in 2019, it drops it off by another 20%.
Difficult to compare, as someone else noted, the economy is very different now.
In any case, it still doesn’t prove anything about his popularity vs DG. But it may prove something about their popularity amongst rich douchebags.
Plus DG sold everything and MK kept the best stuff.
Anyhoo, very very rough calculations but at a guess after charity and capital gains tax I would estimate MK is left with circa £3 million.
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I imagine him sitting in BG this afternoon together with Guy and a pocket calculator, in a bad mood.. :lol
LE
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I imagine him sitting in BG this afternoon together with Guy and a pocket calculator, in a bad mood.. :lol
LE
Can’t afford the new album now and the time in the studio ;D ;D
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I find it funny that a Fender Concert amp, used heavily in Dire Straits and quite rare and desirable in its own right, went for £17k, while some absolute crap went for more.
Some classic Gibsons went for Not that much (comparatively) as well.
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I find it funny that a Fender Concert amp, used heavily in Dire Straits and quite rare and desirable in its own right, went for £17k, while some absolute crap went for more.
Some classic Gibsons went for Not that much (comparatively) as well.
The biggest surprise for me was that an original 1960 ‘335 went for the same figure as a 2005 Historic ‘59 reissue (the one given to Mark by Gibson with a view to creating a signature model). It’s all a bit disproportionate! The Teisco Spectrum 5s were quite a revelation as well. I think one went for £30.
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Yes.
I can understand the Sonny Liston one to be fair.
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In rock history, David Gilmour as of Pink Floyd is way bigger than Mark Knopfler's Dire Straits.
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Yes.
I can understand the Sonny Liston one to be fair.
The Eko 700. Yes. I saw that very same model in a local guitar store down here in Winchester around ten years ago. A few hundred quid. Should have snapped that one up. Bit late now.
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I find it funny that a Fender Concert amp, used heavily in Dire Straits and quite rare and desirable in its own right, went for £17k, while some absolute crap went for more.
Some classic Gibsons went for Not that much (comparatively) as well.
Also the Soldano pair, 32K.
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I must admit I expected more from MK1. But! Correct me if I'm wrong but never has a Pensa, a Suhr or a Pensa-Suhr sold for more and none of them ever will. I'm pretty certain of it. Mark put them both on the map and I can't imagine anybody ever topping that in this day and age when guitar gods are aging or gone.
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Yes.
I can understand the Sonny Liston one to be fair.
The Eko 700. Yes. I saw that very same model in a local guitar store down here in Winchester around ten years ago. A few hundred quid. Should have snapped that one up. Bit late now.
Yes.
I own three of the same items in the sale today that collectively sold for £150k, ha.
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In rock history, David Gilmour as of Pink Floyd is way bigger than Mark Knopfler's Dire Straits.
I remember 12 years ago editing the Wikipedia article about the song "What A Wonderful World" by mentioning that Mark had recorded his version with Chris Botti in the section of notable cover versions, and it was rejected by several editors as being "not significant" and wondering who the hell Mark Knopfler even was. It still isn't mentioned by the way, even though the list is pretty huge with around 20 mentions.
I also have an insight with stats of my transcriptions of Marks's songs going back almost 18 years ago, and also an entire YouTube channel based on his music. And if there's one thing I can tell you about Mark — he is not popular. Fans can think the opposite for as long as they want, but it doesn't change the fact that he's just not popular. But just like I said, it's a feature, not a bug. Mark loves to fly under the radar.
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The two biggest surprises for me were the higher than expected price that the "dressed for the party" Schecter went for, but even more, the dobro. There was a joke here, asking if someone confused it with THE national. That is the only thing I can figure there....
But lets focus on the REAL twidly bits... The guitars he didn't sell.
THE National(s)
MK Strats 00000-00001
The "58"
The "54"
THE Hoffman
among others
I would like to bend a knee here at the amount of respect that Mark clearly has still, for the piece itself. To see vintage lots accompanied by original paperwork, not a SINGLE guitar with abuse, and to so much money that has been left on the table in every aspect of his career. All I can say is, respect.
And to Christie's, hats off.
To those of us who hoped, and bid, and came up short, this one's for you!
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I must admit I expected more from MK1. But! Correct me if I'm wrong but never has a Pensa, a Suhr or a Pensa-Suhr sold for more and none of them ever will. I'm pretty certain of it. Mark put them both on the map and I can't imagine anybody ever topping that in this day and age when guitar gods are aging or gone.
I too expected a lot more, but I think we overestimated the importance of the MK1 (and his other Pensas and Pensa-Suhrs). The die-hard fans are extremely familiar with it, the casual fans not so much. The MFN/BIA Les Paul has had far more exposure and has a direct connection to Mark's biggest hits and one of the greatest-selling albums in history. I'm actually surprised it didn't go for more.
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California was mentioned a couple of times yesterday during the most prestigious lots. That is also where Bonamassa is residing. :)
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Wouldn't surprise me if Joe Bonamassa snagged the 59.
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Canada was also mentioned a few times. That is where Isaac is living. ;D
LE
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The MK1 went to a guy sitting in the middle at Christies. And 2 ladies in the front were getting the 2 Schecters + the PI alchemy acoustic.
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The MK1 went to a guy sitting in the middle at Christies. And 2 ladies in the front were getting the 2 Schecters + the PI alchemy acoustic.
That’s great. If they are members here, contact me, I’d like to play them
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The MK1 went to a guy sitting in the middle at Christies. And 2 ladies in the front were getting the 2 Schecters + the PI alchemy acoustic.
That’s great. If they are members here, contact me, I’d like to play them
That people usually are bidding in the name of other people that are not in the room.
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https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-13032105/Dire-Straits-Mark-Knopfler-auctions-120-guitars-amps-8million.html
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Nothing went for under the estimated price, at least. No steals :)
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https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-13032105/Dire-Straits-Mark-Knopfler-auctions-120-guitars-amps-8million.html
Thanks Val, but I refuse to open Daily Mail links!
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https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-13032105/Dire-Straits-Mark-Knopfler-auctions-120-guitars-amps-8million.html
Thanks Val, but I refuse to open Daily Mail links!
They confused pounds with dollars btw! ;)
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https://www.forbes.com/sites/guymartin/2024/01/31/mark-knopfler-strikes-a-fine-blow-for-charity-in-christies-112-million-sale-of-his-iconic-guitars/?sh=5f0e50346fdd
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https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-13032105/Dire-Straits-Mark-Knopfler-auctions-120-guitars-amps-8million.html
Thanks Val, but I refuse to open Daily Mail links!
They confused pounds with dollars btw! ;)
Must've been listening to the first auctioneer!
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https://www.forbes.com/sites/guymartin/2024/01/31/mark-knopfler-strikes-a-fine-blow-for-charity-in-christies-112-million-sale-of-his-iconic-guitars/?sh=5f0e50346fdd
That was a nice piece.
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I enjoyed watching the auction, I have never watched one from start to end before, the people on the phones looked like they were having a great time with other peoples money, the 3 auctioneers were great too. I was surprised at how much the amp's were going for, and don't even mention the Balalaika :o did Mark ever play it?
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I enjoyed watching the auction, I have never watched one from start to end before, the people on the phones looked like they were having a great time with other peoples money, the 3 auctioneers were great too. I was surprised at how much the amp's were going for, and don't even mention the Balalaika :o did Mark ever play it?
He played it at home, probably ;)
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I am sure he did ;)
Was the TCT GoldTop actually Mark's guitar? or was it bought just for this occasion?
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I enjoyed watching the auction, I have never watched one from start to end before, the people on the phones looked like they were having a great time with other peoples money, the 3 auctioneers were great too. I was surprised at how much the amp's were going for, and don't even mention the Balalaika :o did Mark ever play it?
He played it at home, probably ;)
He did play the Balalaika in his private jet on the way from the Moscow gig in 2005 as was documented by Guy Fletcher. However, I doubt he ever picked it up again as it has a VERY peculiar tuning, essentially making it a 2-string instrument as two of 3 are tuned to the same pitch. And it requires a very specific playing technique of strumming it really hard, like in all the memes/movies/stereotypes. Whoever came up with this idea, what were you thinking? Did you imagine MK trying Balalaika on one of his albums or something? At least it raised a few thousand pounds for charity 20 years later.
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I enjoyed watching the auction, I have never watched one from start to end before, the people on the phones looked like they were having a great time with other peoples money, the 3 auctioneers were great too. I was surprised at how much the amp's were going for, and don't even mention the Balalaika :o did Mark ever play it?
I was surprised how LOW the amps were.
The Fender Concert for example, (I'll declare an interest here as I actually own one), it was used heavily in DS and even without that connection, it's a pre CBS Fender blackface amp, and a pretty rare one at that because they were never as popular as Super Reverbs. But it sold for LESS than the stupid Balalaika or that Reverend? Crazy! Also TWO iconic Soldanos for £33k?!
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The two biggest surprises for me were the higher than expected price that the "dressed for the party" Schecter went for, but even more, the dobro. There was a joke here, asking if someone confused it with THE national. That is the only thing I can figure there....
But lets focus on the REAL twidly bits... The guitars he didn't sell.
THE National(s)
MK Strats 00000-00001
The "58"
The "54"
THE Hoffman
among others
I would like to bend a knee here at the amount of respect that Mark clearly has still, for the piece itself. To see vintage lots accompanied by original paperwork, not a SINGLE guitar with abuse, and to so much money that has been left on the table in every aspect of his career. All I can say is, respect.
And to Christie's, hats off.
To those of us who hoped, and bid, and came up short, this one's for you!
...excuse me Wiich guitair Is The Hoffman?
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I enjoyed watching the auction, I have never watched one from start to end before, the people on the phones looked like they were having a great time with other peoples money, the 3 auctioneers were great too. I was surprised at how much the amp's were going for, and don't even mention the Balalaika :o did Mark ever play it?
I was surprised how LOW the amps were.
The Fender Concert for example, (I'll declare an interest here as I actually own one), it was used heavily in DS and even without that connection, it's a pre CBS Fender blackface amp, and a pretty rare one at that because they were never as popular as Super Reverbs. But it sold for LESS than the stupid Balalaika or that Reverend? Crazy! Also TWO iconic Soldanos for £33k?!
Tells me a lot of bidders were people with more money than knowledge and they'll be used as decoration.
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https://planetradio.co.uk/planet-rock/news/rock-news/dire-straits-mark-knopfler-guitar-auction/
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I enjoyed watching the auction, I have never watched one from start to end before, the people on the phones looked like they were having a great time with other peoples money, the 3 auctioneers were great too. I was surprised at how much the amp's were going for, and don't even mention the Balalaika :o did Mark ever play it?
I was surprised how LOW the amps were.
The Fender Concert for example, (I'll declare an interest here as I actually own one), it was used heavily in DS and even without that connection, it's a pre CBS Fender blackface amp, and a pretty rare one at that because they were never as popular as Super Reverbs. But it sold for LESS than the stupid Balalaika or that Reverend? Crazy! Also TWO iconic Soldanos for £33k?!
Tells me a lot of bidders were people with more money than knowledge and they'll be used as decoration.
In the same way, Sultans Of Swing can have 500 million listens and another good (better???) song can barely have any listens at all. Again, it's not a bug, just some really lucky folks who used Mark's (not-so-huge) fame to get cool amps and investments for cheap and give money to charity. These auctioneers are the happiest people on the planet right now. Damn, this MK-1 will probably quadruple in price in just a few decades, if not faster.
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I am sure he did ;)
Was the TCT GoldTop actually Mark's guitar? or was it bought just for this occasion?
It was added to the auction and it is not a guitar pre owned by Mark.
And I would assume that 100 % of the final price for that lot will go to the charity.
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Damn, this MK-1 will probably quadruple in price in just a few decades, if not faster.
I'm not so certain. It might just as easily go down in value with time. Interest in guitars may have already peaked. Funny thing is they're probably making more than ever globally at the same time.
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It would not surprise me if Rudy and Suhr decide to release a limited Pensa-Suhr run taking advantage of all of this temporary MK turmoil
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Damn, this MK-1 will probably quadruple in price in just a few decades, if not faster.
I'm not so certain. It might just as easily go down in value with time. Interest in guitars may have already peaked. Funny thing is they're probably making more than ever globally at the same time.
It’s really impossible to say. I certainly wouldn’t have bought it as an investment. Classic guitars like 50s Fenders and Gibsons keep going up. Mark’s fans however are ageing and how much interest will there be in him in 30 years?
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Damn, this MK-1 will probably quadruple in price in just a few decades, if not faster.
I'm not so certain. It might just as easily go down in value with time. Interest in guitars may have already peaked. Funny thing is they're probably making more than ever globally at the same time.
It’s really impossible to say. I certainly wouldn’t have bought it as an investment. Classic guitars like 50s Fenders and Gibsons keep going up. Mark’s fans however are ageing and how much interest will there be in him in 30 years?
Exactly, now are the years that older people who made it financially big in their lives and who have a connection with DS/MK from their youth and are willing to spend this for personal nostalgia, but 20 years down the line there won't be this level of interest. Heck, maybe even 10.
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It would not surprise me if Rudy and Suhr decide to release a limited Pensa-Suhr run taking advantage of all of this temporary MK turmoil
However, if this happens, and they make it really identical to Marks MK1 ; sign me up!
I visited Christie's and the guitar looks absolutely amazing. I've seen copies but the finish/wood on the original is absolutely stellar!
Seeing the guitar up close did move me a bit, I grew up with On The Night on VHS tape and Mark was really, really the world's greatest guitarist there and then.
I still get goosebumps from that BIA version; the only song that will do that to me on earth!
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It would not surprise me if Rudy and Suhr decide to release a limited Pensa-Suhr run taking advantage of all of this temporary MK turmoil
However, if this happens, and they make it really identical to Marks MK1 ; sign me up!
I visited Christie's and the guitar looks absolutely amazing. I've seen copies but the finish/wood on the original is absolutely stellar!
Seeing the guitar up close did move me a bit, I grew up with On The Night on VHS tape and Mark was really, really the world's greatest guitarist there and then.
I still get goosebumps from that BIA version; the only song that will do that to me on earth!
If they do a Pensa Suhr replica, I hope they do it better than the original!
I was attending the exhibition with a luthier that was shocked to see bad details in the Pensa Suhr, like the fact that the neck didn't fit properly in the body, as there was a very small gap at both sides of the neck that made it moves slowly, and left the first string to the edge of the neck. Also there was a plastic piece at the back of the guitar that was a bit bigger than the back body of it. My friend told me that those details, if he makes a guitar like that for a client, the client would claim about them for sure.
Looks like MK was in a hurry with that guitar, as all we know the napkin story, and that John Surh made the guitar very wuickly to be sent to MK for the Mandela gig, it's also known that he already had the body of the guitar, so he probably took the first neck he found that fit the better, even not as tight as it should, finished the guitar and send it to London. Probably Ron Eve adjusting it the better as possible for the gigs and the OES tour but it's clear he didn't play it for so long and the neck moved a bit and left the first string too much at the edge.
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Does this all mean Glen Saggers has less to do now? :think I see one of the guitars went to someone in my city of Southampton, but, it was not me, could have been if I had thought about remortgaging earlier ;D
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Does this all mean Glen Saggers has less to do now? :think I see one of the guitars went to someone in my city of Southampton, but, it was not me, could have been if I had thought about remortgaging earlier ;D
I have a friend also living in Southampton and I made the same joke to him, LOL
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Does this all mean Glen Saggers has less to do now? :think I see one of the guitars went to someone in my city of Southampton, but, it was not me, could have been if I had thought about remortgaging earlier ;D
I have a friend also living in Southampton and I made the same joke to him, LOL
;D
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Does this all mean Glen Saggers has less to do now? :think I see one of the guitars went to someone in my city of Southampton, but, it was not me, could have been if I had thought about remortgaging earlier ;D
That was the Sobell acoustic he played on Matchstick Man on the last tour. I’m in Southampton too…and it wasn’t me either! Would be interesting to know who it was.
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Yes, lovely guitar too.
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It would not surprise me if Rudy and Suhr decide to release a limited Pensa-Suhr run taking advantage of all of this temporary MK turmoil
However, if this happens, and they make it really identical to Marks MK1 ; sign me up!
I visited Christie's and the guitar looks absolutely amazing. I've seen copies but the finish/wood on the original is absolutely stellar!
Seeing the guitar up close did move me a bit, I grew up with On The Night on VHS tape and Mark was really, really the world's greatest guitarist there and then.
I still get goosebumps from that BIA version; the only song that will do that to me on earth!
If they do a Pensa Suhr replica, I hope they do it better than the original!
I was attending the exhibition with a luthier that was shocked to see bad details in the Pensa Suhr, like the fact that the neck didn't fit properly in the body, as there was a very small gap at both sides of the neck that made it moves slowly, and left the first string to the edge of the neck. Also there was a plastic piece at the back of the guitar that was a bit bigger than the back body of it. My friend told me that those details, if he makes a guitar like that for a client, the client would claim about them for sure.
Looks like MK was in a hurry with that guitar, as all we know the napkin story, and that John Surh made the guitar very wuickly to be sent to MK for the Mandela gig, it's also known that he already had the body of the guitar, so he probably took the first neck he found that fit the better, even not as tight as it should, finished the guitar and send it to London. Probably Ron Eve adjusting it the better as possible for the gigs and the OES tour but it's clear he didn't play it for so long and the neck moved a bit and left the first string too much at the edge.
John Suhr was indeed in a hurry to get the guitar finished before the Mandela show. Plus he has also said on various guitar forums (The Gear Page for example) that he makes far better guitars now than he did then, both due to more experience and the fact that he has CNC machines to achieve much lower tolerances (no neck gap etc.) and much higher consistency. And for a long time John didn't even have a proper workshop area at Rudy's. He was working in a boiler room, if I remember correctly :)
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John Suhr replied to a comment I made on The Gear Page just yesterday!
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John Suhr replied to a comment I made on The Gear Page just yesterday!
John is awesome. Not only a genius guitar and amp builder, but so approachable and willing to answer questions, even basic ones.
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Was anyone else surprised by how much that weird looking Pensa went for? Over 100k. Don't remember him ever using it.
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Was anyone else surprised by how much that weird looking Pensa went for? Over 100k. Don't remember him ever using it.
Which weird Pensa?
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Lot 33.
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In all honesty, the current Pensas are little more than glorified, overpriced partscasters. Lots of the work is outsourced, unlike Suhr Guitars or Tom Anderson Guitarworks (and many more) where all the parts are produced / work is done in-house (with the exception of the manufacture of the hardware).
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Lot 33.
Ah, yes, that one.
According to the lot essay in Christie's:
According to Rudy Pensa, this guitar was one of a number of prototypes made for a Pensa Custom jazz model by luthier Masanobu Hino. Eager for feedback on the planned jazz model, Pensa sent this custom example to Mark Knopfler as a gift in 1996.
So i guess he never got to use it but kept it as a gift, same than that V flyer guitar that his ex brother in law gave to him, lol
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The only Pensa-Suhr that means anything is the Mk1. It was ordered and built for a purpose even if rushed. And maybe the one that he pulled from the auction. The later ones I have a suspicion that he never really wanted. Rudy of course wanted him to have them for the advertisement and to stay relevant for a bit longer. So he just kept sending them as gifts to Mark.
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Why was it called the MK1? I mean it wasn't his first Pensa-Suhr - that was the purple SFA model and he also had the black one before then. Should be the MK3!
And I just don't buy all this patter about it being rushed for the Mandela show. It was not only ready for the warm-up shows but it debuted at the Princes Trust show before that! It was obviously completed in plenty of time.
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The only Pensa-Suhr that means anything is the Mk1. It was ordered and built for a purpose even if rushed. And maybe the one that he pulled from the auction. The later ones I have a suspicion that he never really wanted. Rudy of course wanted him to have them for the advertisement and to stay relevant for a bit longer. So he just kept sending them as gifts to Mark.
He still has a good number of Pensa guitars that Rudy gave to him and didn't sell, I remember that one he played in TR during the 2005 tour, or the one he played during the 2019 with f holes...
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Sure he does. And he'll get another one or three most likely. And they're friends. But I don't think he really wanted them. At least that's my feeling.
About Mk1 - yeah, not exactly the first one, but Pensa made it into a model and called it Mk1 so I suppose that's why
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In all honesty, the current Pensas are little more than glorified, overpriced partscasters. Lots of the work is outsourced, unlike Suhr Guitars or Tom Anderson Guitarworks (and many more) where all the parts are produced / work is done in-house (with the exception of the manufacture of the hardware).
Ooh, that's a bold statement. I think Mark would be going elsewhere if the quality wasn't at least on a par with other makers. Equally, a lot of iconic guitars were partscasters (e.g. Clapton's Blackie) Making one superb guitar out of a number of good ones is a lot easier to do with a bolt-on neck Fender type of build.
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He wouldn't play them if he didn't like them.
He didn't seem to like the Pensa MK strats that suspiciously came out at the same time as the Fender signatures!
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Keith Urban selling one of his most precious guitars? I think we just found out who bought one from the auction… 👀
https://youtu.be/hMBcZ6liF0o?si=WSPetpF8YGAtnvMW
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Keith Urban selling one of his most precious guitars? I think we just found out who bought one from the auction… 👀
https://youtu.be/hMBcZ6liF0o?si=WSPetpF8YGAtnvMW
Wouldn't be a surprise. Keith is a major MK fan.
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I can't believe how laid back and lax security was at Christies! They let seemingly anyone play the guitars, without a strap, balanced on their knee, with the Schecter tele right behind just waiting to be knocked over! :smack
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/VxKSb0KJw6M
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:lol
Oh, man :smack
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I can't believe how laid back and lax security was at Christies! They let seemingly anyone play the guitars, without a strap, balanced on their knee, with the Schecter tele right behind just waiting to be knocked over! :smack
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/VxKSb0KJw6M
Yeah, Dusty, it's worse than posting videos of someone killing puppies, you should've at least put it under the spoiler :lol
And doing it in the coat too. At first, I thought it was a fake video, but it's not. Unbelievable. The son of the highest bidder?
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Really wish I hadn't clicked on that link. :smack
Kid wouldn't even have been born when MFN was released.
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I can't believe how laid back and lax security was at Christies! They let seemingly anyone play the guitars, without a strap, balanced on their knee, with the Schecter tele right behind just waiting to be knocked over! :smack
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/VxKSb0KJw6M
Yeah, Dusty, it's worse than posting videos of someone killing puppies, you should've at least put it under the spoiler :lol
And doing it in the coat too. At first, I thought it was a fake video, but it's not. Unbelievable. The son of the highest bidder?
I don't think it's even that, if it was then the guy wouldn't be saying that this was something the kid would remember forever.
I kind of wish I'd just pretended I was rich so I could try them all out now!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uO3ZEgv613k (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uO3ZEgv613k)
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a french fan could hold the Pensa MK1 at the Christie's exhibition. I saw a pic on FB
He just asked and someone form the Christies staff unlocked the guitar from the wall
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a french fan could hold the Pensa MK1 at the Christie's exhibition. I saw a pic on FB
He just asked and someone form the Christies staff unlocked the guitar from the wall
Hold is one thing, play it in street clothes in something that looks like a staff room is another level. Either way, this smells shady.
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John Suhr replied to a comment I made on The Gear Page just yesterday!
so what did he say??
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do we by now know of ANY new owner?
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do we by now know of ANY new owner?
They obviously too busy playing their new guitars and writing new songs with them :lol :lol :lol
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John Suhr replied to a comment I made on The Gear Page just yesterday!
so what did he say??
Nothing too interesting EXCEPT he revealed that he had bid on the MK1!
https://www.thegearpage.net/board/index.php?threads/weird-custom-suhr-pensa-coincidence.2520660/#post-38386764
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do we by now know of ANY new owner?
They obviously too busy playing their new guitars and writing new songs with them :lol :lol :lol
;D ;D ;D :lol :lol :lol
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Actually, the guy who sat behind me won the MK-1
and the guy on my left got the purple Pensa.
They are real fans and not the 'classic' investors profile. I am sure they will play them (when they arrive...).
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Actually, the guy who sat behind me won the MK-1
and the guy on my left got the purple Pensa.
They are real fans and not the 'classic' investors profile. I am sure they will play them (when they arrive...).
I hope there'll be some video footage of them playing the guitars at some point. Lucky guys.
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Actually, the guy who sat behind me won the MK-1
and the guy on my left got the purple Pensa.
They are real fans and not the 'classic' investors profile. I am sure they will play them (when they arrive...).
And how do you know they were real fans?
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Well, they’ve seen him live many times, know the ‘stuff’, obviously have some money to spend.
Above all, they are different from either ‘pure’ investors who sat there or had their people buying for them.
The majority of the ‘classic’ investors communicated via representatives- either by phone or in person. For example, the Schecters went to the same buyer - who had his 2 persons in the front row.
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Well, they’ve seen him live many times, know the ‘stuff’, obviously have some money to spend.
Above all, they are different from either ‘pure’ investors who sat there or had their people buying for them.
The majority of the ‘classic’ investors communicated via representatives- either by phone or in person. For example, the Schecters went to the same buyer - who had his 2 persons in the front row.
Empty expensive homes are something I always associated rich people with. They have so many homes but can live only in one, and all the rest are empty.
If a guy made enough money to buy a £0.5M guitar, he needs to be a musician of Mark Knopfler's level or a complete amateur, there's nothing in between.
So I doubt we'll see any videos, and these guitars being played at all. And you don't need me to know you don't need MK-1 to dabble in MK's music a bit.
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Actually, the guy who sat behind me won the MK-1
and the guy on my left got the purple Pensa.
They are real fans and not the 'classic' investors profile. I am sure they will play them (when they arrive...).
And how do you know they were real fans?
What are “real” fans? According to the Facebook people we are not real fans here because we sometimes say we don’t like MKs work.
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Well, they’ve seen him live many times, know the ‘stuff’, obviously have some money to spend.
Above all, they are different from either ‘pure’ investors who sat there or had their people buying for them.
The majority of the ‘classic’ investors communicated via representatives- either by phone or in person. For example, the Schecters went to the same buyer - who had his 2 persons in the front row.
Empty expensive homes are something I always associated rich people with. They have so many homes but can live only in one, and all the rest are empty.
If a guy made enough money to buy a £0.5M guitar, he needs to be a musician of Mark Knopfler's level or a complete amateur, there's nothing in between.
So I doubt we'll see any videos, and these guitars being played at all. And you don't need me to know you don't need MK-1 to dabble in MK's music a bit.
Why would we want to see a video of it being played by some random? If we want to see the guitar in action there are plenty of videos of MK playing it.
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Well, they’ve seen him live many times, know the ‘stuff’, obviously have some money to spend.
Above all, they are different from either ‘pure’ investors who sat there or had their people buying for them.
The majority of the ‘classic’ investors communicated via representatives- either by phone or in person. For example, the Schecters went to the same buyer - who had his 2 persons in the front row.
Empty expensive homes are something I always associated rich people with. They have so many homes but can live only in one, and all the rest are empty.
If a guy made enough money to buy a £0.5M guitar, he needs to be a musician of Mark Knopfler's level or a complete amateur, there's nothing in between.
So I doubt we'll see any videos, and these guitars being played at all. And you don't need me to know you don't need MK-1 to dabble in MK's music a bit.
Why would we want to see a video of it being played by some random? If we want to see the guitar in action there are plenty of videos of MK playing it.
I also don't get it to be honest. I guess people just generally follow the same logic Mark is following when he says he wants these guitars to be played and enjoyed, preferably with some new music being made with them, at the same time we all know it probably won't happen for a number of reasons. So it's like a little prayer for something that won't happen, though we can dream at least. The truth is most of these guitars have already accomplished their purpose and were blown in this supernova explosion of an auction like a dying star, ending their life as a gimmicky overly priced instrument for a weird collector.
Nobody on this planet buys his instruments at auctions to create, they use regular tools and make history with it.
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Why would we want to see a video of it being played by some random? If we want to see the guitar in action there are plenty of videos of MK playing it.
Because when we hear Mark play those instruments, it's almost always in a professional and "processed" setting. You don't get to hear what the instruments really sound like. Plus Mark has such a unique way of playing that it can almost mask how the instruments sound. What does the MK1 sound like played with a pick into a Fender Deluxe Reverb for example?
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I had a "copy" of the MK1 made in the late 90's with the correct woods & EMG pickups, and it sounds exactly like the real thing. What you hear Mark playing on it is pretty close to the raw sound after you add the effects he was using. You can get quite warm single coil sounds from it played clean, but the bridge humbucker always has a growl to it.
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Very nice. Makes my wonder how much influence the body has and how close you would get putting those pickups into a regular strat.
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Well, funny you asked; I did just that. Just for fun, because I grew up on listen to On The Night in my teen years. I put the exact pickups in a random squier body, with an aftermarket Strat neck. Sound exactly (!) like On The Night with just any drive on, really! I'd say those pickups really make up 90% of that sound, and a rosewood neck will get you even 6% closer!
I don't use it too often, but nice to have around for recording a thing once in a while. Feels better to have a € 500 guitar collectecting dust than one of half a million, I'd say !
Though I'd swap it for the real thing in a heartbeat, nevertheless ;-)
Very nice. Makes my wonder how much influence the body has and how close you would get putting those pickups into a regular strat.
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whoops, that turned into one dinosaur of a picture, sorry!
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My Pensa version have hardtail bridge.
The tone knob is a EMG SPC.
This lady has been used almost every day since 2013.
This guitar is a beast.
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Some nice guitars guys!
Interesting Peter. Do you have the SPC? Did you have to dig out space for a battery?
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Very nice. Makes my wonder how much influence the body has and how close you would get putting those pickups into a regular strat.
I thought it was mostly in the pickups, but the chap who built it says categorically that the wood does make a difference. I think Mahogany, with or without a Maple cap gives a warmer tone than Alder or Ash.
I had Gretsch Filtertron pickups put in a mahogany body thinline type guitar, and although it makes the guitar sound more Grestchey ( is that a word?) it still doesn't sound quite like a duo Jet or a Gretsch hollowbody, so it must be a combination of all the factors.
(I'll just put a link to this one, as I think we've hijacked the thread :) )
https://www.flickr.com/photos/dtvaviationimages/51925835924/in/album-72157627669196085/
My "Pensa" has the EMG SPC mid-boost rather than a normal tone control, As they are all active pickups, the battery lives in the control cavity at the back.
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Check this out. This guy made a cool test.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n02tImce3AE&list=FLGMWWS1eCH0G9qNBs6NIUyA&index=5
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I've played an MK1 at Rudy's long time ago. Lovely guitar, but not the type of guitar I care for today. It had EMGs and the whole package. I've never liked regular Strats with EMGs, and I think it has to do with them being mounted to the pickguard. Strats like that sound thin and needs different EQ settings on the amp. On an MK1 they are mounted to the body, and I am convinced that adds thickness to the guitar tone. The mahogany doesn't hurt either for fatter tones.
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Erm, what is SPC? ;-)
I didn't need to dig out space, it was a SSH body with enough room underneath the pickguard.
Some nice guitars guys!
Interesting Peter. Do you have the SPC? Did you have to dig out space for a battery?
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Erm, what is SPC? ;-)
I didn't need to dig out space, it was a SSH body with enough room underneath the pickguard.
Some nice guitars guys!
Interesting Peter. Do you have the SPC? Did you have to dig out space for a battery?
Google is your friend: https://www.emgpickups.com/spc.html
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Always better to ask the source ;-) 8)
Anway, yes, there as well. It's supposed to be the exact same complete set MK uses.
Erm, what is SPC? ;-)
I didn't need to dig out space, it was a SSH body with enough room underneath the pickguard.
Some nice guitars guys!
Interesting Peter. Do you have the SPC? Did you have to dig out space for a battery?
Google is your friend: https://www.emgpickups.com/spc.html
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Erm, what is SPC? ;-)
I didn't need to dig out space, it was a SSH body with enough room underneath the pickguard.
Some nice guitars guys!
Interesting Peter. Do you have the SPC? Did you have to dig out space for a battery?
So how do you change the battery?
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I'll have to take the pickguard off. Won't be too often though, so no too big a deal.
Erm, what is SPC? ;-)
I didn't need to dig out space, it was a SSH body with enough room underneath the pickguard.
Some nice guitars guys!
Interesting Peter. Do you have the SPC? Did you have to dig out space for a battery?
So how do you change the battery?
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So how do you change the battery?
[/quote]
If it's wired properly it only draws current when the jack plug is connected so it could last a number of years depending on use. I think I've only changed the one in my Pensa copy 2 or 3 times in all the time I've had it!
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I thought it was mostly in the pickups, but the chap who built it says categorically that the wood does make a difference. I think Mahogany, with or without a Maple cap gives a warmer tone than Alder or Ash.
I had Gretsch Filtertron pickups put in a mahogany body thinline type guitar, and although it makes the guitar sound more Grestchey ( is that a word?) it still doesn't sound quite like a duo Jet or a Gretsch hollowbody, so it must be a combination of all the factors.
The type of wood does not define if the guitar will sound more warm or harsh but the wood density will define the tone.
Lightweight wood, with less density will interact different than a heavyweight wood. The same Mahogany tree can prouce a various density tone blocks.
Mike Stern, for example, preffers heavyweight guitars cause the guitar sounds more 'focused' and jazzy to his ears.
Greg Curbow (RIP), has developed a kind of hybrid material called Luthite (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luthite) used by Cort and Ibanez that can imitate the density of any wood that you would desire.
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I've been to the exhibition and wanted to share here of course, but I couldn't find the words, to be honest.
When the auction was announced, I felt incredibly sad. For Mark, it must have probably been a long progress to make the decision, but as a huge guitar maniac myself, it's not easy to see your hero sell most of his collection. The last couple of years have been weird in terms of the recording/touring cycle that has been broken. Though I generally visited one show per tour, it was a wonderful thing to look forward to and something like a certainty in life. Any sign that he was back in the studio meant I could see him play again. Overall, I'm glad he quit touring; it's the right decision, but waiting for 5,5 years for the next album was tough, even more so when he seemed sure to keep writing and recording.
Anyway, with all the announcements combined, I had an odd feeling that One Deep River might also be his last record. I felt unfortunate about that idea but immediately felt like a visit to London could fill up some emptiness of a missing tour feeling and perhaps some closure of the whole circus. I was prepared for an emotional rollercoaster in London ;D
But it was not! I was thrilled to be there and happy all the time at the exhibition. It felt like celebrating his career. We took all the time in the world to carefully look at every instrument, and it was such a joy. As a kid, I spent so much time worshiping the MK1, you wouldn't believe it. Yes, I liked the Fenders and Gibsons, but this beast was my 'object of desire'. When I started visiting tours, he already quit playing it, so I never saw it in real life. In fact, for the last 20+ years, I always thought I would never see it again. It was an absolute highlight to get so close to it. I've been staring at it for minutes. I could also tell about the obvious other diamonds, but the MK1 stood out.
I don't care how much money the instruments raised. It's strange that some might never see daylight again, but let's hope for the best. Of all my fond MK memories, having visited every tour since 2001, this day was very special, and I will never forget it. I'm very thankful we got a chance to see the instruments. Like I said earlier, it felt like homage.
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Lovely post, nicely written, thank you very much!
LE
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Somebody asked about the fate of guitars. How about one being resold on eBay? No joke:
eBay Link: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/256423401813?itmmeta=01HQS01Y55YPJ3ZGTG1T9D8XGW&hash=item3bb4069955:g:Es0AAOSwfWtlyJI-&itmprp=enc%3AAQAIAAAAwMg4t8KkUt0MT6PiF01QARROJmQiSlw2xxJ0bJkE1qCfNllFCi02l%2Fo276XxAMHz3n9A0CIdLu5VXEoa3dUHU21dekuOz6KijaKrBnB0l5xLp%2FWtF6iPkaHO4P6qmG5o5Mjezcvs1XpBcHuyqIGGyiVRxO%2FRZhgLlChIMWC2lSYULCou0b3VzUZAYHY61LXZMcVR%2FAR7kH6zArA6Uv0JJgNUNNK4UGklAML8wh%2FiYa3Z9TuCdCcge0TYNxrIJaHOZQ%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR9rih6C-Yw (https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/256423401813?itmmeta=01HQS01Y55YPJ3ZGTG1T9D8XGW&hash=item3bb4069955:g:Es0AAOSwfWtlyJI-&itmprp=enc%3AAQAIAAAAwMg4t8KkUt0MT6PiF01QARROJmQiSlw2xxJ0bJkE1qCfNllFCi02l%2Fo276XxAMHz3n9A0CIdLu5VXEoa3dUHU21dekuOz6KijaKrBnB0l5xLp%2FWtF6iPkaHO4P6qmG5o5Mjezcvs1XpBcHuyqIGGyiVRxO%2FRZhgLlChIMWC2lSYULCou0b3VzUZAYHY61LXZMcVR%2FAR7kH6zArA6Uv0JJgNUNNK4UGklAML8wh%2FiYa3Z9TuCdCcge0TYNxrIJaHOZQ%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR9rih6C-Yw)
Lot #104: https://www.christies.com/lot/lot-6465809?ldp_breadcrumb=back&intobjectid=6465809&from=salessummary&lid=1 (https://www.christies.com/lot/lot-6465809?ldp_breadcrumb=back&intobjectid=6465809&from=salessummary&lid=1)
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Very odd. I guess the guy got caught up in auction fever.
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A friend of mine bid for this guitar but lost it.
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A friend of mine bid for this guitar but lost it.
Crazy to think that Kay Mandolin and Russian balalaika raised more money than this impressive Dreadnought. One of the cheapest lots on the auction.
I wonder who's going to buy it after the fact. Who on Earth will pay 15 grand for a guitar with the only connection to MK being "previously owned by"?
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So, it cost £12,000 plus buyers fees, and he wants £15k for it on eBay where everyone wants stuff for nothing. Good luck. ;D
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Russian balalaika was the weirdest thing in the auction. Not as an object, but the fact that somebody paid to get it.
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He should have gifted the balalaika to Richard. I know it made a stupid amount in the sale, but its real value as an instrument is only a few hundred pounds and Richard can probably play one ;D
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Russian balalaika was the weirdest thing in the auction. Not as an object, but the fact that somebody paid to get it.
He should have gifted the balalaika to Richard. I know it made a stupid amount in the sale, but its real value as an instrument is only a few hundred pounds and Richard can probably play one ;D
Pretty sure it was pure trolling from MK. He could easily throw it away, give it to somebody, give it to charity, gift it to the Russian embassy, but no, it was a deliberate choice to display this ridiculous instrument in fine Christie's auction house, and let somebody fight for it. And now somebody's got a balalaika with a plaque that it's a gift to Mark Knopfler... Trolling cycle.
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A couple of catalogues:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/305425442751?itmmeta=01HR5T73MA9BW0SQZXW9B6NNEQ&hash=item471cc667bf:g:c6EAAOSwoHtl4UtW&itmprp=enc%3AAQAIAAAAwFzcLcr7ca6SojIyU96hidPNgxQ54NtD4KBMkyuwVsYi8xlJDpwrLdSDVSzyfiDYTesuIiBhemzNuGd2CSyrjdA9zp6fQeMKpF%2B8QY0qA2l9y%2F3%2B%2FOHxV3TWQk2fv5r0unCjDvv6MSTx%2FGswlQPs4057valEDPjroE9ur3g9uh241DDwywAO7wgzIqmQjB4PfMqzy12n5ttpsZeAqtJR6mpEdAsFAGkZnafQrrmwJgjzmT%2FAuRGunkmEEFJ2QJF%2Bew%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR8i6nLrBYw
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/296259068971?itmmeta=01HR5T895R1XAF9NE4BHXNDTVG&hash=item44fa6aa42b:g:AOcAAOSwFO9lyMU~&itmprp=enc%3AAQAIAAAAwDanynM2GnGCREZNVU3n2HQ2n5vdtQvx%2FuC2FYkr8OwgWsJABVidMaU3Mhx%2F6g9Sow%2Ffw%2FHaiyAttT8nLcebONNoDr64lZBCb2DXGXvyJ%2FYHSQ%2BE6xmzKcQJn7BDLeKRGVHE6kj3%2BzsDtr9rH1fWu1hWbGekH%2F7YsRcm%2BZrYwurTNBJl%2FU3xO1iUU3kb0sRxA%2F%2BBYXpkgdDVrRAT5M0EWfy2N7sQ4EhosdfDfpaPvALn86BgEerUTgJy9gSrv04BSQ%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR_6SobrBYw
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https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/196228273497?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=SpGyYuUXQtG&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=Z48jxIShSha&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
This one sold for £140! I should have bought more than one!
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My first thought too😀
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https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/196228273497?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=SpGyYuUXQtG&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=Z48jxIShSha&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
This one sold for £140! I should have bought more than one!
Thats what I thought in the beguining, but later I had second thoughts, I won't bother going to the postal office as their opening schedule is very small in my town so I avoided the trouble, LOL
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Odd that after a lifetime of buying books this is suddenly likely the most valuable book I own... although it was also probably the most I have ever spent on a single book. Worth every penny though.
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Indeed. I knew it would be getting more valuable as these auction catalogues always are not printed in too large editions and almost never are reprinted. I joked about buying 10 of them when I ordered mine. When I checked a couple of days later it wasn't available anymore. Very happy to have it. Very expensive spring for MK fans but buying tickets would have been much more expensive.
LE
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Yes, and don‘t forget all the travelling costs
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Odd that after a lifetime of buying books this is suddenly likely the most valuable book I own... although it was also probably the most I have ever spent on a single book. Worth every penny though.
Same here, although Christies gave me mine in return for the rights to use one of my photos !
I'd rather have the book than the money. Love over Gold.
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Somebody asked about the fate of guitars. How about one being resold on eBay? No joke:
eBay Link: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/256423401813?itmmeta=01HQS01Y55YPJ3ZGTG1T9D8XGW&hash=item3bb4069955:g:Es0AAOSwfWtlyJI-&itmprp=enc%3AAQAIAAAAwMg4t8KkUt0MT6PiF01QARROJmQiSlw2xxJ0bJkE1qCfNllFCi02l%2Fo276XxAMHz3n9A0CIdLu5VXEoa3dUHU21dekuOz6KijaKrBnB0l5xLp%2FWtF6iPkaHO4P6qmG5o5Mjezcvs1XpBcHuyqIGGyiVRxO%2FRZhgLlChIMWC2lSYULCou0b3VzUZAYHY61LXZMcVR%2FAR7kH6zArA6Uv0JJgNUNNK4UGklAML8wh%2FiYa3Z9TuCdCcge0TYNxrIJaHOZQ%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR9rih6C-Yw (https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/256423401813?itmmeta=01HQS01Y55YPJ3ZGTG1T9D8XGW&hash=item3bb4069955:g:Es0AAOSwfWtlyJI-&itmprp=enc%3AAQAIAAAAwMg4t8KkUt0MT6PiF01QARROJmQiSlw2xxJ0bJkE1qCfNllFCi02l%2Fo276XxAMHz3n9A0CIdLu5VXEoa3dUHU21dekuOz6KijaKrBnB0l5xLp%2FWtF6iPkaHO4P6qmG5o5Mjezcvs1XpBcHuyqIGGyiVRxO%2FRZhgLlChIMWC2lSYULCou0b3VzUZAYHY61LXZMcVR%2FAR7kH6zArA6Uv0JJgNUNNK4UGklAML8wh%2FiYa3Z9TuCdCcge0TYNxrIJaHOZQ%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR9rih6C-Yw)
Lot #104: https://www.christies.com/lot/lot-6465809?ldp_breadcrumb=back&intobjectid=6465809&from=salessummary&lid=1 (https://www.christies.com/lot/lot-6465809?ldp_breadcrumb=back&intobjectid=6465809&from=salessummary&lid=1)
Auction ended with zero bids...
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Somebody asked about the fate of guitars. How about one being resold on eBay? No joke:
eBay Link: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/256423401813?itmmeta=01HQS01Y55YPJ3ZGTG1T9D8XGW&hash=item3bb4069955:g:Es0AAOSwfWtlyJI-&itmprp=enc%3AAQAIAAAAwMg4t8KkUt0MT6PiF01QARROJmQiSlw2xxJ0bJkE1qCfNllFCi02l%2Fo276XxAMHz3n9A0CIdLu5VXEoa3dUHU21dekuOz6KijaKrBnB0l5xLp%2FWtF6iPkaHO4P6qmG5o5Mjezcvs1XpBcHuyqIGGyiVRxO%2FRZhgLlChIMWC2lSYULCou0b3VzUZAYHY61LXZMcVR%2FAR7kH6zArA6Uv0JJgNUNNK4UGklAML8wh%2FiYa3Z9TuCdCcge0TYNxrIJaHOZQ%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR9rih6C-Yw (https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/256423401813?itmmeta=01HQS01Y55YPJ3ZGTG1T9D8XGW&hash=item3bb4069955:g:Es0AAOSwfWtlyJI-&itmprp=enc%3AAQAIAAAAwMg4t8KkUt0MT6PiF01QARROJmQiSlw2xxJ0bJkE1qCfNllFCi02l%2Fo276XxAMHz3n9A0CIdLu5VXEoa3dUHU21dekuOz6KijaKrBnB0l5xLp%2FWtF6iPkaHO4P6qmG5o5Mjezcvs1XpBcHuyqIGGyiVRxO%2FRZhgLlChIMWC2lSYULCou0b3VzUZAYHY61LXZMcVR%2FAR7kH6zArA6Uv0JJgNUNNK4UGklAML8wh%2FiYa3Z9TuCdCcge0TYNxrIJaHOZQ%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR9rih6C-Yw)
Lot #104: https://www.christies.com/lot/lot-6465809?ldp_breadcrumb=back&intobjectid=6465809&from=salessummary&lid=1 (https://www.christies.com/lot/lot-6465809?ldp_breadcrumb=back&intobjectid=6465809&from=salessummary&lid=1)
Auction ended with zero bids...
Well, it's a 15K guitar that you need to collect in person from Cambridge, no shipping is provided. I wonder if it will sell for years with these conditions, and I also wonder what the guy who bought it was thinking when he was doing it. In this situation, Christie's estimated prices would come in handy!
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Paul McCartney also received a balalaika in Moscow but a couple of years earlier than Mark. And Paul's got a bigger one. It feels weird to say Paul McCartney's balalaika is bigger than Mark Knopfler's.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvGcs0WuKs4
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The price is down to 12,000 pounds: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/256458197989?itmmeta=01HSVYQTRFTPB4ZTWKMY0HF1SW&hash=item3bb6198be5:g:Es0AAOSwfWtlyJI-&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAAwD5DWqILlEJmCxSPfgQWqt6dl2BA6X5mXragHpomzM1h%2F24%2B7keX2ZMZawMOeCqYyUEYcVJnrAnDb14cdPKNg1jp3H6NTQ8KP5zKcdYOCRaSHcTcUtbrpoojrimc8ocs7oDDZhQcA2K8HL9PCz04%2FTjPAMkCul004aK8JS3mbV5xAyQn2RtD6wSJ7of%2Fr3noMOD%2BsKFFb6SdoYJ4BcZQ0sjw1OoKb3p3CuxvVIVg%2BL7qIUpdyg%2B9P%2BPVhzjVpsFUdQ%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR66s3_7OYw
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Would love to know the story here.
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Probably a case of "omg, I just spent £15,000 on a guitar ...". Or unexpected expenses and now their credit cards are maxed out.
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Probably a case of "omg, I just spent £15,000 on a guitar ...". Or unexpected expenses and now their credit cards are maxed out.
I did raise an eyebrow when people were speaking about these guitars as investment pieces. A lot of them, like this one, are fairly nondescript and not that interesting.
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Probably a case of "omg, I just spent £15,000 on a guitar ...". Or unexpected expenses and now their credit cards are maxed out.
I did raise an eyebrow when people were speaking about these guitars as investment pieces. A lot of them, like this one, are fairly nondescript and not that interesting.
Any regular guitar Mark has just owned and barely used is just nuts to pay that kind of money for. M.J. Franks is a totally unknown builder to me, and a quick search reveals that he's not exactly often discussed online. I'm sure it's a great guitar, but it seems the base model of that guitar starts at the equivalent of £3675. The seller will have a hard time getting rid of this one.
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Lucky Mary Spender:
https://youtu.be/55VAI6YFqBY?si=gOjNHsXRNFZ7f7vu
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Lucky Mary Spender:
https://youtu.be/55VAI6YFqBY?si=gOjNHsXRNFZ7f7vu
Wow, very cool. Nice to hear these guitars played in a style and with a tone that are not associated with Mark.
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https://www.juliensauctions.com/en/lots/48713/mark-knopfler-obe-chet-atkins-signed-and-gifted-gibson-country-gentleman-electric-guitar
This seems like a bargain compared to some of the Christies stuff.
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https://www.juliensauctions.com/en/lots/48713/mark-knopfler-obe-chet-atkins-signed-and-gifted-gibson-country-gentleman-electric-guitar
This seems like a bargain compared to some of the Christies stuff.
What a beautiful instrument!
I can't remember ever seeing it before. Did he ever play it in public? Those red dots are something you would normally remember.
It really hurts a bit to see it going, because it's not a working tool but a personal gift from Chet.
Edit: At first I thought he was selling his OBE! :lol
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If anyone's still interested in a MK-used six-string ;-) :
https://reverb.com/en-nl/item/83036350-gibson-les-paul-standard-ex-mark-knopfler-dire-straits-1979-tobacco-sunburst
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I will not buy this guitar. It is scratched. ;)
Nice instrument, though. There's another one on that site, a 58 MK custom LP for 27,000 euros.
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Never heard about a 79 Les Paul related to MK.
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Yeah I’d be looking for some providence on this one.
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Isn’t it the one from the Love Over Gold sessions?
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Isn’t it the one from the Love Over Gold sessions?
Yes!
(https://textes-blog-rock-n-roll.fr/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Dire-Straits-guitares-sessions-Love-over-gold.jpg)
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Lucky Mary Spender:
https://youtu.be/55VAI6YFqBY?si=gOjNHsXRNFZ7f7vu
great to hear the guitar(s) sound like that! good video!