The Official Fender Mark Knopfler Stratocaster Owners' Club Thread

[dustyvalentino]

I know we have a few MK strat owners here so lets have a dedicated thread.

I ordered mine as soon as they were announced and got it in September 2003 if memory serves. I don't have it to hand to check at the moment but the serial is number  SE00154.

The first time I opened the case I remember being surprised at how dark the red was, almost maroon. It emerged later that a small number of MK strats, apparently 20, had been sent from the factory in the wrong colour, Dakota Red instead of Hot Rod Red. I really don't mind, whatever colour it is it looks great. It can look different in different pictures, in the pics below it doesn't look much different to the Hot Rod Red, but when I see MK's strats in concert I can tell the difference right away.

It is very light and a fantastic guitar. MK signed the headstock for me at the Hay on Wye festival in May 2007.

Some pics.









Let's see your MK strats!

[Fletch]

Looks beautiful. If yours is one of twenty it only makes it more special.
Don't have a sig myself, just an American standard candy cola, and a highway sunburst for good measure! Can't beat a well set-up strat!
 

[dustyvalentino]

Looks beautiful. If yours is one of twenty it only makes it more special.
Don't have a sig myself, just an American standard candy cola, and a highway sunburst for good measure! Can't beat a well set-up strat!
 

Fletch, I meant to say, Dan very kindly transferred some of my old Mini Discs for me, including my recording of the Brothers in Arms "Classic Albums" show. I hope to get it on the tracker soon.

[Fletch]

Cool! I can't wait to hear mark telling me just how " terrible " BIA is again.

[NOOCHO]

This is amazing!!!!! I bought a MARK knopfler STRAT in 2008 brand new. What attracted me at first was the coulour but playing this strat it holds up to my CUSTOM SHOP WITH EASE . Its nice to see other people appreciating the beauty and quality of this GUITAR . IVE heard they are being cancelled. Is this a fact or rumour?Unfortunetly I CHIPPED MINE and then stupidily had someone try to repair the fairly big chip AND THEY didnt match the coulour properly in one area, So IM READY TO BUY another one!! Maybe one of you out there knows where I CAN GET  great deal online somewhere? Now going back to that dakota red knopfler strat mine also looks that way in dimmer light settings, however in direct sunlight or any bright environment its definetly the same coulour as the fender add .  Have u put two of them side by side just to really see? OK THANKKS!!!    LATER

[Hoops McCann]

Is yours numbered, Dusty? I've been thinking about purchasing a guitar and trying to learn, but I don't know if it's better to start off with an acoustic or electric. Probably shouldn't be posting in this thread, but nevertheless...

[dustyvalentino]

This is amazing!!!!! I bought a MARK knopfler STRAT in 2008 brand new. What attracted me at first was the coulour but playing this strat it holds up to my CUSTOM SHOP WITH EASE . Its nice to see other people appreciating the beauty and quality of this GUITAR . IVE heard they are being cancelled. Is this a fact or rumour?Unfortunetly I CHIPPED MINE and then stupidily had someone try to repair the fairly big chip AND THEY didnt match the coulour properly in one area, So IM READY TO BUY another one!! Maybe one of you out there knows where I CAN GET  great deal online somewhere? Now going back to that dakota red knopfler strat mine also looks that way in dimmer light settings, however in direct sunlight or any bright environment its definetly the same coulour as the fender add .  Have u put two of them side by side just to really see? OK THANKKS!!!    LATER

Welcome to the best Mark Knopfler forum in the world NOOCHO!

No, I haven't had the chance to compare mine with another side by side, I agree that would be interesting.

As for buying another, what country are you in?

Dan, the MK strats are indeed numbered, I think mine is no 153 or something like that. Everybody does it different ways, but I would recommend starting on an acoustic, you can get a good one for relatively cheap price in the States, maybe something like this:

http://www.wildwoodguitars.com/acoustics/taylor/baby/307_0150/307_0150.php

[Fletch]

Next week I intend to pimp my highway one with some Texas special pickups, really looking forward to a finished job, but I hope my soldering is up toss scratch, it's been a while!

That Dakota Red sure looks fine!!!!!

[Ingo]

I doubt that there were only 2o with the dark red, to me it seemed the complete first run was this way. I remember when the first guitars reached the shops in 2003, I was surprised that they all were so dark, and these were three in my city alone.

If yours is #153, the question is whether all so far were the dark red (so at least 153). Does anyone know of a low-number MK Strat in the right colour? And which is the highest number in this colour??

By the way, I heard that one day in 2003 Mark saw one of these in a shop in London and was upset...

[dustyvalentino]

Ingo, I think you are probably right about there being more than 20, Fender probably put that low number out there to calm MK down.

The one thing we don't know however is if the serial numbers were assigned in the order they were built. Mine could have been the first one built, then the 153rd to get it's neck plate, we don't know.

[Fletch]

By the way, I heard that one day in 2003 Mark saw one of these in a shop in London and was upset...

How do you hear things like that? Lol

[knopflerized]

Awww Nice Topic !

I also have got one ! I started playing the Guitar in 2004 but I first bought a red Squier in order to have quite the same as MK. ( What a strange idea...)

The same shop had the MK signature for sale. A few months later I decided to sell my motorbike (which was red too lol) and I bought the MK Strat !
My parents loved the deal (no motorbike anymore no worries anymore) Well, I also feel safer now... even if I sometime miss ridding. Anyway I have quite the most beautiful thing ever in my living room ! I loved playing it... I have to admit that I don't play  anymore for months... but I'm on my way to restart...
I got it signed by MK in Le Mans 2006 !

[Knopflerfan]

Well I can actually join this 'select' thread as I have just this moment purchased an MK strat!
I have played for what is now 20 Years with a couple of squier stratocasters, and I have today upgraded bigstyle!!

I will enclose some photo's and numbers when it arrives which will hopefully be Monday....

[dustyvalentino]

Congrats! They are great guitars.

I have a few nice guitars but if I am playing an important gig I turn to the MK strat. Not just because it always sounds good, regardless of the situation, but also because it is very, very dependable. It will always do exactly what you expect it to do, not the case with some other guitars.

[Knopflerfan]

The 'MK' Strat has arrived and I am chuffed to bits with it!! It came complete with case, all labels, tremelo and lead... The serial number for the strat is 'SE03805'

I am going to take it to my local guitar shop 'Guitar Mania' so they can service it before I get too carried away with it!!!
I will upload some photo's of the Strat onto my Mark Knopfler Images website over the weekend.

A few questions for anyone:
*How do I find out what year this particular guitar was made? (as the serial number is basically the number run.)
*How many were made?

Cheers for now...