The Official Fender Mark Knopfler Stratocaster Owners' Club Thread

[3Strats]

Ha! just noticed this thread which must have re-surfaced from the depths of the forum.
I've had my MK strat for about 7 years  s/n se019 * *  I ordered it (on line) from a Dealer in the UK in November 2005 and it arrived in February 2006. From the date on the label under the scratchplate it wasn't put together until Nov 22nd 2005 - after I'd placed my order. I wonder if they built them in small batches, when they had enough orders to warrant a run of Hot Rod Red paint. Although I don't "play out" I've managed to put 4 small chips in the lacquer - one of which was when I took the scratch plate off for the photo below   The finish is Really fragile even compared to the supposed Nitro laquer on my Les Paul Studio.

NOTE: the label under the scratchplate may be the best dating evidence

[Knopflerfan]

Hi 3strats, Many thanks for your input and sorry you have 'chipped' your MK.
I have to say that all 3 of my MK's have a chip on them one way or another: SE006** having the least (1 only) and SE038** being the worst by having a few 'nasties' - but think actually that they add character to the beasts.
These were all done before I bought them as you may gather they are my real pride and joy and I really look after them!!
Interesting with the dating thing.
Mine are all personally dated by the neck - so I have 2003, 2004 and 2006 editions!!

[3Strats]

I haven't had to loosen the neck on mine - Fortunately it was almost perfectly set up when it arrived & I haven't had to adjust the truss rod at all, so I'm leaving well alone in case it takes any more lacquer off! I have a late 80's Maple necked MIJ Strat with a poly finish that's virtually bomb proof in comparison with the MK model. It's had a few dints but they just bounce out !  ( and my more recent MIM 50's classic is still unmarked . .(tempting fate here aren't I ?  ).   Still, they are there to play, not just sit in their cases and I suppose it's inevitable that they will get knocked from time to time (not much room in my spare bedroom "studio").

[Ingo]

knopflerfan, you have 3 Fender MK ?

Now after Fender discontinued the MK sig Strat, these might be a good investment 

Ingo

[Knopflerfan]

Yes I am lucky enough to own 3 MK Strats - They have been bought to play and also an Investment for the future!!

[Fletch]

I lost an eBay bid on a used MK Strat last night because I became engrossed watching The Godfather! Quite dissapointed, because it sold for less than I was willing to bid - which doesn't mean I would've won it for sure, because the winner may have gone higher.
As Ingo suggests, I think the will become a little more collectible as the years roll on.

[vgonis]

I have seen quite a few on ebay at prices I would have gone for, but I have to pay 700$ more for customs! And that is a bit heavy for me. Maybe if I have it brought to me from a friend over the US. How about you fletch? No customs, or is it from an Australian seller?

[Knopflerfan]

Here we are then please find a link to a piccie taken today of my newest aquisition - 'SE006**' along with 'SE008**'
I don't know whether it's the lighting but the Strat on the left (the older one) looks lighter in colour therefore maybe a 'Dakota' red version?
 http://www.flickr.com/photos/47005/8793113673/


Please feel free to explore my webpages as I have added some more photo's including a 'Hand-signed' Golden Heart poster!

[dustyvalentino]

Now the 10th anniversary of the MK strat!

Mine also has a few chips near the neck pocket, happened after I took the neck off to take to Hay on Wye in 07.

[Ingo]

Here we are then please find a link to a piccie taken today of my newest aquisition - 'SE006**' along with 'SE008**'
I don't know whether it's the lighting but the Strat on the left (the older one) looks lighter in colour therefore maybe a 'Dakota' red version?

Doesn't look like a Dakota red one on the pics, those are MUCH darker. I think they all vary a bit, probably because the paint is always mixed new for each production run.
Ingo

[Knopflerfan]

Ok cool. Have you a piccie of a 'dakota' red version??

[JF]

Ok cool. Have you a piccie of a 'dakota' red version??

here is an article on Ingo's site about this subject :

http://www.mk-guitar.com/2011/09/27/the-wrong-colour-of-the-first-mark-knopfler-signature-strats/

[Ingo]

Ok cool. Have you a piccie of a 'dakota' red version??

Sure, check out the corresponding blog article on my Mark Knopfler guitar website: http://www.mk-guitar.com/2011/09/27/the-wrong-colour-of-the-first-mark-knopfler-signature-strats/
However, pictures not always show the colour properly.

Also check out the following videos which compare two MK sig strats and a 64 fiest red strat, one of the MK sigs is hot rod red, one has the darker colour: http://www.mk-guitar.com/2011/12/11/mark-knopfler-signature-strats-vs-1964-stratocaster/

BTW, those early dark ones are not officially dakota red (and they are different from the dakota red Fender used in the 60ies), they are just much darker than the colour that Mark specified together with Fender.

[dustyvalentino]

Ok cool. Have you a piccie of a 'dakota' red version??

here is an article on Ingo's site about this subject :

http://www.mk-guitar.com/2011/09/27/the-wrong-colour-of-the-first-mark-knopfler-signature-strats/

That's my strat at the end of the article. 

[Holger_MK]

And the 2 ones on the first 2 pics and in the video are my beauties