Hi all
there is a mint Knopfler Stratocaster at Mercatino Musicale in Italy. I tried talking to the seller to reduce the price but he is firm at 2900 Euro. For me this is too much for factory level Strat. Spoke to Thomann and they can copy this guitar as a Custom Shop version for 3500 Euro with ash body sorted for weight, without the signature.
From Fender Custom Shop?
The Fender Custom Shop can build you any configuration of a Fender guitar you can imagine. They can also build you a Strat with the same configuration as a Mark Knopfler Strat, minus the signature (because that's a licensing topic). That Strat would probably be much better than a production level Mark Knopfler Strat because the Custom Shop has superior work quality and better materials plus more options (like hand wound pickups, an equally thin but more durable finish etc)
The CS Strat starts at 3500 Euro. Knopfler Strats in mint conditions go for around 3k without shipping, insurance. So you are nearly en par already. Unless you are lucky buying a 2nd hand Knopfler in good condition at that money levels becomes absurd. Even if you get a scratched one for 2200-2500, it is simply not worth it compared to getting a light years better guitar for a 1000 Euro more.