SOS live in different periods and different guitars

[ybot]

How can we compare Mark gigs playing the red Fender, Schecter and Pensa-Suhr on live SOS?

Before 1980 he played the Fender.
From Alchemy to the end of 1985 he played the  red Schecter, by 1985 1986 he played the brown/white fender.
From 1988 to 1992 the Pensa. To 2000 or more

He changed rithms and speeds in each of his gigs

We could recognize any gig between schecter and pensa. They are very different

any comments?

regards
ybot

[dmg]

There were many different sounds and also arrangements along the way too.  That, for me has always been the main appeal of DS music.  I love the way his music has always been that little bit different, perhaps more complex than other mainstream artists and how he can change the arrangement of a song.  What has been something of a disappointment to me these days is that he has moved away from Mark the composer to the Mark the writer.

Something interesting to note is that he changed guitars on the BIA tour.  This is probably the only example (for Sultans) we have where a different guitar is used on the same amps so we can make a fair comparison.

[ybot]

Hi dmg: just compare any OES or mandela gig to BIA.
At BIA he played the red Schecter at the 1st leg and the brown/white Fender.
We can listen to other sounds on Sidney compared with Live Aid or Alchemy

[dmg]

Hi dmg: just compare any OES or mandela gig to BIA.
At BIA he played the red Schecter at the 1st leg and the brown/white Fender.
We can listen to other sounds on Sidney compared with Live Aid or Alchemy

Hmm...the Pensa-Suhr sounded like a completely different guitar on the Wembley Arena gig '88 compared to the OES tour to me.

Also, I thought there were three different phases of sounds on the OES tour:
1. 1st leg European and Australasian leg had some echo on it, didn't sound too nice to me.
2. USA/Canada sounded very smooth but dull.
3. Final European leg.  Best of the three; powerful and clean sound.

[Crusty]

Important part from sound is amplifier and effects and how made setting.

[dmg]

Important part from sound is amplifier and effects and how made setting.

Yes.  I think there were some significant changes between Aug '91 and Apr '92, according to Ingo's page all with the same amps.

[ybot]

What about speed and Mark's guitar volume .

DS band seldom highlighed other musician but Mark.

Jack Sonni had a couple of solos, Alan, Cris, John or Phil Palmer as usual

[the visitor]

I think I probably like the Pensa versions of Sultans the best. Really quick fretwork and a lovely tone.

Recent versions on the Fender sound almost too bright and the playing sounds laboured (even though it probably isn't)

[Crusty]

From live version I like best Alchemy version with Schecter. Very nice snapy and popy sound.

[MK-47]

I have to mention the Rockpalast 79 version. That one is so raw and beautiful to listen and watch. I like the early versions of this song simply because I love the studio version.

That being said, the Alchemy and OES versions are beautiful displays of guitar and songwriting artistry at its finest.

The only versions I mostly pass on are the On Location tour ones. The keyboard sound on those is weird and too loud, in my opinion of course. It gets in the way of the guitar work which we all are paying attention to, while on the OES versions the sax complements it nicely.

From the solo period I will single out the Hamburg 96 live version because it's so energetic and laid back at the same time and the performance is at a very high level skill-wise.

[ybot]

We can see how SOS evolutioned from 1977 1979 to Alchemy.  And wembley to Mandela.  And mandela to OES

His solo carreer has got many nice gigs.  1996 to 2000


After that I believe his gig went down

[sabicao]

How can we compare Mark gigs playing the red Fender, Schecter and Pensa-Suhr on live SOS?

Before 1980 he played the Fender.
From Alchemy to the end of 1985 he played the  red Schecter, by 1985 1986 he played the brown/white fender.
From 1988 to 1992 the Pensa. To 2000 or more

He changed rithms and speeds in each of his gigs

We could recognize any gig between schecter and pensa. They are very different

any comments?

regards
ybot

Sultans of Swing peaked on Alchemy, period.

From BiA onwards he just went too far. I like the piano piano bit and can live with the A minor chord that came with it, but come on... what's with (most of) the sax, the pedal steel guitar, and don't even get me started on the Pensa-Suhr crap! (Also the snare sound on the Nimes'92 is just plain wrong, but that could be just a fluke).

Summing it up:
        - The early, studio-like versions, with Pick Withers, are very special in my heart.
        - The Alchemy version is what separates Mark Knopfler from us common people. And no drummer can play that extended version of SoS like Terry Williams did.

[ybot]

SOS can be separated in  sections:

The one which Mark sings
Some great riffs. I think the Pensa-Suhr leads this section

The first solo
Both schecter Strato and Pensa rule

The 2nd solo after singing
This stanza wins Schecter


The final solo.
We can see Alchemy with chicken style
BIA tour a nice ending
At this time I vote for the Pensa at the begining of the final solo and the Fender and Schecter for the ending

It is my opinion as a fan and a guitarrist.
I cannot hide I own a Pensa mk1 replica and my votes are biased

Warm regards
Ybot

[dmg]

Mark was clearly a better guitarist by the time of the BIA tour than he was at the time Alchemy was recorded and all arrangements were more polished by then too.  Period.    AC's cheesy keyboards had mostly gone (thank God) and the sax/guitar answers at the end are now legendary.  Sorry Sabicao.  IMHO.

Advance to the OES tour and things had not advanced at all in terms of arrangements, indeed in some cases they had gone backwards (TOL being case in point).  Mark was playing and singing with less energy too, so although his playing was good it was ultimately not what it could have been.

[ybot]

Yes, at BIA was at his best.
At OES we saw a less energetical Mark when singing but his speed and magic was as BIA.
Arrangements and guitar switchs made a difference
TOL was almost cut out after 1992.
I agree his gigs with his schecter sunburst(as sidney) were a pearl. The Pensa changed the sound.

Regards