Mark Knopfler auctions guitar collection | Free press

2023-11-21 22:50:29

The music magazine “Rolling Stone” ranks him among the 100 best guitarists in the world. Now Mark Knopfler is parting ways with many of his “six-string companions”.

London.

The British musician Mark Knopfler (74) is parting with his guitar collection. More than 120 guitars, amplifiers and other items belonging to the former Dire Straits guitarist and singer (“Sultans Of Swing”) will go under the hammer at London auction house Christie’s on January 31st.

“It’s time to take some of these treasured six-string companions out of their cases so they can experience new adventures with new owners,” Knopfler is quoted as saying in a statement from Christie’s.

The highlight of the auction is a guitar from 1959, which the British musician played on the tours for his solo albums “Sailing To Philadelphia” (2001) and “Kill To Get Crimson” (2008) and on various studio recordings. The auction house expects bids between 300,000 and 500,000 pounds (approx. 344,000 to 574,000 euros) for the rare “Vintage Gibson Les Paul Standard”. A rare “1958 Gibson ES-335” could fetch up to 90,000 pounds (approx. 103,000 euros).

Exciting for music fans, but still not quite as valuable, is a “Standard ’59 Reissue” from 1983. Knopfler played it in the studio when he wrote the title song and the hit for the legendary Dire Straits album “Brothers In Arms”. recorded “Money For Nothing”. He also used the guitar on the subsequent tour and at the “Live Aid” concert, where Dire Straits performed together with Sting. With an estimated value of between 10,000 and 15,000 pounds (approx. 11,500 to 17,200 euros), the instrument is comparatively inexpensive.

“You can be sure I’ll be sad when they’re gone,” Mark Knopfler is quoted as saying, “but I had wonderful times with them and I can’t play them all.”

A quarter of the total proceeds will go to charitable organizations. Before the auction in January, selected objects will be in the Christie’s branches publicly exhibited in New York (December 9th to 13th) and London (January 19th to 30th, 2024). (dpa)

X