Legendary Dire Straits frontman Mark Knopfler is auctioning over 120 of his iconic guitars and amps next year. The sale, organised in January, includes the 1983 Les Paul Knopfler played on the Brothers In Arms album and at Live Aid.
The auction catalogues decades of his music career – spanning early days gigging around Newcastle through to vast success fronting 1980s rock giants Dire Straits on to his prolific solo work.
For guitar enthusiasts, the sale presents a unique opportunity to own a piece of rock’n’roll history.
Knopfler’s guitars are a significant collection for rock fans.
Among the headline items in the music memorabilia sale is Knopfler’s “holy grail” 1959 sunburst Gibson Les Paul, expected to fetch around £500k. There’s also a mandolin previously owned by blues great Yank Rachell estimated at a modest £300-£500.
“I hope they all get played. I don’t think they do too well living in a case,” Knopfler said.
Conservation charity
Twenty-five percent of proceeds will benefit charities like the Red Cross and wildlife conservationists Tusk. Though the guitarist may use a chunk of the money to buy new gear, admitting with a laugh: “I guess I’m not impervious to temptation!”
Regarded as a guitar virtuoso, Knopfler developed his emotive, fingerstyle technique without any formal training. “Playing with your fingers has something to do with immediacy and soul,” he said.
Guitars remain the iconic instrument of rock ‘n’ roll and they are the most valuable collectible in the field. The Beatles can command a premium, but their guitars are rarely sold. John Lennon’s early acoustic made more than $2.4 million in 2015. Prices have grown rapidly since then, and has Generation X ages into money a new hero, Kurt Cobain, has peaked. The two most valuable guitars ever sold belonged to the Nirvana frontman: the “Skystang” Fender Mustang ($4.55 million in 2022) and the Unplugged Martin acoustic ($6.01 million in 2020).
The prized guitars will preview in New York and London ahead of the January 31 auction day.
