Mark Knopfler’s guitars fetched huge sums at a charity auction.
Mark Knopfler has had a solo career since Dire Straits. PDO
Having become famous as the frontman of the band Dire Straits by Mark Knopfler guitars were auctioned at top prices, he says BBC.
Knopfler sold more than 120 of his guitars and amplifiers at an auction in London.
The combined final sale price rose to approximately 8.8 million pounds, i.e. more than 10 million euros. A quarter of the proceeds will be donated to charity.
The selling price of many guitars was estimated to be only a few thousand pounds. However, they ended up shelling out a six-figure sum for numerous guitars.
The single most expensive item was a 1959 Vintage Gibson Les Paul Standard guitar. It was sold for 693,000 pounds, or a good 800,000 euros. It was a world record price for that model.
We ended up paying many tens of times more than estimated for the guitars. PDO
The 1988 Pensa-Suhr MK-1 guitar sold for 504,000 pounds, or about 590,000 euros. The guitar in question was played by Knopfler at the concert organized in honor of Nelson Mandela’s 70th birthday at Wembley Stadium.
The Red Schecter Telecaster bought by Knopfler in 1984 was sold for 415,800 pounds, or about 490,000 euros. This guitar is heard on a song by Dire Straits Walk of Life.
– It has warmed my heart to witness how important these guitars are to many. I am satisfied that they will continue to delight many over the years through the songs I have recorded with them, Knopfler commented on the auction experience.
Mark Knopfler was Dire Straits’ songwriter, guitarist and singer. The group ceased operations in 1995.