Star guitarist Mark Knopfler, of the group Dire Straits, will auction 120 of his guitars and amps in January, including the one with which he recorded the hit Money For Nothing and played at the Live Aid concert in 1985, the house announced on Tuesday of Christie’s sale. “I’ve spent a lot of time with these guitars, but they need a good home,” explains the singer and guitar virtuoso, quoted by Christie’s. Mark Knopfler already knows that he will be “sad to see them go”, after these “wonderful moments together”. But “it’s time” to take them out of their case, adds the 74-year-old Briton. “Why hold on to them when there are people who would love to have them and play with them every day?” says the star of Dire Straits, the band with whom he created one of the most recognizable sounds from the 1980s, inspired by blues and country.
The collection of 120 guitars and amps up for sale covers the entire 50-year career of Mark Knopfler. Pieces include “iconic and world-famous names” such as Gibson, Fender and Martin, as well as custom-made models from luthiers around the world, the auction house says.
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Among the stars of the sale is an original 1959 Les Paul Standard guitar, which he acquired from Bobby Tench of the Jeff Beck Group. On the back of the guitar, some varnish is missing, where the instrument rubbed against its owner’s belt. It is estimated between 300,000 and 500,000 pounds sterling (between 400,000 and 570,000 euros). Also up for sale is the guitar with which he recorded Money for Nothing and played at the Live Aid concert in 1985. It is estimated at between £10,000 and £15,000.
The auction will take place on January 31 in London. The sale will be preceded by an exhibition from December 9 to 13 in New York, then in London at Christie’s headquarters. A quarter of the profits from the sale will go to charities, including the British Red Cross. Interviewed on the BBC, Mark Knopfler admitted that he may buy new guitars with the money he earns from the sale. “I guess I’m not impervious to temptation,” he said with a laugh.