Tweet
Re: Mark Knopfler - 2 part Ques
Guitars
1937 National Style ‘O’ Resonator (Serial Number - B1844)
This is probably one of Mark’s most famous guitars, and has featured on every album. (Water of Love, Portobello Belle, Romeo & Juliet, Telegraph Road, The Man’s Too Strong, When it Comes to You) Featured on the cover to the album Brothers In Arms
1961 Stratocaster (SN - 80470)
This was Mark’s main guitar through 1977 to 1979, and was used extensively live. Quite easy to pick out because of its black volume knob. It has a non-standard red finish; to replicate Hank Marvin’s Strat he adored so much as a child. Also, you may notice that it has a maple fingerboard, and that they weren’t available at the time. As a result of the replacement, there is no skunk stripe. The strap button from the upper horn has been moved onto the back. These mods were done by a repair man called Sam Lee (probably sometime during 1978). The guitar can be seen on the Sultans Of Swing and Wild West End Videos. In 1982 the neck was replaced with a one piece maple Schecter neck.
1978; you can see there’s no volume knob (and you can see the strap goes behind).
Around the same time, he had another red Strat (SN - 68354), which again was painted red (was natural). However, this one remained mainly stock, with only a pickup being replaced (a Dimarzio FS-1 in the neck in the late 70’s) (As far as I know that’s the only mod). This guitar wasn’t used as often live as the one above. He still uses this guitar live today however (his main live guitar really, I’m guessing with some reissues too). This is also the basis model for his Fender Signature Strat.
During the late 70s he also used a Black Tele Thinline (SN - 226254) that belonged to his brother David. He used it live on Water Of Love between ‘77 and ‘79, and David used it on Wild West End. It was tuned to open A and capoed at the 5th fret. The F-holes had been filled in before hand by Steve Phillips of the Notting Hillbillies, and he also painted it black.
From around 1980, his main axe turned to a Schecter Strat copy (SN - S8218), in candy apple red with chrome dome knobs, white pickguard and individual on/off switches for each pickup. Pickups were later changed the SDs, possibly SSL1s, then again with SD Alnico Pros. Maple neck without any position markers on the fretboard with Dunlop 6110 frets (at the time he used it anyway). This guitar was used at Live Aid in 1985.
Schecter Sunburst Strat copy. Quilted maple top finished in sunburst. Unusually for a Schecter Strat of the time it has position markers on the top of the fretboard. It was used for Tunnel Of Love but it was stolen. Mark’s favourite guitar.
In 1984 came Mark’s Schecter Tele copy in red (SN - S8703) , with binding to the top. Used on the Walk Of Life video, he has used it live for that song ever since. It was also used on the soundtrack Cal, which was where he first used it.
Around the same time came Mark’s 1984 Les Paul reissue (SN9 90006) (one of the first reissue Les Pauls, modeled after a late 50’s LP). He used this on Money For Nothing (it is seen on the cover and reverse of the album Money For Nothing also) and Brothers In Arms on the album Brothers In Arms. He also used this guitar at Live Aid in 1985.
1985 Saw a bit of a hybrid guitar, assembled by John Suhr. Schecter neck and body, and a Fender bridge. Seymour Duncan Alnico Pros and Dunlop 6110 frets. The headstock says Fender, though it isn’t. It was used in the late 80’s, and a model of it can be seen on the Calling Elvis video (the video contains puppets of the band playing). Mark still owns the puppet from this video too!
Guitars
1937 National Style ‘O’ Resonator (Serial Number - B1844)
This is probably one of Mark’s most famous guitars, and has featured on every album. (Water of Love, Portobello Belle, Romeo & Juliet, Telegraph Road, The Man’s Too Strong, When it Comes to You) Featured on the cover to the album Brothers In Arms
1961 Stratocaster (SN - 80470)
This was Mark’s main guitar through 1977 to 1979, and was used extensively live. Quite easy to pick out because of its black volume knob. It has a non-standard red finish; to replicate Hank Marvin’s Strat he adored so much as a child. Also, you may notice that it has a maple fingerboard, and that they weren’t available at the time. As a result of the replacement, there is no skunk stripe. The strap button from the upper horn has been moved onto the back. These mods were done by a repair man called Sam Lee (probably sometime during 1978). The guitar can be seen on the Sultans Of Swing and Wild West End Videos. In 1982 the neck was replaced with a one piece maple Schecter neck.
1978; you can see there’s no volume knob (and you can see the strap goes behind).
Around the same time, he had another red Strat (SN - 68354), which again was painted red (was natural). However, this one remained mainly stock, with only a pickup being replaced (a Dimarzio FS-1 in the neck in the late 70’s) (As far as I know that’s the only mod). This guitar wasn’t used as often live as the one above. He still uses this guitar live today however (his main live guitar really, I’m guessing with some reissues too). This is also the basis model for his Fender Signature Strat.
During the late 70s he also used a Black Tele Thinline (SN - 226254) that belonged to his brother David. He used it live on Water Of Love between ‘77 and ‘79, and David used it on Wild West End. It was tuned to open A and capoed at the 5th fret. The F-holes had been filled in before hand by Steve Phillips of the Notting Hillbillies, and he also painted it black.
From around 1980, his main axe turned to a Schecter Strat copy (SN - S8218), in candy apple red with chrome dome knobs, white pickguard and individual on/off switches for each pickup. Pickups were later changed the SDs, possibly SSL1s, then again with SD Alnico Pros. Maple neck without any position markers on the fretboard with Dunlop 6110 frets (at the time he used it anyway). This guitar was used at Live Aid in 1985.
Schecter Sunburst Strat copy. Quilted maple top finished in sunburst. Unusually for a Schecter Strat of the time it has position markers on the top of the fretboard. It was used for Tunnel Of Love but it was stolen. Mark’s favourite guitar.
In 1984 came Mark’s Schecter Tele copy in red (SN - S8703) , with binding to the top. Used on the Walk Of Life video, he has used it live for that song ever since. It was also used on the soundtrack Cal, which was where he first used it.
Around the same time came Mark’s 1984 Les Paul reissue (SN9 90006) (one of the first reissue Les Pauls, modeled after a late 50’s LP). He used this on Money For Nothing (it is seen on the cover and reverse of the album Money For Nothing also) and Brothers In Arms on the album Brothers In Arms. He also used this guitar at Live Aid in 1985.
1985 Saw a bit of a hybrid guitar, assembled by John Suhr. Schecter neck and body, and a Fender bridge. Seymour Duncan Alnico Pros and Dunlop 6110 frets. The headstock says Fender, though it isn’t. It was used in the late 80’s, and a model of it can be seen on the Calling Elvis video (the video contains puppets of the band playing). Mark still owns the puppet from this video too!
Comment