Dire Straits legend’s guitars go for six figures

Several guitars put up for sale by Mark Knopfler, the former frontman of British rock group Dire Straits, on Wednesday fetched hundreds of thousands of pounds each at auction.

They include the 1983 guitar used to record the band’s hit songs Money For Nothing and Brothers in Arms, which sold for £592 000 (about R14 million) at the Christie’s sale in London

Knopfler famously played the Gibson Les Paul reissue at the legendary 1985 Live Aid concert in the British capital, adding to its collectors’ appeal

It had been estimated to cost £10 000-£15 000 but far exceeded that range. However, the sale fell short of the £693 000 paid for an original 1959 Les Paul Standard which the musician acquired from Bobby Tench of The Jeff Beck Group.

The costliest lot in the auction of more than 120 guitars and amps spanning Knopfler’s five-decade career, it featured during tour performances in 2001 and 2008 as well as several recordings.

One of a pair of vintage Les Pauls – from 1958 and 1959 – that the frontman bought in the 1990s, Christie’s described it as “a true collector’s instrument, with a beautifully faded cherry-red sunburst finish”.

Knopfler founded Dire Straits in 1977 with his younger brother David, bassist John Illsley, and drummer Pick Withers.

Wednesday’s auction included Gibson, Fender and Martin instruments alongside custom-built models by renowned guitar builders Rudy Pensa and John Suhr.

Knopfler will donate a quarter of the sales proceeds to various charities, including the British Red Cross, wildlife conservationists Tusk and children’s not-for-profit Brave Hearts of the North East. Other notable sales saw a 1988 Pensa-Suhr MK-1 – his primary electric guitar from 1988 to 1992 – fetch £504 000.